Florence has Abu Dhabi F1 fans in overdrive

Yas Marina was buzzing on Saturday evening as punters gathered to soak up the atmosphere of qualifying day, followed by a performance by British rock band Florence and the Machine.

Florence and the Machine perform on the third night of the Yas Island F1 entertainment evenings at Du Arena. Antonie Robertson/The National

ABU DHABI // Yas Marina was buzzing last night as punters gathered to soak up the atmosphere of qualifying day.

Motorsport fanatic Alex Lane flew in specially to celebrate his 39th birthday.

“I’m having an amazing weekend in Abu Dhabi,” said the British marketing executive.

“This is definitely the most glamorous F1 circuit in the world. I’ve been to six different Grand Prix circuits and there’s really something special about the race here.”

Dubai resident Hanna Dahlin admitted to being a fresh convert to the sport.

“This is my first Grand Prix, I really didn’t know what to expect,” said the 28-year-old personal trainer.

“There’s just something special, a feeling in the air – I’ll definitely be back next year.”

Away from the races, the volume was turned loud at Du Arena last night where Florence and the Machine headlined the post-qualifying race concert.

Fans of the British rock band were ecstatic about the chance to see their first performance in the UAE in more than two years.

“I can’t wait. I’ve been listening to Florence for nearly 10 years, since she started,” said Tara Menan, 26, a Kenyan, who works in advertising.

“She’s got an incredible voice and I think this will be a great concert because the acoustics are so good here at Du Arena.”

It has been a big year for the group. In May, they released their third album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful to critical acclaim.

The following month, they were called on to headline Britain’s Glastonbury festival at the last-minute after the top-billed Foo Fighters were forced to cancel when frontman Dave Grohl broke his leg in a stage fall.

“I’m a massive fan. The last time I saw her was at the Glastonbury festival this summer, and it was the best concert of my life,” said Wendee Hill, 36, a British personal assistant.

“It’s incredible the kind of acts we get to see here in the UAE.”

After a screeching, distorted soundscape, frontwoman Florence Welch emerged in flared white trousers and a waistcoat, topped with a blue shirt.

The show opened in Abu Dhabi with rousing slow burner, What the Water Gave Me.

The mood exploded with bouncing indie anthem Ship to Wreck, then the tempo was kept up with the 2009 fan favourite Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up).

The band’s appeal has always been their mix of jarring elements – baroque harps pit against slashing guitars and pop choruses which make intimate confessions – and onstage, the effect is only amplified. Welch is notoriously theatrical, and she did not disappoint, bounding about the stage barefoot with dramatic aplomb.

The show marked the band’s first performance in the UAE since a headline slot at Dubai’s former Sandance festival in May 2013.