Biffy Clyro
The Pyramid Stage, Friday June 27, 2025
According to MOJO’s all-seeing eye, replica football shirts are enjoying a renaissance with Glastonbury fashionistas. And amid the all-pervasive Britpop nostalgia (England circa Euro ’96), in the arcane stakes Grimsby Town’s 2014-15 kit (proudly sponsored by Young’s fish products) is roundly outnumbered on Friday by the blue and white stripes of Kilmarnock FC. Which can only mean Biffy Clyro are back for their fifth Glastonbury appearance, the Pyramid Stage silver medal podium their reward for consistently delivering stadium-scale heavy rock seasoned with smalltown humility.
On a balmy evening, the trio’s taps are justifiably aff a mere three songs in. “I want to see you singing, dancing, bouncing, and maybe shagging,” declares singer-guitarist Simon Neil by way of a hopeful introduction to Biblical, and a fair section of the crowd seem keen to oblige him. Wearing a succession of high-slung battle-thrashed Fenders, Nicol compellingly suggests Scottish post-punk magus Davey Henderson twinned with Dave Grohl, and so it goes for Biffy Clyro as a whole: monolithic melody monsters with just enough weirdness to titillate, but never scare, the masses.
The opening A Little Love suggests forthcoming new album Futique – future and antique, apparently – won’t mess with a proven formula, a string duo lending pizzicato flourish to the mountainous succession of crescendos and choruses. Fraternal rhythm section Ben and James Johnston hold together the intricate constructs with borderline nonchalance, like low-end nuclear physicists amped up to the earth’s core, somehow powering That Golden from 0 to 120 in minus-5 seconds. Set standout Black Chandelier, meanwhile, grips the heartstrings with its quiet-loud dynamic and palpable emotive undertow. Neil’s eyes are moistening midway through Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies when he drops an excerpt of God Only Knows in tribute to his hero Brian Wilson.
As ever in Biffyworld, upward momentum prevails over heavy vibes. “This song’s called Bubbles,” hollers Simon, his grizzled grin restored. “Let’s see everyone bouncing in the air.” With performances like this in the tank, you wouldn’t bet against Biffy Clyro bouncing back to Glastonbury as Pyramid headliners one day.
Biffy Clyro Glastonbury 2025 Setlist:
A Little Love
That Golden Rule
Biblical
Mountains
Re-Arrange
Wolves Of Winter
Tiny Indoor Fireworks
Black Chandelier
Instant History
Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies
Bubbles
Many of Horror
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Photo: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Stringer