Florence + The Machine | Paris Paloma
SSE Arena, Belfast
6th February 2026
Photography By Chea McArdle
Chea McArdle
Hi my name is Chea and I dove into the world of band photography midway through 2023. I was really involved in the amazing music scene at uni in Falmouth, making friends with lots of super talented people. After uni I really wanted to explore the vibrant music scene within Belfast and used this creative drive to begin my exploration into the local scene and further my photography.
Im hoping to continue my photography journey further and capture many more great moments with many wonderful people!
Florence + The Machine kick off the ‘Everybody Scream’ Tour with a mesmerising showcase at the SSE Arena in Belfast
From the get-go, the Belfast arena was shrouded in an air of mystery; a detailed tapestry canopied above the runway stage was towering above the opening act Paris Paloma. Beneath this looming entity, Paris stormed the stage with whimsical twirls and solid vocals setting an anticipatory tone for what was to come.
Florence + The Machine kicked off their set with spotlighted silhouettes against this tapestry that now encased the entire runway stage. The audience feasted their eyes upon the eerie shadowed figures as whirring screams filled the venue, this haunting tone culminating in a sudden swoosh as the fabric vanished up to the rafters like it had been possessed. Florence + The Machine had fully entranced the audience before they had even begun.
Florence Welch’s vocals pierced the arena with the thunderous opening of ‘Everybody Scream’; the performance showcased the theatricality and emotional intensity of Florence in full spirit. Welch’s voice was ethereal and commanding throughout the whole show, treating fans to live renditions of deep cuts like ‘Seven Devils‘ and ‘Which Witch,‘ alongside beloved anthems such as ‘Shake it Out’ and ‘Dog Days Are Over’. Fans were also treated to an appearance of IDLES’ Mark Bowen who effortlessly played guitar during their co-written song ‘One Of The Greats’.
Beneath these soaring vocals, the haunting atmosphere drew stronger as thick billowing fog covered the stage and hypnotic dancers coined as The Witch Choir dawned the stage. Their creepy yet mesmerising movements combined with Welch’s free flowing spirit created beautiful visuals as they commanded the stage. Dramatic lighting danced with both the sweeping fog and Welch, as she pranced untethered, barefoot and fearless, slipping between thick fog and light.
Visually and sonically, the show balanced haunting spectacle with intimacy. Florence Welch felt truly connected with the crowd, constantly leaning into the edge of the stage, locking eyes and reaching her hands out; even singing an impromptu ‘Happy Birthday‘ to a member of the crowd just behind me. Seconds felt sacred during quieter moments and the crowd’s collective roars during the highs felt almost ritualistic. With such a powerful start in Belfast, it’s clear that the ‘Everybody Scream‘ Tour promises to be a memorable moment in Florence + The Machine’s career.
Photography By Chea McArdle
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