Bray’s own Florence Road are back on Irish shores. A sold out 3Olympia awaited the four-piece on Wednesday night to cap off a hugely successful European tour stint. For anyone who’s followed the four-piece over the past year, the scale of their rise has been impossible to ignore. Fresh from a North American tour supporting The Last Dinner Party, one of Dublin’s most iconic venues awaited them for a long-overdue homecoming.
Lily Aron stepped onto the stage in a stunning white dress that felt unmistakably reserved for the occasion. As the lights dimmed, the “Flo-roadies” packed against the barrier erupted. No matter where Florence Road go, there’s a sense that nowhere matches the kind of support they receive in Dublin.
Already-breathtaking tracks like “Rabbits Can Swim” and “Caterpillar” took on an entirely new life with the crowd singing every word back to the band. “Figure It Out” arrived early in the set, its explosive final chorus shook the room. Standing in the pit just ahead of the front row, I pulled out my earplugs purely to experience the full force of it all – a decision my hearing may never forgive. Nearly half the set consisted of unreleased material and judging by the reaction in the room, Florence Road’s debut album could be something very special.
There’s no sense of a manufactured image or over-polished persona in this group. Instead, Florence Road perform like four close friends figuring things out together in real time. It’s exactly that sincerity that has drawn so many people to them in the first place.
Dublin band For Nina opened on the evening. The band are quickly gaining traction and are set now for their own run of dates over the next month. They’re certainly worth catching if you can pick up a ticket to any one of their upcoming Dublin appearances.
For Nina photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Hounds
Rolling Punches
Swallow
Game Boy
Lucky One
The Labour Of My Love
Jesus I Care
Florence Road photos & set-list:
Set-list:
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Figure It Out
Hand Me Downs
White Smile
None The Wiser
Storm Warnings
Heavy
Rabbits Can Swim
How Does It Make You Feel?
Hanging Out To Dry
Surprise Surprise
Miss
No Better Woman
Another Seventeen
Goodnight
Caterpillar
Break the Girl
Photos & Words by Myles Dunne – @MylesDunnePhoto