On an absolutely gorgeous spring evening (18 November) at The Riverstage in Brisbane, there is not a cloud in the sky and the stars are spectacularly glowing over what will be an enormous last show of the Australian tour for Florence + The Machine.
As soon as Florence enters the stage, the feeling of the entire crowd on the hill breaking into sound was completely overwhelming and I am covered in goosebumps already; I can tell this was going to be an emotional show.
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'What The Water Gave Me' from the band’s second album, 'Ceremonials', opens the night and Florence appears with powerful force in a vision of white, throwing her fiery hair around with her tambourine as the stage glitters in a beautiful gold and silver shimmering backdrop.
Image © Daniel FosterLatest single 'Ship To Wreck' is next followed by 'Rabbit Heart' as Florence requests for the audience to get as high as we possibly can. Thousands of people are on shoulders and hands are all reaching for the stars while Florence takes this opportunity to get as high as she can and literally sprints, while simultaneously singing, from the side of the stage to the top of The Riverstage hill.
She can be seen fighting through the crowd of thousands from the top. The absolute musical skill to be able to run, dance and literally throw herself around on stage, while still punching out one of the most powerful female voices of our generation is truly inspirational.
Image © Daniel FosterFlorence requests for no phones to be filming the next performance, and tells us that “there has never been a more important time to be openhearted”. In the trend of having no phones, the familiar chords for 'Got The Love' start to play and everyone holds up their hands to make love-heart shapes – I feel like The Riverstage is glowing with love; everyone is smiling and there are a lot of kisses floating around the place.
Florence thanks us repeatedly throughout the night and for the next song tells us to be in love with not just one person, but every person and every place, as she rolls into 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'. She is an absolute goddess.
Image © Daniel Foster'Shake It Out' is next and I feel that this song was a complete turning point for the night and everything has built to this moment where now the entire audience is literally releasing everything into the night, singing and dancing together on the hill and letting it all go, right here.
The band literally have every single person in the audience completely captivated and there are moments when the entire hill is singing together like a glorious choir, and others when there is a complete, chilling silence and everyone is truly listening and watching together.
Image © Daniel FosterAs the final song starts to play I can feel a wave of glittering shivers flow over everyone when the familiar sound of the harp starts the intro to 'Dog Days'. What an absolutely huge performance. As the harp is playing Florence is telling us that it’s now time to take off a piece of clothing and wave it all around, turn to the closest person and embrace them with love. Oh my gosh!
There is truly a lot of love here right now and the audience is literally throwing themselves at each other and yelling how much they love everyone else; it’s all getting too much and I can’t even cry happy tears because I’m just too overwhelmed with happiness.
Image © Daniel FosterFlorence + The Machine has been one of the most powerful performances that I have seen to date; her positive messages of love are so important right now, more than ever.
Florence has one of the most influential voices of our generation and her honesty and true talent is so clearly and positively reflected over her audience that she completely holds in her hands. Thank you, Florence, for spending your last night of your tour here in Brisbane, we love you and hope to see you again really soon.
You’ve got the love. x
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