Having witnessed the mighty Florence Black support Tremonti in Feb earlier in the year, there was no question that we would be back to see the Welsh lads return to Belfast for their well-deserved headline show. In fact the venue was upgraded from the Voodoo to the Limelight 2 due to the lad’s ever growing popularity. As we set off from stroke city with a full car load we blasted Florence Black tunes and sang along with great anticipation as we made our way to the big smoke. On arrival the eager queue of revellers was already forming nicely outside the Limelight for the show.
Tonight’s support was from The Virginmarys, a duo from Macclesfield England. Having heard positive reports prior to tonight’s show I was looking forward to see what the two lads would bring to tonight’s event. The Virginmarys formed in 2006 and self-released a number of EPS with great resolve before finally releasing their debut album King of Conflict. The album was produced by none other than Toby Jepson of Little Angels/Wayword Sons fame and mixed by Chris Sheldon who has produced albums for a plethora of bands such as Foo Fighters and our local heroes Therapy?.
They received a number of awards for the album and since then the lads have gone on to release two further albums and in 2017 returned to their earlier grit and determination of releasing two Eps and a further album independently. The band comprises of the effervescent Ally Dickaty on vocals and Danny Dolan on drums. The lads released their ‘The House Beyond the Fires’ album in 2024 and are currently on tour promoting same.
As the lads take to the stage the Limelight is buzzing with a decent sized crowd which is great to see for a support band especially as they take to the stage fifteen minutes after the doors open. The letters PLTM synonymous with the lad’s webpage meaning Peace Love Truth Music is proudly detailed on Dickaty’s guitar. The duo launch into ‘You’re A Killer’ a punchy and punky catchy tune from their latest album – the first of many which they will treat us to tonight. The lads fair pack a punch for a two piece and have the crowd engaged from the get go. Dolan plays with the ferocity and frenzy of Animal from the Muppets but is an exceptional drummer and uses his kit including a free standing bell and cow bell to fill the Limelight with thundering drums and beats.
Dickaty is a charismatic and chilled frontman who oozes cool both in his demeanour and his style of dress. The lads play banging tunes such as ‘Northwest Coast’, ‘When The Lights Go Down’ and ‘My Nettle’ which are thick with infectious grooves and choruses. The lads are loud and proud of their music and this wins the Belfast crowd over. The Virginmarys bring their hectic set to an end with the anthemic ‘Bang Bang Bang’ which they dedicate to Florence Black with an assurance that they will be back to see Belfast again.
Florence Black are riding on the crest of the wave of their success at the moment, and it’s much deserved. The trio from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales consists of Tristan Thomas – vocals and guitar, Jordan Evans on bass/backing vocals and Perry Davies on drums/ backing vocals. Delivering heavy melodic rock, the lads released their second album, bed of nails in Feb 2024 and it reached number 1 on the official UK albums chart. As before mentioned the lads blew us away as support for Tremonti earlier this year so we eagerly awaited their return to Irish shores with a headlining set.
The Limelight 2 is now heaving with a mass of fans as the band take to the stage and are met with welcome cries and roars.
Thomas leads us into ‘Rockin’ Ring’ whilst Davies searing drums fill the air as their set takes off. The crowd are immediately absorbed in the intensity of the lads stage presence. ‘Start Again’ sees Belfast thrust their hands up in the air as commanded. The lads are clearly loving touring on their headlining tour this is evident by their contagious energy, head banging and Davies windmills. It’s clear that we are in for a scorching night of metal and melodies. ‘Bird on a chain’ is a harmonious track yet filled with intense solos and thumping drums. ‘Coloured In’ carries on tonight’s performance with the powerful and penetrating metal and passion fuelled lyrics.
The Limelight is soaring with Florence Black as they launch into ‘The Deep end’ Thomas shouts “are you with us Belfast” and that we are. The floor is heaving as we rock along with the welsh lads, Thomas blasts out the lyrics Lemmy esque style as we chant along. Next we were treated to the hefty ‘Take my word’, an unreleased track from the upcoming third album. This riff laden and bass thumpin’ track ripped the Limelight 2 a new one. Davies bashed those cymbals like the end of the world was imminent. An absolute belter of a track if this is a sign of the calibre of the new album bring it on!!
Thomas plays the opening chords of ‘Warning Sign’, which was released as a single in 2023 ahead of the current albums release date. Thomas’s vocals are gritty and passionate, perfectly matching the tone of the song. The crowd are bouncing and chanting alongside the welsh rockers. As Thomas’s solo kicks in we are carried away with the pounding rhythm section of Evans’s and Davies. Florence Black are tight as a trio and on fire in Belfast tonight. We ardently sing along to the chorus “If I stay right on this road, Just get up and go, Leave me on the back roads, Out on my own” caught up in the moment with the band.
As the night is drawing to an inevitable early curfew end. The lads decide to roll out ‘Paranoid’ and we somehow dig deep and find the energy to blow up the limelight. The crowd jumps, bangs their fists and chant along with Thomas and the band. The lads more than do Ozzy proud, they executed the perfect homage to the prince of darkness. There is a videographer on stage recording the blistering performance and the Belfast fan reaction.
The second cover of the night is often recognised as a Metallica song but is in actual fact a song released by fellow Welsh rockers Budgie, ‘Breadfan’. The lads play a fierce rendition with Thomas performing a blistering solo on guitar. Thomas then commands the crowd to get their ‘phone lights out and flashes on’ out for the more sombre part of the track and of course we oblige. Evans encourages us to wave our arms in the air alongside Thomas’s gentle singing. Then they return to the frenzied tone of the song and Thomas shreds like a demon.
The lads then leave momentarily for the obligatory encore. Once back on stage they delight the fans with the much loved anthem ‘Sun and Moon’. The crowd erupts and we wait patiently whilst the lads lead us into the intro. The crowd sings along with Florence Black and the floor is a sea of moving bodies during the rocking chorus. Evans rumbling bass and Davies crashing drums and cymbals can be felt in our very bones. What a blazing tune to bring a metal-tastic night to a finish. Florence Black play like rock legends for lads so young. They are extremely accomplished musicians and yet remain humble and just want to rock with their fans. As we vacate the sweaty Limelight the videographer is waiting on the street to chat to any willing fans about tonight’s gig some of the lads were more than happy to accommodate and give Florence Black the praise that they deserve.
