Everybody Screamed: Florence and the Machine in Birmingham — Review

Florence and the Machine review [Image: Kea Masters, Wikipedia]

★★★★★

Everybody Scream was released on 31 October, 2025, the band's first record since Dance Fever in 2022. Inspired partly by a personal tragedy suffered by Welch in 2023, the album explores themes of love, feminism and fame, tying everything together with a red thread of folk horror.

Following a debut in Belfast on 6 February, 2026, the second installment of the Everybody Scream tour proved the band's commitment to pull on this thread in their live performances. Support act Paris Paloma not only echoed Welch's iconic visual style in a flowing white gown, but also set the audience up for a night of witchcraft and artistry with her set, featuring an unreleased track and her famous single, ‘Labour’.

Paris Paloma supporting Florence [Image: Kea Masters]

The show opened with jarring choreography from a quartet of dancers, contorting themselves to a haunting soundtrack of bloodcurdling screams, before Welch herself rose from beneath the stage to her own screaming devotees. She delivered an electrifying performance from the first note, launching into the album’s title track through a haze of dry ice and strobing red lights.

Welch and dancers [Image: Kea Masters]

“Whatever you’ve been through, whatever you’re going through, know that I’m here with you, and hopefully we can make it through this show together,” Welch joked, before launching back into the triumphant chorus of ‘Shake It Out’. She performed with raw honesty, her soft speech and genuine awe at the crowd’s reception a striking contrast to her powerhouse vocals and theatrical performance.

Welch's spellbinding voice soared over the arena on every track, but she often opted for easy-outs from some of the more demanding vocals, letting the crowd take over while she gazed out in amazement.

Her enraptured audience were bedecked in flower crowns and long, flowing dresses like Welch herself, with some brave fans even going barefoot to echo their idol. There was not one song where the crowd failed to sing along or raise their torches, a testament to Welch's lyricism and infectious energy.

"whatever you're going through, i'm here with you" [Image: Kea Masters]

A standout moment from the show came during ‘Dog Days Are Over’, in which Welch continued her tradition of asking the 15,000-strong audience to put away their phones, rejoice in the moment and jump alongside her. In fact, the show was punctuated by Welch's interactions with the crowd: leaning towards outstretched hands, serenading fans face-to-face and blowing kisses to declarations of love.

Welch, her dancers and her “Machine” delivered a visual and sonic spectacle; despite being only the second date of the tour, no major issues occurred and the result was a theatrical experience sure to be remembered by everyone in attendance for a long time to come.