The band, playing at Newcastle's Arena, could be forgiven for turning up and playing through their latest CD like simply following a script, stopping occasionally to say "Hello" to a sold-out crowd.

But – unlike a disappointing Kings of Leon several weeks ago – Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody knows about audience participation.

The 32-year-old kept the crowd at his fingertips, allowing them to pick up and sing along to the hits such as an acoustic version of Run (still dominated however by a poor X-Factor rip-off) Chocolate and Chasing Cars.

The band has grown into its live act over the years, and Gary's emotional lyrics, dominated by the themes of lost love and regret, couple well with the tight team work of the instrumentation supporting him.

The gig, dominated by the band's new love for British cities, starts off with a list of places the band call home, before ending with a rallying cry for Newcastle.

And it ends with the epic (and hopefully future single) ten-minute long The Lightning Strike, with an origami visualisation projected onto a curtain in front of the band.

All in all an excellent gig.

The band still have an entire UK tour to get through, finished off with T in the Park and V Festival in August.