Florence + the Machine is an English indie rock band that was formed in London in 2007. The band is composed of lead vocalist Florence Welch, keyboardist Isabella Summers, guitarist Rob Ackroyd, harpist Tom Monger, and other collaborators. They have garnered critical acclaim for their music, particularly from the BBC, which helped to promote them as part of their BBC Music Introducing initiative. Florence and the Machine's distinctive sound is characterized by Welch's powerful vocals and their dramatic, eccentric production.
The band's debut studio album, Lungs, was released in 2009 and reached the number two position on the UK Albums Chart. It held this position for the first five weeks of its release before reaching the top position on 17 January 2010, after being on the chart for twenty-eight consecutive weeks. By October 2010, Lungs had been in the UK top forty for sixty-five consecutive weeks, making it one of the best-selling albums of 2009 and 2010.
Florence and the Machine's second studio album, Ceremonials, was released in October 2011 and debuted at number one in the UK and number six in the US. The band's third studio album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, was released in 2015 and topped the UK charts while debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200, making it their first album to do so. It also reached number one in a total of eight countries and the top ten of twenty.
In addition to their chart-topping success, Florence and the Machine have been nominated for six Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album. They have also performed at major events, such as the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Concert. Furthermore, the band headlined the Glastonbury Festival in 2015, making Welch the first British female headliner of the 21st century.
Florence and the Machine's music is often described as a blend of different genres, including rock and soul. Their debut album, Lungs, won the Brit Award for Best British Album in 2010, cementing their place in the music industry as a force to be reckoned with. With their unique sound and powerful performances, Florence and the Machine have become one of the most critically acclaimed and successful bands in modern music.
