By Alisha Lawton
Over the course of 2026 so far, Irish indie rockers Florence Road have quickly been named the ‘ones to watch’ – and it was easy to see why at their sold-out show at Manchester Academy2 last week.
The Irish quartet originally formed back in school but have been quickly taking over the indie scene this year. Fans from all over flocked to the Manchester venue and queued outside – the anticipation building as they were about to see their new favourite up-and-coming band live in action.
It wasn’t long before the show started with a bang. Kicking off their set was the unreleased anthem 7563. Fans in the room sang along with passion, a sentiment showing just how close the relationship is between the band and their fans, as the song is yet to hit streaming platforms.
For a quick moment, lead singer Lily Aron greeted the crowd and told them just how excited they were to be playing a show in the city, before introducing the next track Figure it Out, another fan favourite.
You could tell the band weren’t taking their coveted Academy slot for granted, as they shared their appreciation, describing their last show in Manchester, which had a mere capacity of one hundred. The room they were performing in this time around was ten times that size. A huge achievement for the group.
A highlight of the set was when lead singer Lily told the audience that they needed to sway and hug the people they love for the next song, Rabbits Can Swim. The room was filled with warmth as friends and lovers embraced.
Interaction with fans took place throughout the entire gig, previewing exclusive unreleased songs, Lily humorously spotting an Irish flag in the crowd, and immediately asking the fan if she could have it, and an impromptu rock-paper-scissors game with the front row during unexpected technical difficulties. It’s safe to say they handled it like champs.
The singer then read out a sign from the front, from an enthusiastic fan who was pleading for the song Caterpillar to be played. Little did they know, it was already on the set list, so they were later in for a fun surprise.
The crowd were their at their loudest during the performance of Florence Road’s latest single, Hanging Out To Dry. Fans all around the venue shouted the lyrics and danced around, as guitar strings reverberated throughout the room.
Florence Road teased the crowd that their final song would be Goodnight, but fans knew differently, and it wasn’t long before the ‘one more song’ chant came, when the band entered the stage again, this time their last, to play Caterpillar, and last – but certainly not least – chant-worthy Break The Girl. Fans in the room sang along word for word and did not miss a beat.
Overall, Florence Road are only just getting started, and of course there’s so much more that they can grow into, but understand that they are already polished, are ready for bigger stages.
Florence Road will perform at a variety of British summer music festivals this year, including BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Truck Festival and Latitude.
Photography & Text Copyright 2026 © Alisha Lawton/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Kelsey McAndrew 
Jack Walsh 
Alexandra Pullen