Snow Patrol kick off a happy St Patrick's Day in Swindon (From Swindon Advertiser)

Snow Patrol kick off a happy St Patrick's Day in Swindon

11:18am Tuesday 17th March 2009 in News By Sarah Hilley

Snow Patrol kicked off the launch of Radio 1’s Big Weekend this morning in O’Neill’s pub in Swindon

SNOW Patrol kicked off the launch of Radio 1’s Big Weekend this morning in O’Neill’s pub in Swindon.

With an excited crowd gathered outside a police blockade in Fleet Street, Chris Moyle’s hosted his show live.

Chris talked about the acts for the Big Weekend, with Snow Patrol and N-Dubz already confirmed for the May 9 and 10 weekend in Lydiard Park.

Other big acts are also in the pipeline but the BBC is keeping details secret until later.

Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody, who is Irish, said: “Happy St Paddy’s to you, everybody.”

There are 20,000 free tickets available for each day of the festival, but organisers expect about 700,000 people to register.

More details on how to register will be issued in a few weeks.

Head of programs for Radio 1 Ben Cooper said: “I hope the Big Weekend will have a magical effect on Swindon.

“Suddenly all the artists you listen to on Radio 1 will suddenly be in your town.”