The Northern Ireland-based Snow Patrol have been announced as the special guests at the inaugural music discovery event BBC Introducing Live in Belfast International Arts Festival.

The event will take place at the Limelight on Friday 13th October and is designed to boost Northern Ireland's most promising young acts, this year will feature performances from rising stars Jordan Adetunji, Lucy Gaffney, Reevah and Cbakl.

“We are delighted to be playing the BBC Introducing Live event and to be sharing the stage with so many amazing homegrown, rising artists," said Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody. "This event, obviously, is to mainly support newer artists and we have of course been around forever! But we’ve always been so proud to be a part of the NI music scene and that scene is stronger, and making more exciting music, than ever. It’s great to be a wee part of the event and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Snow Patrol are one of the biggest bands on the Irish music scene and released a special 20th-anniversary reissue of their third studio album Final Straw last month. The album, originally released in 2003, is now certified six times platinum in the UK and produced four top 30 hits for the band.

Earlier this month, however, Paul Wilson, the group's bassist, and Jonny Quinn, the drummer, departed the band. Despite this, Snow Patrol is due to release its anticipated eighth studio album in 2024.

"Sorry to be the bearer of such sad news but both Jonny Quinn and Paul Wilson have decided to leave Snow Patrol," read the band's social media statement. "We are heartbroken they have decided to leave us but we wish them nothing but happiness, success, joy, compassion and everything they want in all their future endeavours."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Snow Patrol (@snowpatrol)