Everybody Screams for Florence & the Machine
Florence + The Machine debuted the North American juncture of the Everybody Screams tour Wednesday night at the Target Center along with alternative artist, Rachel Chinouriri, in an almost spiritual affair. Despite a packed stadium, with some of the most passionate fans in attendance, the energy of the show was intimate, vulnerable, and left me feeling connected to the performers and strangers sharing the experience.
Rachel Chinouriri, singer/songwriter based in London, opened the evening, setting the tone with a luminous alternative pop set. Her interaction with the audience was perceived as so natural and genuine, just as though she was having a one-on-one conversation with a friend. With a powerful voice, not only did Chinouriri’s words connect to those listening, but her sound captured a beautiful paradox: soft, yet strong; gentle, yet powerful, quite akin to the main act. The presence she brought to the arena was grounding, especially as fans were whirling into the space to find their spots.
As the stage readied for Florence, we were met with her Witch Choir, a small coven of dancers that were vital within the storytelling that unveiled throughout the night. Fog filled the stage while the quartet performed, building the raw, soft energy Rachel had invited into excitement while the lights went down. The Witch Choir weaved in and out of the show, with some songs having full fledged choreographed dance acts. Their addition to the performance was haunting, and added a slight modern horror element, consistent with the themes in Florence + The Machine’s recent album Everybody Scream, released back in October 2025. “Everybody Scream”, the opening album track also opened the set, creating a magical atmosphere to start off.
One song later, the beginning chords of Florence’s iconic “Shake It Out” started, and everybody was buzzing. From that moment on, people were moving. I could see those around me just fully letting go— hands in the air, jumping, swaying, screaming the lyrics. It was full blown “hopecore” personified. The set continued with more pieces from past projects, but sang with just as much gumption and enthusiasm as if they were just released. Choices included “Big God” (my personal favorite of the evening) from High as Hope, “Cosmic Love” off of Lungs, and “Spectrum (Say My Name)” from Ceremonials.
What garnered the most admiration from me was how the how effortlessly the transition from large scale production numbers to the independent ballads was. One moment I was entranced in the lights, the dancing, the chaotic beauty of it all, and the next I was sucked into the most raw, intimate storytelling while Florence stood alone on stage singing.