Biffy Clyro in Zurich

Another night, another concert, this time it was Biffy Clyro in Zurich. And this one? This one was going to be special. For anyone who somehow hasn’t crossed paths with them yet, Biffy Clyro are the Scottish rock heroes whose blend of powerful riffs, emotional punch, and sing-along anthems have made them a staple of the alternative rock world.

While longtime bassist James Johnston sat out this tour to focus on his mental health and recovery, the band rallied with touring bassist Naomi Macleod stepping in, keeping the spirit alive even as the lineup shifted.

Shooting the Entire Show as a Concert Photographer

Why was this night such a big deal for me? I was asked to shoot the entire show. If you’re a concert photographer, you know exactly what that means. No three songs and out. No clock ticking in the photo pit. Before we got to rock out to Biffy Clyro, Bartees Strange stepped onto the stage. Musically it was pretty different from Biffy, more layered and genre bending, but somehow it worked beautifully as a contrast. A warm up act that didn’t try to imitate, but to carve its own lane.

Concert Photos: Bartees Strange

Biffy Clyro’s Energy and the Zurich Crowd

Then it was Biffy Clyro time. The audience was pretty mixed age wise, with a few more men in the crowd though. I remember scanning the room and wondering: is this going to be a rowdy one? I was secretly hoping for a bit of action to capture some wild crowd shots. The band started out strong and the fans were instantly hooked. From that point on, I honestly didn’t catch much of the overall atmosphere because I was fully in the zone, locked in on angles, light changes, and those split second expressions that make or break a photo. The show wasn’t quite sold out, but the GA section was packed and tight. From the seating area you could really see how many people had shown up, and it looked impressively full.

A Great Night at Halle 622

There were a few people jumping around every now and then, but from what I could see, not too much rowdiness going on. I didn’t spot a mosh pit, though to be fair, I wasn’t always focused on the crowd. Long story short: it was a great night. I walked away with a couple of shots I’m really proud of and, unexpectedly, a new love for rock shows and for Biffy Clyro. Huge thanks to Gadget and of course to the whole Biffy crew for having me.