Boff Whalley, a founding member of the Burnley-based band Chumbawamba, wrote and produced a new track titled “Ours to Make” for Burnley’s Year of Culture 2027 celebrations, according to a report by the BBC.
The song aims to capture the spirit of the Lancashire town through a Northern Soul-inspired sound. Residents will hear the track for the first time during a live performance on Saturday at the Burnley Believes stage show on St James’s Street.
Inspiration Behind Ours to Make
Whalley said that conversations with local residents shaped the message of the song. People told him to reflect the town’s modern identity, resilience, and future potential rather than focusing solely on its industrial past.
“Don’t make it all about cotton,” residents told the musician, prompting him to focus on industry and ambition instead.
“I think I got involved because I had the good fortune of being born within two miles of Turf Moor,” Whalley said, as reported by the BBC. “It was calling me.”
The musician emphasized the participatory nature of the Year of Culture project. He said that the initiative encourages residents to get involved rather than merely watching a showcase of other people’s work.
“It gives you the inspiration or the incentive to think ‘I want to get involved, I could do something like that'”, Whalley told the BBC.
“The barometer of success for this song so far is having people on the street joining in and having a dance to it,” he added.
Funding and Preparations for Burnley 2027
Burnley’s Year of Culture program aims to boost civic pride, support local artists, and attract visitors and investment to the borough. Local attractions include the Towneley Hall Museum and Gardens.
Preparations continue to gather momentum, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. A report for the Burnley Town Board revealed that more than £1.1m has already been secured for the cultural programme.
Organisers, including the borough council, are also seeking an additional £350,000 from the government’s Pride in Place Fund to support the celebrations.
Burnley Culture and Music Questions
When will the new Burnley anthem be performed live?
The track will debut during the Burnley Believes stage show on St James’s Street on Saturday.
How much funding has been secured for Burnley 2027?
A report for the Burnley Town Board revealed that more than £1.1m has already been secured for the cultural programme, with organisers seeking an additional £350,000 from the government’s Pride in Place Fund.
Which band is Boff Whalley associated with?
Whalley is a founding member of Chumbawamba, the Burnley-based band that enjoyed worldwide success with their 1997 hit “Tubthumping”.
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