Gary Lightbody, the lead singer of Snow Patrol, has expressed concern that no band from Northern Ireland has achieved international success this century. He spoke about the challenges faced by artists in the region during a meeting with arts leaders and Stormont Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
The lead singer of Snow Patrol has expressed his concern that no band from Northern Ireland has broken the international market this century.
Snow Patrol was formed in 1994 in Dundee, when Lightbody was at university in the Scottish city. Their third album, Final Straw, with hits Chocolate and Run, released in 2003, was their first to bring them mainstream success. “We had a lot of friends and family who supported us, I slept on a lot of friends’ couches over the years, so I know what it is like to be an artist and not make any money. We didn’t make any money for ten years and relied on the kindness of strangers, to borrow from Tennessee Williams.
“So there are other issues other than just funding set against young artists starting today, but that would certainly give them a good footing to start their musical career. We haven’t had a very successful Northern Irish band in a while, I think in this century so far. We’re talking Ash, Foy Vance, ourselves, Two Door Cinema Club.
Snow Patrol Gary Lightbody Northern Irish Music Arts Funding International Success
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