Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and Johnny McDaid are working on new music with Ed Sheeran.

Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol

The 'Chasing Cars' hitmakers co-wrote Ed's song 'Bloodstream', which was nominated for Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the 2016 Novello Awards - and have revealed they are back in the studio together.

Speaking at the 61st Ivor Novello Awards - sponsored by PRS for Music and BASCA - at London's Grosvenor House on Thursday (19.05.16), frontman Gary exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Me and my man Johnny McDaid here have been working on a lot of movie soundtracks, we've been working on some independent film scores and stuff like that. We're writing again with Ed Sheeran and a lot of other guys as well."

Johnny, 39, considers Ed to be one of the band's "brothers".

He added: "Ed is a very cool guy. He is one of our best friends and one of our brothers. "

And Gary had nothing but praise for the flame-haired pop star and praised him for his ability to perform solo with just his guitar at stadiums such as London's Wembley Stadium.

He said: "Ed is one of the best solo artists in the world. A guy that can stand on stage and be self-accompanying. A guy that can stand on stage at Wembley with just a guitar and loop pedal and have the crowd enraptured. He has a mighty skill, a mighty talent and an incredible voice."

Meanwhile, Snow Patrol's next LP, which will be their first since 2011's 'Fallen Empires', will be released sometime next year as they are waiting to get into the studio with U2's producer to record it.

Gary said: "It should be ready by the Autumn but it's too late to get it this year. It will be out next spring. It's ready go - we're ready to go, like a coiled spring.

"We've finished the writing of it and we're going to record it mid-July, our producer is working with U2 at the moment and once he's finalised then he'll come and work with us."

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