Live Review: Florence + the Machine @ Alexandra Palace

by | Sep 22, 2015

Florence + the Machine @ Alexandra Palace

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch, Florence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

It’s hard to have missed Florence + the Machine’s meteoric rise to stardom over the past six years. Even before debut studio album Lungs was released back in 2009, the Florence Welch-fronted group was longlisted for BBC’s Sound of 2009, ultimately losing out to synth-popper Little Boots. But even during her early evening Reading Festival slot that year, she was making a name for herself, climbing the rafters of the NME tent on what was her 23rd birthday.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch, Florence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

Six years on and three studio albums later, she has proven her staying power, evolving into a major world festival headliner having topped the bill at Chicago’s Lollapalooza festival this summer and stepped up to headline what is undoubtedly the world’s biggest festival stage, taking over Foo Fighters’ Pyramid Stage headline slot at Glastonbury following Dave Grohl’s unfortunate mid-gig leg-break a few weeks beforehand.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch Florence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

Arriving barefoot for the first of four sold-out shows at North London’s historic Alexandra Palace venue, and making her way to greet fans at the barrier before climbing the stairs up to a grand stage, Welch opened with Ceremonials single What The Water Gave Me, the London native beginning the show with the on-stage energy and kookiness she’s now famous for.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch Florence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace Kalpesh Patel)

The second single from her latest studio album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Ship To Wreck – was one of the great opening numbers, the 29-year-old frontwoman bounding about the vast stage with a relentless energy that would dominate the show, her fiery hair being flailed around with abandon.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch Florence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

“We wanted to have a choir, but there wasn’t enough room” she said, turning to face the vast array of musicians and backing singers adorning the stage. Turning back to her audience she asked “So will you be the choir?” A united scream erupted from the crowd as she launched into Ceremonials lead single Shake It Out.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence WelchFlorence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

A slow and minimally-instrumented ease into debut album single, a cover of The Source’s You’ve Got the Love, had the crowd clapping along to keep rhythm until the full band kicked in halfway through the song.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

“The next song is very special” introducing new album title track How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. “It’s great to be able to play it in London. It was written many miles away but recorded in London.” “It was like a big, blue sky over the world and I get to bring it back and give it to all of you.”

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Referring to playing a show in her home town again, Welch continued with the London love: “Everything started from London, all my first gigs, all my first songs were written here.” Referring to her long-standing friend, collaborator and band member Isabella “Machine” Summers, she said “this one was written in Is’s studio in Crystal Palace” before quietly launching into a stripped-back version of Lungs’ track Cosmic Love, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and harp.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence WelchFlorence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

The main set was closed out with Dog Days Are Over, a huge circular screen hovering above the stage displaying a crescent moon, slowly becoming full over the course of the song. The 7,000-strong crowd echoed back every word of the Lungs single, the ornate Victorian walls of the People’s Palace reverberating the song to a new level.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch Florence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

The night ended with debut album track Drumming Song, which had the audience buzzing for this, one of her best-loved early hits. Welch collapsed to the stage as the song drew to a close before dashing off once again, this time for good.

Florence Welch (Kalpesh Patel)

Florence Welch Florence + the Machine at Alexandra Palace (Kalpesh Patel)

As polished as Florence + the Machine’s crazy seems to have become, there’s something awe-inspiring about the sheer energy hit after hit is delivered with, the high notes still ringing through sharply after all the running around. And Welch’s specific brand of folksy, indie rock resonates so strongly with so many that it’s uplifting to see what a girl from Camberwell can achieve in just a few short years.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00005fAOm_9fCSY” g_name=”Florence-the-Machine” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Florence + the Machine play three more dates at Alexandra Palace this week ahead of their Apple Music Festival appearance on September 28th and an autumn-winter US & Australia tour.

Live Review and Photography by Kalpesh Patel. Kalpesh his more great concert photography here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingforkate/

Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam @ BST Hyde Park 2022 (Simon Reed)

Matt Cameron Departs Pearl Jam After 27 Years Amidst Wave Of Drummer Changes In Rock

After nearly three decades behind the kit, Matt Cameron has announced his departure from Pearl Jam. The legendary drummer, 62, shared the news via social media on 7th July, marking the end of a 27‑year tenure that began in 1998. His departure comes in the wake of the band’s Dark Matter World Tour, which concluded earlier this year.

Sydney Rose @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Sydney Rose Shines In Mid-Afternoon Magic On The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

While headliner Noah Kahan was preparing to command the Great Oak Stage later in the evening, over on the Rainbow Stage a quieter but equally stirring performance was unfolding under the soft mid-afternoon sun. Georgia-born singer-songwriter Sydney Rose brought her headline tour to a moving finale, wrapping her journey in heartfelt lyrics and gently fierce vocals that captivated a festival crowd seeking intimacy amid the day’s growing energy.

Gigi Perez @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Gigi Perez Captivates London With Raw Emotion And Rising-Star Power At BST Hyde Park 2025

At just 25 years old, Gigi Perez has already carved out a reputation as one of indie-pop’s most compelling new voices — and her late afternoon set on the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park proved exactly why. Supporting headliner Noah Kahan and following a string of breakout moments this year, the Hackensack, New Jersey native delivered a deeply affecting performance filled with vulnerability, power, and soaring vocals

Paris Paloma @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Paris Paloma Brings Barefoot Magic To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In a festival rich with soaring choruses and star power, it was Paris Paloma’s barefoot grace and gothic romanticism that carved out one of the day’s most mesmerising sets. Taking to The Rainbow Stage on a golden midsummer afternoon, the Derbyshire singer-songwriter captivated her growing legion of fans with an intimate, emotionally charged performance that felt part séance, part storybook.

FINNEAS @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

FINNEAS Warms Up London With Heart And Humour Before Noah Kahan’s Headline Set At BST Hyde Park 2025

It’s not every day that a support slot feels like a moment of main event magic, but FINNEAS — the GRAMMY®-winning songwriter, producer, and solo artist — brought just that to the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park on Friday. Performing ahead of headliner Noah Kahan and main support Gracie Abrams, the 27-year-old delivered a slick, emotionally charged set that balanced heartfelt sincerity with tongue-in-cheek charm.

Noah Kahan @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Northern Attitude In London: Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams & Friends Light Up BST Hyde Park 2025

It was, as the name requires, the perfect summer's day for British Summer Time Hyde Park on Friday. The sun was...
The Raven Age @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Heirs To The Throne? The Raven Age Blaze Their Own Trail Supporting Iron Maiden At The London Stadium

On a scorching June evening that would culminate with the almighty Iron Maiden setting London Stadium ablaze, the...
Olivia Rodrigo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Sophia Carey)

Olivia Rodrigo Proves That London Is Her Favourite City At BST Hyde Park 2025

British Summer Time is officially underway in Hyde Park, and the unbearable heatwave will continue to remind us all of...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing