Reading and Leeds

Florence + The Machine have been announced as an act to play at Reading and Leeds Festival next year. Another act F+TM fans may also like are The xx who are also performing. More details here.

NME Videos

Florence Welch goes gaga at Reading

Florence of Florence and the Machine fame appears to have a new fashion mantra: 'Whatever GaGa can do, I can do better'.

She might not be shooting sparks out of her boobs just yet, but she's certainly got the whole PVC unitard look down, with bat-wing style sleeves (or is that actually a cape???) adding a nicely gothic touch to the whole ensemble.

With recent reports claiming that Florence's mum wants her to quit the music industry and get a proper job, she'd better make the most of her crazy stage getups. Going to work dressed a bit like a bat just isn't the done thing when you're an accountant.

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LEEEEEDS

Birthday, Blood & Tears

THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO TURNED UP FOR MY BIRTHDAY AT READING!

High at Glastonbury....higher at reading...x

Waking up and having a crowd of people sing me happy birthday in a field was pretty intense.

The gig was even more intense, dressed in the leather disco gargoyle outfit from the drumming song video (designed by the amazing Hannah marshal).

I felt like a demonic bat lady, prompting me to climb as high as i could up the lighting rig, and see how long i could hang there for.

I think this all comes from a misguided attempt to be a super hero, or maybe I’m the villain, anyway i almost thought if i let go i could fly.

Maybe, but i didn't try it, the megaphone birthday present was pretty strong too, (not something i thought anyone would ever think i would need)..x

The post gig celebrations were amazing, party in the dressing room with some horrors, some friendly fires, a jack penate and various family members.

A red riding hood cape and gold hot-pants to wear to the red (for reading) themed smash and grab party. SUPER SRONG STAGE-DIVING ALL ROUND. mohito bar went very far....it took us to the other side...THE SIDE OF TOTALL CARNAGE. Blood tears, medical tent, what a way to end the night.

ITS MY PARTY AND I'LL BLEED IF I WANT TO!

Got home minus coat and one shoe, but sporting a very fetching bandage on one thumb, another successful reading ..x

LEEDS. equally amazing, having to coordinate my bandage with my outfit by covering it in gaffa tape, and Chris getting his own personal rain shower, I’m so sorry we had to pull the gig a song early, but i think we were all in danger of being electrocuted, and thank you to the florence forum for my onstage birthday card xx..x

Suddenly getting nervous about the mercury's, it’s as if its suddenly become real,

I think I’ll have to hide in the toilet when they read it out, to much to much to much, eeeeep........x

Aaaaanyway, If your going to electric picnic I’ll see you there. CHOCKS AWAY. love eternal, florence....x

Florence at Leeds Review

orence And The Machine and Friendly Fires brought a carnival atmosphere to the Leeds Festival today (August 30) as they both played sets on the NME/Radio 1 Stage.

Barclaycard Mercury Prize-nominated singer Florence Welch, who celebrated her birthday at Reading Festival on Friday (August 28), carried on the party at Bramham Park when a fan in the crowd handed her a card.

"Is that a card you're handing me there?" she asked before single 'Kiss With A Fist'. "Thank you so much."

Welch, who performed with a taped-up hand, revealed to the crowd that she had had an accident at Reading.

"By the way, this isn't a fashion cuff," she said. "I really fucked my hand up at Reading, my hand was pissing blood all the way from my dressing room on my birthday."

She then kicked off a call-and-response as she got both sides of the crowd to howl, fittingly, before 'Howl'.

Later, the stage crew had to hand her drummer an anorak after rain started to pour into the tent. "I've just had a shower of rain fall on me, this is so cool," she giggled. "Our drummer needs an umbrella."

She went on to perform single 'Dog Days Are Over', while the crowd sang every word to her cover of Candi Staton's 'You Got The Love.

She was about to perform 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)' before she ran out of time, forcing her to apologise to her fans.

Later, fellow Barclaycard Mercury Prize nominees Friendly Fires reeled off tracks from their self-titled debut in the same tent, including 'Jump In The Pool', 'Paris' and 'Skeleton Boy'.

The St Albans band also performed their forthcoming single 'Kiss Of Life' during their lively set.

NME.COM will be coming live from both the Reading And Leeds Festivals sites this weekend (August 28-30). Stay tuned to NME.COM/festivals for news reports, blogs, video interviews and photos from the event.

Get next Wednesday's (September 2) issue of NME for the ultimate Reading And Leeds Festivals review.

Plus have your say on this summer - fill in the annual NME Festival survey now to cast your verdict on 2009, and tell festival chiefs who you want to see next year.

F+TM at Reading

Florence wowed an absolutely huge Reading festival crowd at the weekend and footage of the set is now online for your viewing pleasure.
The performance on the NME/Radio 1 stage saw fans spilling out of the tent as they surged in to see one of the highlights of the festival.


To download the audio of the set from Reading Click Here, thanks to RabbitHeartedGirl @ The Official F+TM Forums.

You can view the BBC's footage of F+TM's set here.

NME Interview:

Happy Birthday Florence!

Today it is Florence's birthday, don't forget to tweet ( @flo_tweet ) her a happy birthday.


Florence at last years Reading & Leeds festival.

Tonight Florence + The Machine is playing at Reading as part of the Reading & Leeds Festival. Coverage of Florence + The Machine from Reading will be aired on BBC3 tonight (28/08/2009) at 8:05pm.