Braving the wet and windy weather, thousands of fans gathered at Sidney Myer Music Bowl to get lost in their cosmic love for English indie rock band, Florence + The Machine.
Sydney collective, Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders were given the sweet pleasure of opening the night for the early arrivals. Keeping it short and sweet, the five-song set focused on the band’s 2014 LP, Playmates, including Come On Back This Way, Let Me Love You, Her Hands, Reputation Amputation and To Keep & To Be Kept. Dressed like a sartorial gentleman, Ladder’s subtle seduction behind the mic was a sight to behold. With his deep, brooding vocals and old school style, the frontman certainly gained the crowd’s attention as they awaited the arrival of the headliners.
As the extensive burgundy stage set up was revealed, the 11-piece band swiftly emerged, followed by the coral-haired, bare foot Florence Welch. Twirling towards centre stage in white flares, the singer/songwriter opened with What The Water Gave Me. With a flood of white light and a shimmering backdrop, fans were on their feet faster than she could sing, “Lay me down”.
After this track from Ceremonials, the sounds of latest record How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful dominated the set list. Album opener Ship To Wreck led into Third Eye, however the real showstopper was Delilah. Moving across the stage as if the crowd was her dance partner, Welch seduced her fans with every step as they belted out the anthemic chorus, “Dancing with Delilah and her vision is mine.”
Those who’ve seen the ethereal beauty live before will know that up-close fan interaction is always a feature. Making no exceptions, Welch raced from the stage during Rabbit Heart, a security guard shadowing her every move. Jumping up onto the lawn barrier, Welch’s spontaneity and athletic ability cast a spell of absolute astonishment over the crowd. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful began with a female fan being invited onto the stage for a cuddle and a dance. The most intimate interaction occurred during What Kind Of Man, as Welch serenaded an excited young man in the stalls, just inches from his face.
A Florence + The Machine show wouldn’t be complete without older fan favourites such as You’ve Got The Love, Dog Days Are Over and Spectrum. However, it was Shake It Out that triggered the greatest reaction. Asking the audience to act as her choir for the dynamic track, it was an epic duet to remember. Conducting from centre stage, it looked as though the crowd weren’t the only ones in awe.
Closing the night with a double encore of Mother and Drumming Song, in the eyes of their forever-faithful fans, Florence + The Machine could do no wrong.
BY PHOEBE ROBERTSON
Photo by Lucinda Goodwin
Loved: The sound of a singing crowd.
Hated: Absolutely nothing.
Drank: Water. Had to be on my A game.
