More used to rocking out in front of tens of thousands, this was Snow Patrol in probably their most intimate performance since they started as a student band.

The band delivered a unique experience to 100 ecstatic competition winners last night. Organised by Virgin Radio, the show saw the group stripped from its five-strong line-up to a guitarwielding trio of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Paul Wilson.

As the lights dimmed many fans were reduced to silence, scarcely able to take in the notion of being in touching distance of their heroes.

Acting more like a bunch of amiable students than rock stars, the band put the fans at ease, with Lightbody cracking jokes in keeping with his reputation as the kind of pop star you could take home to your mum.

They began with Chocolate. Despite the matey banter, the crowd now stood in something approaching awe as the quality of Snow Patrol's songwriting seemed to be magnified.

We were in the home of the Gibson guitar company; so it was no surprise that the amplification of the three acoustic guitars was exquisite, providing a sound that made the lack of drums and keyboards barely noticeable as the band created rhythms, basslines and melodies that left even more rhythmic tracks like How To Be Dead sounding full and rich. Unfortunately, the smallish room was clearly not set up for this number of people in this high state of excitement.

This may have been a contributing factor to the heat, which led Lightbody to quip: "I'm just going to sit here sweating profusely," as he sipped a cup of tea. The heat may have caused their guitars to go slightly out of tune, although this was remedied immediately.

A more serious tuning problem concerned Connolly's rather shaky backing vocals, which marred what would have been some beautiful harmonies.

But there was no spoiling the beauty of Run. More emotional and powerful than ever in this setting, it provided a spinetingling climax to a special night.

The concert will be broadcast on Virgin Radio on Thursday from 7pm.