Florence And The Machine’s first live tour since the pandemic celebrates the new Dance Fever album, which addresses the absence of performance during lockdown. Her energy at Cardiff International Arena was absolutely electric, the performances beautiful, and the crowd loved every minute of this two-hour set.

Florence performed nonstop for the first six songs, only breaking to have a quick breather between songs. Starting with a couple of Dance Fever songs, Heaven Is Here and King, the audience were introduced to the album’s general feel before the dynamic Ship To Wreck got the crowd jumping. Meanwhile, the cobweb-covered stage set encapsulated the ethereal vibe of Florence + The Machine’s music.

Dog Days Are Over was received with massed cheers, Florence sprinting across the stage while singing. Only at this point, six songs in, does she address us – “Cardiff, welcome to the show!” – thanking those of us who had seen her before (myself included – cheers!), those who were seeing her for the first time, and even audience members there to chaperone or accompany a friend. What, she wonders to us, must that matter group be thinking? “Is this a cult? Some sort of pagan gathering?” Every audience member is asked to switch off their phones, live in the moment and savour every memory, 99% of the crowd obliges.

There’s more. Florence opened up to us about what these songs mean to her, and how important performing is to her mental health. With a setlist drawing back as far as her oldest album, she told the story behind many of these songs. Her voice has not wavered in the 15 years she and the Machine have been in the music scene: every song performed was to an impeccable standard, including technically difficult ones like Big God, and her stage presence was like no other, she commanded the crowd like an orchestra conductor and danced across the stage without a care in the world.

The live arena seems to be cathartic for Florence. As beautiful as her 2019 Cardiff show was, the euphoria of post-pandemic performance and clear adoration for her art translates into onstage energy. Much of the evening’s selection reminded her, we learn, of difficult times in her life: of these, Hunger seemed to really resonate, reducing many (including my sister!) to tears.

The main set concluded with Dance Fever’s Restraint; the anticipated encore opener, Never Let Me Go, is introduced as one the band have shelved for around a decade due to the negative memories associated with it. A vocally difficult song, too, yet performed with grace and perfection, and received with thunderous cheers. Shake It Out had this reviewer going slightly feral (being one of my favourite songs from my youth) and, for Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up), Florence encouraged everyone to lift up those they love in a final goodbye to her Cardiff show. Finishing with a bow, she thanked everyone involved in putting this tour on.

The infectious energy of a Florence + The Machine live show, the frontwoman’s audience interactions and her pure adoration for performing results in a weird, wonderful experience. Florence Welch is a truly admirable pop artist: not just for her talent as a songwriter and performer, but her willingness to be transparent and candid with her fanbase.

Florence + The Machine, Cardiff International Arena, Wed 16 Nov

words RHIANNON FARR photos LILLIE EIGER