Florence + The Machine: a collective ritual at AFAS DOME
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- 3 min read
By Macarena Chocan
On 23 February, the AFAS Dome in Antwerp didn’t feel like a typical arena. It felt like a clearing in an imaginary forest, where Florence Welch gathered the crowd for something closer to a witch ceremony than a concert.
From the moment she stepped onto the runway and the first notes of 'Everybody Scream', the title track of her new 2025 album, filled the space, the tone was clear: this was not a show to simply watch, but one to be fully immersed in. Under blinding white lights and surrounded by four dancers moving as if possessed, Florence summoned the crowd. With raised hands, she urged the audience to jump, sing, move, and scream, and thousands of voices responded instantly.
Florence + The Machine arrived in Belgium to present 'Everybody Scream', the successor to 'Dance Fever' (2022). After a difficult couple of years, which included stepping away from touring and undergoing life-saving surgery, this new chapter leans into themes of witchcraft, folk horror, mysticism, poetry, and mortality, all seamlessly incorporated into the live show.
Scottish singer-songwriter Paris Paloma was the supporting act. Dressed in a flowing bohemian gown, she felt almost like Florence’s musical niece: ethereal, folk-leaning, and vocally rich. Her presence was a perfect bridge, soft and strong, before the storm that would follow.
“Whatever you have been through, whatever you are going through, just know that I feel you. We’re getting through this show together,” Florence said before performing the beloved 'Shake It Out', which unfolded as a collective catharsis. 'Seven Devils' and 'Big God' delivered some of the night’s darkest, most intense moments, with dancers mouthing the lyrics while moving in sharp, almost possessed choreography.
Crowd interaction remains central to a Florence + The Machine performance. Throughout the night, she stepped offstage and onto a table by the barricade, bringing herself within inches of the front row. She danced to the beat of 'Daffodils', let the audience take over the refrain in 'Which Witch', and held hands with fans during 'Sympathy Magic'. What stood out was her efforts to make everyone feel seen. Florence scans the arena constantly, locking eyes across the runway, making it difficult to look away or experience the moment through a screen. The performance was a constant invitation to be present in the here and now.
When the pace slowed, her voice carried the weight of the show. Songs like 'Hunger', 'Cosmic Love', 'Buckle', and 'Howl' showcased her remarkable range. Before 'Cosmic Love', she admitted, “I had forgotten what touring felt like. Before coming on stage, I felt absolutely shattered, but your beautiful energy has brought me back to life.” During 'Never Let Me Go', which lit up the arena with phone lights, she revealed, “I refused to sing this song for almost ten years because it brings back something I didn’t want to relive. But your love for it brought it back.”
The encore songs 'Dog Days Are Over' and 'Free' had the whole arena bouncing, phones put away. Before closing with 'And Love', she said, “I believe songs are prayers, spells… and some of them were really bad and became true. But if there is one song, one prayer I want to come true, it’s this one.” As the crowd sang along to “Peace is coming,” Florence and her band left the stage, leaving a simple, powerful final message: “Choose Love.”
Macarena Chocan
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