Snow Patrol at the O2 Arena

Snow Patrol made a momentous return with their first headline show since 2019, not only selling out the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena but also delivering a stellar performance – despite their pianist, Johnny McDaid, undergoing hand surgery just a week ago.

The perfect combination of old and new material created a harmonious blend that encapsulated the band’s signature sound: easy-listening, romantically melancholic melodies that transport listeners into a meditative state of bliss. With the release of their eighth studio album, The Forest Is the Path, frontman Gary Lightbody reformed the act as a trio in 2023.

Opening with golden oldie Take Back the City sparked excitement with its familiarity and nostalgia, a perfect way to build momentum at the start of the show. Their deeply emotive songs blended seamlessly with the artful backdrop and laser lights that illuminated the entire arena. Several standout moments emerged, one of which came during the trio’s power ballad, Chasing Cars – arguably their most beloved and globally recognisable hit on the 18-track setlist. The crowd wailed in a collective, tear-jerking singalong. Similarly, the band’s chart-topping 2004 single Run mirrored this energy.

Martha Wainwright’s hologram was so lifelike that it made their duet even more spine-chilling as they belted out the trance-inducing Set the Fire to the Third Bar. The vastness of the arena did not diminish the intimacy between the stage and the audience – a testament to Lightbody’s staggering performance. Overall, the night’s energy was electric, and the band’s music was powerful enough to captivate 20,000 die-hard fans, many of whom arrived with lyrics tattooed on their bodies. One of them had inked: “Would you lie with me and just forget the world?”

Nina Doroushi
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit Snow Patrol’s website here.

Watch the lyric video for All here: