MRCY at Winterthurer Musikfestwochen

Another day, another concert – it’s all about MRCY at Winterthurer Musikfestwochen this time around. It’s always lovely to have one of my recent discoveries performing right here in my hometown. This night was without a doubt the highlight of my summer.

Being part of the official photographer team means I get to see and shoot countless shows during the festival. While they’re all great in their own way, every now and then there are little gems. Gems that truly stand out — and MRCY was definitely one of them.

MRCY Light Up Winterthurer Musikfestwochen

For those unfamiliar, MRCY is the soulful UK duo made up of Kojo Degraft-Johnson and Barney Lister. They’re known for their blend of smooth R&B, soul, and chill grooves that feel both timeless and modern. Sunday shows can be tough, but by the time MRCY stepped on stage, Steibi was nicely filled.

The band was visibly happy to be there, and I loved watching how much they enjoyed being on stage together. I’ve only known about MRCY for about a year, but their music has been on repeat ever since. I can confidently say it hits even harder live. The weather was perfect for these smooth tunes, and it was beautiful seeing Winterthur vibing to every beat. So many people were smiling, singing along, and soaking in the moment. Hearing one of my favourites, California, live was such a treat. Another fave Man absolutely slaps even more in person than on record!

Capturing the Magic on Stage

The energy, the sound, and the atmosphere were pure perfection. It’s moments like these that make live music so powerful. I feel so lucky I get to witness this and capture those moments with my camera.

MRCY at Winterthurer Musikfestwochen – Concert Pictures

A Special Behind-the-Scenes Moment

While the performance was amazing on its own, I had another small highlight that evening that made the night even more special.

Andrin Fretz, who manages the photographer team at MFW, always sets up a small studio underneath the main stage to capture portraits of the performing artists. What a brilliant idea! MRCY was scheduled for their shoot as well. And I got to be there, camera in hand, to capture some behind-the-scenes moments.

Watching Andrin work (seriously, check out his incredible portfolio) is always inspiring. But it was also so much fun to see Kojo and Barney having a great time during the shoot. It was over in just a couple of minutes, but thanks to Andrin, it’s a memory I’ll cherish forever. Here are a few of my behind-the-scenes shots from that moment: