Walking from the East Gate into the Royal Highland Centre for one of their most highly anticipated Summer Sessions of the season, there was already a buzz around the site. Biffy Clyro are a band on fire at the moment with a wide ranging fanbase and the steady stream of people walking into the grounds reflected that. The sun was shining, the cider was flowing, and a myriad of food trucks were on hand to keep energy levels up. The hot sugared doughnuts smelled especially enticing…

First band up was Scottish alt-rockers, Swim School. It was great to see a rising Edinburgh band in the support slot and they certainly got the energy moving in the right direction! Every member of the band brought their A-game in what was one of their biggest shows to date and it looked clear they have a big future ahead of them.

Next up was popular English rockers, Nothing But Thieves. Their opening song “Stray Dogs” began with a pulsing rhythm that seemed to steadily ramp up the audience before smashing straight into the rest of the set. Singer Conor Mason’s epically strong vocals were complimented by the electric musicianship of his bandmates and together they made sure the audience was thoroughly primed for the headliner. 

Honourable mention goes to the man in a pink costume with an inflatable flamingo around his waist. As he crowd surfed his way to the front, and the camera operator gave him a close up on the big screens, Mason voiced what we were all thinking, “Well that was fucking weird!“. The crowd burst out laughing and cheered loudly. Legend!

Then, with the stage drenched in dark red light and smoke hanging in the air, Biffy Clyro exploded on to the stage with fireworks booming overhead! It was a spectacular entrance!

Maverick frontman Simon Neil, topless, tattooed and kilted, owned the stage and had the crowd captivated for the entirety of Biffy’s set. The flamethrower he brandished during “Who’s Got A Match?” made the performance even more exciting. Shout out to the creative and technical team who designed such an incredible set and light show, including the pyrotechnics. The production really elevated the performance and experience for fans. The whole evening was consistently visually stunning. 

The mood shifted to something more considered and quiet during “Space“, with warm yellow lights glowing across the stage like candles or stars as the audience swayed. A plane passed overhead, and it was hard not to wonder how magical the stage must have looked from 3,000 feet.

The emotional high point came with fan favourite, “Machines“. With the staging stripped back and a violinist adding to the emotion, the crowd sang every word. Friends, couples and families leaned into each other. For a beautiful moment, everyone felt completely connected.  

“Bubbles” prompted another mass singalong before the band headed towards the finale. “Many of Horror” was a gorgeous choice for the closing song, the audience once again singing every word before Neil delivered the immortal sign-off:

“We are. Biffy. Fucking. Clyro!”

Even then, the crowd wasn’t finished. Walking away from the darkened stage to catch buses, trams or to be picked up by loved ones, those heading back through the East Gate spontaneously broke into a rendition of, “You’re Just Too Good to Be True” by Frankie Valli.

It was a fitting end to a night that combined huge rock songs, spectacular production and genuine connection between band and audience. Biffy Clyro brought the fire, literally, but ultimately it was the fans singing those songs back to them with such feeling that made the evening so perfect.

Words: Kim Sabatelli

Images:  Euan Robertson