Biffy Clyro

Live at The Radio One Big Weekend 2025

Sefton Park 

Liverpool

Friday 23rd May

I went to Liverpool’s Sefton Park at The Radio One Big Weekend 2025 tonight to see the Scottish Rock titans, who are Biffy Clyro. I’d had never seen them before as they always sell out so quickly, so I was really excited to finally get to see them live! I got to Sefton Park and parked up as close as I thought, only to find I could have got a lot closer, Damn, oh well a quick walk and I was there with 5 minutes to spare. This would be their first gig back on a big stage after the secret gig they played in Glasgow on Wednesday. 

(CREDIT: BBC / Sarah Jeynes / Jamie Simonds)

As they took to the stage, the crowd was visibly buzzing with energy. Biffy Clyro in a blaze of light and sound reaffirm their deserved status (I really am a massive fan) as one of the UK’s most electrifying live acts. They began their sets with a brand new track called ‘A Little Love‘. A Brilliant start which had people singing along to the chorus as frontman Simon Neil said, “It was great to be back in Liverpool as they always have a good time” before playing the upbeat ‘Tiny Indoor Fireworks‘.  By this time, I and most of the crowd were already in heaven. They’ve been together over 25 years, and you can see how well they are in sync with each other, ably supported by their regular touring guitarist Mike Vennart, also enhanced by keyboards and strings.

Next up, ‘A Hunger in your haunt‘ with its angular riff and pounding drums propelling the song forward to its call to action chorus. The carefully curated set list is clearly tailored perfectly for the day, packed with so many crowd-pleasing songs full of inventive musicianship. They then played, Re-arrange, Biblical and Wolves of Winter where Simon stood at the back of the stage, this was the point I thought I was going to explode with happiness and the crowd erupted in response, singing along to every word. Biffy Clyro’s connection to its audience is so apparent, there is a sense of shared experiences a feeling that everyone in the park was partaking in something really special. I remember looking around and not one face seemed like they weren’t enjoying this performance.

Then the weather changed, spots of rain began, weirdly, when ‘Black Chandelier‘ started. If you know this track, it starts with a repeat of Drip Drip, even the heavens were on the side of Biffy Clyro tonight, to reinforce how amazing this song is. To say I felt chills down my back is an understatement. Simon Neil said, “Liverpool never disappoints”, which was clear as the crowd bounced along and reacted to ‘Instant History’ with a collective roar. ‘Bubbles’ was met with a mass energy and a huge singalong, reflecting the sheer relentless intensity and enthusiasm of Biffy Clyro, damn they are so amazing live.

(CREDIT: BBC / Sarah Jeynes / Jamie Simonds)

It was a flawless performance from start to finish. Neil, at the end of the set, implored the crowd to “sing at the top of their lungs”, and wow, they did! Song ‘Many of Horror‘, a blistering rendition of possibly one of my favourite songs, had the crowd buzzing with adrenaline. Biffy Clyro’s reputation as a uniquely phenomenal live act is so well deserved, and a prime example of the power of live music to unify us all.

SetList: A little love, Tiny Indoor Fireworks, A Hunger in your Haunt, Re-arrange, Biblical, Wolves of Winter, Black Chandelier, Instant History, Bubbles, Many of Horror

Review by Paul Pennington