Photo + Words: Emily Howarth

I’d been looking forward to seeing Snow Patrol at the Eden Project for a while since I’d seen them before at the TK Maxx Presents Plymouth Summer Sessions on Plymouth Hoe last year, where they put on a great show, so I was already familiar with their live set and performance and went in with a strong idea of what to expect.. Even so, there was something about seeing them at the Eden Project that felt different. The setting alone makes it one of the most unique places to watch live music, and as the evening drew in with the Biomes lit up behind the stage, it became clear why so many people rate the Eden Sessions so highly. 

The set mixed older favourites with songs from across their career, including Take Back the City, Chocolate, Called Out in the Dark, Run, Open Your Eyes, You’re All I Have and Chasing Cars. They also included newer tracks such as Love, I Guess, giving a nice balance between the songs everyone knows and material from their latest album. Throughout the evening, Gary Lightbody kept the conversation between songs relaxed and genuine, helping to create an atmosphere that felt warm rather than over-produced. One comment that got a laugh from the crowd was when Gary Lightbody introduced a new song by saying, “We’re going to play one from the new album now, don’t be scared.” It was a knowing joke. For a band with a catalogue as well known as Snow Patrol’s, there’s always the expectation that people are there to hear the classics, so it was a nice way of acknowledging that before introducing some of their newer material. 

The highlight of the night for me was The Lightning Strike (What If This Storm Ends?). It’s one of the main reasons I always want to see Snow Patrol live. I’ve never felt the studio version quite captures what the song is capable of. Live, it has so much more room to breathe. The slow build feels even more dramatic, the final section has far greater impact, and the emotion behind it comes across in a way that simply isn’t possible on the recording. Every time I hear it live, I’m reminded why it’s one of my favourite songs in their catalogue. Especially that lead… iykyk. 

Towards the end of the evening came Chasing Cars. It’s a song everyone knows, but hearing thousands of people sing every word together never gets old. Despite the size of the crowd, it somehow felt intimate, with the band almost stepping back at times and letting the crowd carry the chorus. It was one of those moments that you don’t really appreciate until you’re there. 

The Eden Project deserves a mention in its own right. It’s difficult to think of another venue quite like it. The Biomes provide a stunning backdrop without ever overshadowing the performance, and as darkness fell, they only added to the atmosphere. It’s a venue that feels special before the music even begins. 

Having now seen Snow Patrol twice in the space of a year, it’s clear they’re a band that continues to shine in a live setting. Their performance on Plymouth Hoe was excellent, but there was something about this evening at the Eden Project that made it feel even more memorable.

Photo Credit: Emily Howarth