OneRepublic in Zurich

Another day, another concert – this time it was OneRepublic in Zurich at Hallenstadion. The American pop-rock band, formed in the early 2000s and led by frontman Ryan Tedder, is known for hit after hit — from Apologize and Counting Stars to Run and I Ain’t Worried. Having seen them several times before and already had the chance to shoot them twice, I was super happy to photograph them again.

Originally, we were supposed to have Ella Henderson as support, which would have been fantastic, but unfortunately, she had to cancel due to illness. The silver lining? OneRepublic went on stage a bit earlier than planned.

Impressive Stage Setup and Packed Hallenstadion

The stage setup was absolutely stunning with colorful lighting, and visuals that really brought the show to life. Hallenstadion was pretty much sold out, with maybe a few leftover single seats (mostly obstructed view), but overall, it was packed. As with most mainstream radio-hit acts, the audience was a fun mix of ages and types.

I had read reviews from previous stops on their tour, many of which mentioned surprisingly quiet crowds. Something that honestly made me a bit nervous given Switzerland’s reputation for being rather reserved. Sadly, this show wasn’t an exception. The first few rows were definitely bringing the energy, but after that, things got rather calm. Thankfully, I did spot a few people up in the seats dancing their hearts out, which helped balance things out a little.

OneRepublic in Zurich: A Night of Non-Stop Hits

While the setlist was filled with massive hits and nostalgia, the overall atmosphere felt a bit “meh.” Ryan Tedder and the band put on a solid show as always, but it was clear that Ryan was struggling with his voice. It sounded extremely raspy but not in the good, soulful kind of way. It seemed like he might have been fighting off a cold or dealing with some vocal strain.

That made it tough to hit certain notes, but he pushed through like a true professional. I can only imagine how challenging and maybe even painful that must’ve been. Yet he still gave his all. Despite the quieter crowd and Ryan’s voice issues, I still thoroughly enjoyed hearing all those songs live again. I’m always amazed by how many huge hits this band has created over the years. Songs that have been the soundtrack to so many moments, through good times, bad times, and everything in between.