Following Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner's surprise appearance with Richard Hawley at the Union Chapel last week, the Mencap Little Noise Sessions continued at the venue where Florence and the Machine were joined by a string section for their intimate performance last night (Nov. 22).

Standing on a stage adorned with flowers and bird cages and a stripped down version of her band, singer Florence Welch paused to wish her drummer Christopher Hayden, who was sat in the audience, "Happy Birthday".


"It's someone who is very special's birthday today," Welch announced. "He is usually our drummer, he is here by the way. In fact did you choose not to play because you wanted to get drunk?"

"Yes," responded the drummer.

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on Welch as she introduced 'Drumming Song' by saying, "There are no drums but it is a drumming song. So it's going to have to be 'Drumming Song' minus the drums."

She continued, "There's a drum kit here but I don't think I'm going to use it once. It does look a bit lonely there."

Florence and the Machine played a selection of highlights from their Mercury Award-nominated album, 'Lungs', including 'Dog Days Are Over,' 'I'm Not Calling You A Liar' and her cover of Candi Staton's 'You Got The Love'.