Snow Patrol: A Quick Rundown

Snow Patrol has captivated audiences with their emotive lyrics and evocative soundscapes. Known for their chart-topping hits like “Run” and the iconic “Chasing Cars,” the band has carved out a unique space in the musical landscape. Come along as we celebrate their musical achievements and delve into their newest album. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to their music, there’s always something to discover in the world of Snow Patrol.

In 1994, Gary Lightbody and Mark McClelland began to write songs together during their time at the University of Dundee in Scottland, UK. Snow Patrol’s first album, Songs for Polar Bears, was released in 1998 while the band was named Polarbears. The band decided to change their name to Snow Patrol after one of their friends jokingly called them Snow Patrol. Nathan Connolly was invited to play lead guitar while producer Jacknife Lee was recruited to produce the band’s first album under a major label, Final Straw, in 2003.

Snow Patrol has gone through band member changes over the years. Currently, the band consists of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, and Johnny McDaid. Other past members include Mark McClelland, Michael Morrison, Jonny Quinn, Tom Simpson, and Paul Wilson.

In total, Snow Patrol has released 7 studio albums: Songs for Polarbears (1998), When It’s All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001), Final Straw (2003), Eyes Open (2006), A Hundred Million Suns (2008), Fallen Empires (2011), Wildness (2018)

Snow Patrol’s first chart topping single was “Run, released in 2003. In 2004, the single broke into the top five on the UK Singles Chart.

“Chasing Cars” (2006) debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 3, 2006. The single spent 45 weeks on the chart and peaked at number 5 on October 14, 2006. The single peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also gained more traction when it was featured in the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy’s second season which aired on May 15, 2006. The song has been featured several times throughout the show for pivotal moments in the show’s plot.

Throughout the years, the band has been nominated for several awards. Some of the most notable are Best British Album for Eyes Open and Best British Single for “Chasing Cars” (BRIT Awards 2007) and Best Rock Song (Grammy Awards 2007) for “Chasing Cars.”

Snow Patrol released their eighth studio album, The Forest Is The Path (2024), today. The album includes 12 songs: “All,” “The Beginning,” “Everything’s Here And Nothing’s Left,” “Your Heart Home,” “This Is The Sound Of Your Voice,” “Hold Me In The Fire,” “Years That Fall,” “Never Really Tire,” “These Lies,” “What if Nothing Breaks?” “Talking About Hope,” and “The Forest Is The Path.”