Vocal injury strikes Florence Welch

Washington - Florence and the Machine cancelled their next two shows in Europe on Wednesday to enable frontwoman Florence Welch to recover from a vocal injury in time for a North American tour.

"I've sustained a vocal injury and been told I cannot sing for a week... seriously I felt something snap, it was very frightening," wrote Welch, 25, to her fans on the band's website.

"Unfortunately this means I will not be able to perform at the Benicassim and Optimus Alive festivals (in Spain and Portugal respectively) this weekend... I hope I can make it up to you in the future."

String of concerts

She did not specify the nature of the vocal injury, "but I was told without question not to (perform), so as not to do permanent damage".

Florence and the Machine is still lined up for a string of concerts in Canada and the United States starting in Burnaby, British Columbia on 20 July and ending in Chicago on 5 August, before returning to Europe for more gigs.

Fellow British songstress Adele cancelled a number of US concerts in October last year after she sustained a vocal cord hemorrhage for the second time in less than a year. In such cases, doctors prescribe strict voice rest.