The Live at Ludlow Castle concert series is now in its fourth year, offering attendees the opportunity to enjoy major acts in the spectacular setting of one of the finest medieval ruins in England. For two weeks in July, the stunning Shropshire town of Ludlow welcomes a range of rock and pop artists from the 80’s to the present day, and here at Midlands Rocks we were delighted to get the opportunity to take in a few shows and experience the fantastic atmosphere for ourselves. This year, the opening night saw an amazing headline performance from Snow Patrol, the Northern Irish rockers delighting the sold out crowd with a career spanning set.
Before the headliners, Corinne Bailey Rae thrilled the audience with a set that showcased her compelling voice and soulful RnB. It has been twenty years since Corinne released her multi-platinum, chart topping debut album and she gave a passionate display that reminded everyone just how strong a singer she still is. From the garage rock of ‘New York Transit Queen’ (that really deserved a mosh pit, but it wasn’t that sort of crowd), to the infectious grooves of ‘Put Your Records On’ and ‘Like a Star’, this was a hugely enjoyable 45 minutes to bask in the early evening sunshine.
Now coming towards the end of the touring cycle for 2024’s The Forest is the Path, Snow Patrol are already looking ahead to their next studio album. Mid way through the show, Gary Lightbody introduced a new song, ‘Love I Guess’, that did more than enough to suggest that in a career of remarkable highlights, they still have much to offer. Live, they are a well oiled machine, packing the set with soaring anthems and powerful arrangements, supported by stunning visuals that bring it all to life. Set against the backdrop of the Castle ruins, it was a joy to behold.
‘Take Back the City’ proved to be a lively opener and the crowd were on board from the moment the band hit the stage. At moments throughout the show Gary seemed in genuine awe at the enthusiastic response they received, and there were plenty of heart warming sing-a-long moments during the likes of ‘Run’ and ‘Shut Your Eyes’. Played at just the right moment in the evening, ‘Chasing Cars’ took the audience into a state of euphoria with its perfect blend of sentimentality and emotion, before ‘You’re All I Have’ offered a frenetic close to the main set. Summoned back for an encore, the dramatic impact of ‘What If This Is The Love You Ever Get?’ and positivity of ‘Just Say Yes’ summed up the night perfectly. This was a timely reminder that Snow Patrol are still around, still relevant and still captivating audiences around the globe.
Set list:-
Take Back the City
Chocolate
Called Out in the Dark
Run
All
Crack the Shutters
The Lightning Strike (What If This Storm Ends?)
You Could Be Happy
Love, I Guess
Open Your Eyes
Make This Go On Forever
Shut Your Eyes
Heal Me
Chasing Cars
You’re All I Have
What If This Is All the Love You Ever Get?
Just Say Yes
