Snow Patrol set for Birmingham LG Arena

They don't mind the comparisons with U2. After all, in the past couple of years, Snow Patrol spent about 40 dates on the road with the world's biggest band.

The comparisons extend beyond both group's penchant for stadium-filling anthems.

Snow Patrol's latest CD, Fallen Empires, was written at the scene of one of U2's greatest triumphs, The Joshua Tree, and in other parts of California.

Fallen Empires also introduces a dance element, giving it a distinct taste of U2's game-changing rock-dance mash-up, Achtung Baby.

Singer Gary Lightfoot says: "We wanted to make a massively ambitious record. Arcade Fire's last record (The Suburbs) made us realise that we had to up our game. It was amazing.

"We decided that we wanted to make a record unlike any other we've made before."

Keyboard player Tom Simpson adds: "It was very relaxed. Instead of booking ourselves into an expensive studio, we basically built our own.

"We found an amazing house in Malibu, perched on a hill, with amazing views.

"Our producer rebuilt his studio in the house and we came and went as and when we were needed."

As Snow Patrol recorded Fallen Empires, plenty of other musicians dropped in, including R.E.M's Michael Stipe, US singer Lissie and Queens Of The Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen.

Stipe helped Lightbody overcome a bout of writer's block.

Gary says: "He was very supportive when I had writer's block and gave me the confidence that everything that I had already was worth pursuing."

Tom adds: "Gary was going through a critical stage in the writing and just couldn't seem to get any ideas down or any clarity to what he was doing. It was hard for us to help him, other than to give him a hug.

"But an afternoon with Michael helped him through it."

The dance element of Fallen Empires, evidenced on tunes like I'll Never Let Go, was thrilling for all members of the band.

Tom says: "I've always loved twiddling knobs and messing about with filters. It was nice to see that. There's always been an element of dance to our music, but it's never been at the front of the stage before.

"Some people are calling this our Achtung Baby, and I don't mind that. We spent a lot of time on the road with U2 and whether or not you like the music, you can't fail to be impressed by the way they conduct themselves. They do a massive stadium gig and make one person at the back feel as though they're at the front of the stage."

Snow Patrol's world tour reaches Birmingham's LG Arena tomorrow (Saturday, Febryary 4, 2012) and Tom, Gary and co are looking forward to it.

"It's been a while, three years or so," says Tom. "The show's developed a lot since then. We've moved on."

Tickets for the gig are available from the venue and online outlets. See www.lgarena.co.uk

By Andy Richardson