Florence + The Machine’s ‘How Big Tour’

The U.K. should be happy to welcome the English indie rock band home. After all, the act’s new studio album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, debuted at No. 1 last week on the U.K. albums chart. The Guardian notes that How Big brings the band’s tally to three out of three No. 1 albums in the U.K.

In its review, Rolling Stone declares, “Art-pop diva Florence Welch returns with a renewed love for loud guitars and soul vocals.” The magazine adds, “Welch isn’t the most rhythmic singer; she’s more about powerful held notes and dramatic articulation, and her rock moves have sometimes felt fussy in the past. But here, she punches like a prizefighter.”

As we pointed out on Friday, Florence + The Machine’s summer schedule is filled with festivals on both side of the Atlantic, including Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, Lollapalooza, Osheaga and Rock Werchter, as well as Australia’s Splendour In The Grass.

Here’s the plan for the U.K./Ireland ‘How Big Tour’:

Sept. 9 – Belfast, Northern Ireland, Odyssey Arena
Sept. 10 – Dublin, Ireland, 3Arena                
Sept. 12 – Sheffield, England, Motorpoint Arena    
Sept. 14 – Glasgow, Scotland, The SSE Hydro        
Sept. 15 – Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Metro Radio Arena      
Sept. 17 – Nottingham, England, The Capital FM Arena Nottingham         
Sept. 18 – Manchester, England, Manchester Arena
Sept. 19 – Birmingham, England, Genting Arena     
Sept. 21 – London, England, Alexandra Palace        
Sept. 22 – London, England, Alexandra Palace        
Sept. 24 – London, England, Alexandra Palace       
Sept. 25 – London, England, Alexandra Palace       

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 12 at 9 a.m. local time. Visit FlorenceAndTheMachine.net for more info.