Florence & the Machine

Just a couple of weeks after the release of her debut album Lungs, Florence & the Machine's rapid ascent continues with her nomination on the shortlist of the prestigious Mercury music prize, and the bookies subsequent placing her as favourite to win it.

As a performer Florence is an artist who has found her own, authentic voice. Having first performed played Ireland when performing at Crawdaddy in February 2007; her soaring, epic vocals, quirky melodies and self-contained musical world have already won her the 2009 Critics Choice Award at the Brits. Some compare her to Kate Bush. You'll also find touches of Tom Waits and Nick Cave in her dark visions, and if you heard, a little of Bjork too.

As for The Machine, it's a flexible beast. It's a seven-piece band including long-term collaborators Rob Ackroyd (guitar), Chris Hayden (drums), Isabella Summers (keyboards) and Tom Monger (harp).

Her Debut Album "Lungs" has already sold well enough to achieve gold status in Ireland. Here is a woman with a voice so powerful she has to rein it in. All of which she does beautifully with her machine…

In her own words the machine is "harps, choirs, drums, elevator shafts, bits of metal, love, death, fireworks, string quartets, stamping, sighing, strange electronic wailing, lambs, lions, sick, broken glass, blood, moon, stars, drink, coffins, teeth, water, wedding dresses.. And the silences in between…"

All that's left is the Electric crowd to provide the voltage…

We suspect that there will be one or two more people attending her show this year than the lucky few who witnessed her at Electric Picnic 2008.

Web: http://www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachinemusic

Back to line-up

LINEUP SUBJECT TO CHANGE