Florence Black/The Virginmarys –
Corporation, Sheffield, Wednesday 17th September, 2025
Set List: You're A Killer/NYC/Northwest Coast/My Nettle/When The Lights Go Down/Where Are You Now?/ There Ain't No Future/Bang Bang Bang.
Rule one of booking a support band: Don't pick one that has the ability to perform better than you! Ally Dickaty (Guitar/Vocals) & Danny Dolan (Drums) were amazing last year at KK's Steel Mill which is when I first got to see these.
Supporting Florence Black at The Corp, the Macclesfield rock duo blew the roof off with their explosive performance. The sound was so massive that I found myself looking for other band members.
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Ally's near-punk style and intensely angry tone demanded attention, while Danny matched his energy with a fierce display of emotion. These two proved you don't need a big band-just a massive amount of heart, soul, and a little anger to be truly amazing.
I couldn't shake the ringing in my ears. The Virginmarys had just delivered a ferocious, no-holds- barred set that felt like a sonic assault, leaving the air thick with the aftershocks of their raw power. Their two-man show had produced a sound so massive and uncompromising.
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It was a fantastic set. I implore you to go and see them live. You will not be disappointed.
Set List: Rockin' Ring/Start Again/Bird on a Chain/Coloured In/Solid 9/The Deep End/Take My Word/On the Ropes/Black Cat/Warning Sign/Back to the End/Can You Feel It?/Look Up/Bed of Nails/Zulu/Paranoid (Black Sabbath cover)/Breadfan (Budgie cover).
Encore: Sun & Moon.
Florence Black consist of Tristan Thomas (Vocals/Guitar), Jordan Evans (Bass/Backing Vocals) &
Perry Davies (Drums/Backing Vocals). My friend's confident prediction that Florence Black would be "the next big thing" felt like a bold claim in the wake of such a performance from The Virginmarys.
While I had familiarized myself with some of the Welsh trio's songs from their social media, I was seriously wondering if they could possibly live up to the hype, let alone top the explosive energy of the band that had just left the stage.
While my ears were still ringing, Florence Black took the stage, and their opening number was a deliberate curveball. Instead of a crushing, immediate assault, 'Rockin' Ring' began with a surprisingly melodic intro that threw my expectations completely off. But the calm was short-lived, as the song quickly exploded into the heavy metal I'd been waiting for.
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The band's performance was a photographer's nightmare and a fan's dream. Both Tristan and Jordan were a whirlwind of motion, constantly leaning into the crowd, commanding attention, and making sure everyone in the front row could feel the music as much as they could hear it.
Next, Florence Black transitioned into 'Start Again', a more melodic track with a sing-along chorus that shifted the energy. The crowd, however, was still holding back, so the band immediately launched into the older, heavier track, 'Bird on a Chain' to ignite the room. This was the turning point. The trio hit their stride, absolutely owning the stage with classic rock poses, crowd-pointing, and some serious guitar shredding.
They then debuted a new song, "Coloured In," which quickly became a highlight for me. It was a perfect blend of traditional heavy metal, featuring a catchy chorus, a powerful verse, and a fantastic instrumental break that led to a wave of headbanging throughout the crowd.
Midway through the set, a brief technical issue with a guitar brought the music to a halt. In the sudden silence, a disappointing reality of the Sheffield crowd emerged: it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Jordan, visibly frustrated, screamed, "Are you still alive, Sheffield?" A half-hearted "yeah" came back. Not giving up, he screamed the question again, even louder. The response was only slightly better, and it seemed Jordan accepted that was all he was going to get. With that, they powered on with the show, undeterred by the audience's muted reaction.
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The band launched into 'Black Cat', followed by the more melodic 'Warning Signs', which prompted the crowd to sway with their arms in the air. The softer mood continued with 'Back to the End', a ballad that should have the audience holding up their phone torches (not this time). I was genuinely impressed by Tristan's vocal range; he wasn't just a guttural metal screamer, he could truly sing. While this mellower side of the band was "hug your partner nice," I was here for something more.
My wish was granted when the band tore into 'Can You Feel It', an explosive track that jolted the show back into the heavy metal I craved. This was the kind of music that got my blood pumping and my fist in the air. The emotional "fluff" was nice, but this was what I had been waiting for. The set culminated with my favourite, 'Bed of Nails'.
By this point, the Sheffield crowd had finally woken up. A genuine surge of movement began, not quite a mosh pit, but a clear sign that the energy had finally taken hold. If anyone ever asked me where to start with Florence Black, I would undoubtedly tell them to listen to this one song. The set was a showcase of their entire range, and it was the song 'Bed of Nails' that perfectly encapsulated their appeal.
It had everything: a slow, heavy intro, powerful vocals from Tristan, a sing- along chorus that finally got the crowd engaged, a crushing instrumental break, and incredible, heavy drumming from Perry at the back. It was a true testament to what the band could do, a song I'd recommend to anyone.
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As the set neared its end, they paid tribute to their influences, first with a searing cover of Ozzy Osbourne's 'Paranoid', then with the song I was most excited for: a phenomenal rendition of Budgie's 'Breadfan'. The unexpected cover was a thrilling surprise, and the lads performed it with a passion that did the original justice.
For the encore, they returned for just one more song, a small disappointment after the crowd had finally woken up and the energy had reached its peak, but a powerful ending nonetheless. Florence Black had proven they were a band worth seeing, not just for their heavy riffs but for their ability to deliver a truly captivating and well-rounded performance.
The night concluded with the encore, a single song: 'Sun & Moon'. It felt like a curious choice to end the show. The song's great beat had the crowd clapping along, and Jordan showcased the quality of his voice. It built to a fantastic chorus, only to drop back down into a bluesy style. While it was a good song with some standout moments, I was left wanting more of the heavy metal that had defined the best parts of the set.
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As I left the venue, I felt calm and happy, rather than fired up-which was probably exactly the point. The band likely chose this song to wind down the energy and send the crowd out into the night in a more subdued state. The Sheffield audience, as a whole, didn't do the band justice; it was a quiet crowd, which might have been due to it being a Wednesday night, but I've seen Sheffield audiences like this before.
Despite the subdued crowd, Florence Black proved they are a band with incredible range, capable of melodic singing, brutal face-melters, and entertaining showmanship. They are a genuinely entertaining and excellent live act, and it's clear why my friend believes they're destined for bigger things. They have the talent and stage presence to build a serious following..
By Dale Holford