Florence + the Machine at the Utilita Arena Newcastle: Everybody Scream Tour Review
Florence + the Machine arrived in Newcastle as part of the Everybody Scream Tour, bringing Florence Welch’s new material into a full arena setting for the first time. The album, released last year, has been widely heard as one of her darker, more direct records, with the familiar lift of choirs and drums now paired with songs that look fame and ambition straight in the eye. This tour also marks her first major run since the Dance Fever Tour wrapped in September 2023, so there is a sense of momentum returning, and for us, it was our first time seeing her live.
Paris Paloma was the support act. A British singer-songwriter who broke through with the viral single Labour in 2023 and followed it with her debut album Cacophony was the ideal ‘warm up’ energetic and personal a singer songwriter sharing her own experiences much like Florence.
The staging began with the arena held in a kind of amber hush. A huge fabric curtain was lowered around the front of the stage, draped like a floating canopy, its surface printed with delicate botanical drawings that felt half Victorian field guide, half spell book. From the stands you could see the runway pushing out into the crowd, but the band and the main stage were hidden behind that soft wall of cloth.
The ‘Runway’ Stage for Florence + The Machine
For the opening of Everybody Scream, the curtain became a screen: light from behind threw the shadows of the Witch Choir into view. Then the curtain dropped away, the arena erupted, and Florence was revealed, striding down the runway to greet her fans.
And so for almost two hours, Florence moved through songs from her extensive back catalogue. Even the newer tracks, like Buckle and One of the Greats, were greeted like old friends.
Big numbers like Shake It Out were mixed with slower, more introspective moments like Spectrum, without losing the crowd or the energy.
There was definitely a witchy undercurrent to the evening, a theme that runs through her lyrics if you dig a little deeper. The Witch Choir made it literal, and songs like Witch Dance and Seven Devils carried the mood furthest.
There were songs about break-ups too. One of the Greats, from the latest album, was particularly biting.
The whole performance was brilliant. Florence kept the audience enthralled as the band delivered the music, including electric guitar and a full-sized harp. With a limited palette of lights, and no supporting films or backdrops, she still managed to put on a spellbinding show.
This may have been our first Florence + the Machine gig, but I certainly hope it won’t be the last.
Florence at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle
The Utilita Arena Newcastle is quickly becoming a favourite concert venue for us. It sits close enough to the centre that the night still feels like Newcastle, not an out-of-town trek, and from the Copthorne on the Tyne it is an easy ten-minute walk. Inside, it hits a sweet spot for arena shows: big enough for proper production, but compact enough that even the upper blocks feel connected. Staff are friendly, queues move, and you are not spending the best part of an hour just getting in and out.
We first came here for Eric Clapton in 2024, so it felt like a neat return for Florence. This time we chose Block 202, Row M, Seats 64 to 66, a side-on view that worked brilliantly. Close enough to catch the details, far enough back to take in the full stage picture, and with an easy exit when the lights came up.
Everybody Scream Set list, Newcastle, 11 February 2026
Below is the set list we heard on the night, in order, for anyone who wants to revisit the songs or follow along with the highlights video.
Everybody Scream
Witch Dance
Shake It Out
Seven Devils
Big God
Daffodil
Which Witch
Cosmic Love
Spectrum
You Can Have It All
Happy Birthday to You
Music by Men
Buckle
King
The Old Religion
Howl
Heaven Is Here
Sympathy Magic
One of the Greats
Dog Days Are Over
Free
And Love