Nathan Connolly

Nathan Connolly is a Northern Irish musician, who is best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for alternative rock band Snow Patrol. He also briefly served as guitarist for Feeder in 2016, and released his debut solo album in 2023.

Early life

Connolly, who was born in Belfast, sang for a gospel church choir at Glenmachan, Church of God, Belfast when he was 16, and the experience, he says, is what inspired him to be a musician.
He is a former pupil of Grosvenor Grammar School.

Musical career

Prior to joining Snow Patrol, Connolly was a member of a band called File Under Easy Listening, who were managed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Colin Murray. The band consisted of Connolly, vocalist Aaron Ditty, Dave Magee and Peter Comfort. Unfortunately, it did not last long; the single "Closure/Dryform" was F.U.E.L.'s first and only release.
While working at the record store HMV in Belfast, Connolly was introduced to the band Snow Patrol. He reluctantly agreed to join, despite the fact that the band had no record deal at the time. He jokingly recalls his mother thinking he "was being kidnapped by rock stars."
Connolly became a permanent member of the band near the end of 2002. His recruitment played a large role in shaping the band's new sound. With Connolly as a composer of the band's new material, Snow Patrol garnered a new record deal and released Final Straw in 2003. The album proved to be the band's breakthrough and helped introduce them to a wide audience.
In late 2006, he talked about plans to record a solo album, which he said would be "melodic and tuneful".
In 2013, Connolly formed his own side project called Little Matador.
Connolly played with Feeder live at the Isle of Wight Festival on 12 June 2016.
On 17 March 2023, he released “Fires”, with guest star Simon Neil on vocals, as the lead single from his debut solo album The Strange Order of Things. The album was released on 21 April 2023.

Personal life

Connolly lives in County Down, with his fiancé Sarah Greene. They have one son together. Greene also sang backing vocals on the 2024 Snow Patrol album The Forest Is The Path along with Courteney Cox, fiancé of Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid.

Equipment

Guitars

Gibson Les Paul Custom – Tobacco 1979
Gibson Les Paul Custom – Ebony
Fender Telecaster Custom – Sunburst 1974
Fender Telecaster Custom – Blonde 1977
Gretsch Countryman – Brown 1962
Gretsch Duo Jet – Black
Fender Jaguar – Sunburst 1965
Fender Telecaster Custom – Black '72 reissue
Fender Telecaster Nashville – Sunburst
Guild Acoustic
Rickenbacker 360 – Jetglo
Hutchins Memphis – Black

He uses Jim Dunlop Tortex.60mm picks

Amps

Diamond Amplification Spitfire I Head with Spitfire 4x12 Cabinet
Vox AC30
Marshall JCM800 2203 Jubilees
Marshall 3315 Transistor
Fender Twin Reverb

Effects

Connolly uses a setup that is primarily rack based. His rack consists of the following:

TC Electronic D Two
TC Electronic G Major
TC Electronic M One XL
Voodoo Labs GCX Audio Switcher

He uses various pedals for his overdrive and boost sounds. They change from time to time, but his consistent setup includes the following:

Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer
MXR/Dunlop Micro Amp
Boss Super Overdrive
Boss Blues Driver

He uses a Voodoo Labs Ground Control Pro controller to bring up presets for each of the band's songs, and has the ability to add/remove different pedals and changes in sound.
He also uses a function in the TC Electronic G Major that allows him to switch the channels on his Marshall Jubilee amp heads for his heaviest sounds.
Connolly has a small pedalboard containing his ground control for the rack and various Boss pedals including a TU-2, PS-5, DD3, and RC-2.