Chumbawamba musician’s new song for Burnley’s ‘Year of Culture’

A Lancashire musician who enjoyed huge chart success in the 1990s has created a new anthem for Burnley as preparations continue for the town’s Year of Culture 2027.

The song, ‘Ours to Make’, has been written and produced by Burnley’s own Boff Whalley of Chumbawamba, whose hit single Tubthumping became a worldwide phenomenon for the group in 1997.

Whalley has created the anthem to support preparations for Burnley 2027 Year of Culture, a major programme intended to celebrate the borough’s creativity, heritage and communities, through a programme of cultural events that will raise the town’s profile.

Council leaders and cultural organisers have said the initiative, which now has its own song, is designed to build pride in place, support local artists and organisations, attract visitors and investment, and help tackle inequality.

The campaign is also being positioned as a springboard for Burnley’s wider cultural ambitions, with residents getting the chance to hear the new anthem ‘Ours to Make’ when it is performed live later this week.

The song will be performed exclusively during the Burnley Believes stage show on St James’s Street on Saturday, November 14, with the live performance scheduled to take place between 3.45pm and 4pm, according to Culture Burnley.

Whalley said: “One of the good things about the Burnley 2027 year of culture is that it’s not just going ‘here’s a showcase of people who’ve done things, ‘here’s a song I’ve written, isn’t it good?’

“It’s not that, it gives you the inspiration or the incentive to think ‘I want to get involved, I could do something like that.”

Turning to his new Northern Soul-style song for the year of culture, Whalley added: “The barometer of success for this song so far is having people on the street joining in and having a dance to it.”

The announcement comes as plans for Burnley 2027 Year of Culture gather pace. A report to the Burnley Town Board this year revealed that more than £1.1 million has already been secured for the programme, with organisers also seeking a further £350,000 from the Government’s Pride in Place fund.

Explaining his involvement, Whalley said: “I think I got involved because I had the good fortune of being born within two miles of Turf Moor, and it was calling me. This idea started creeping in, that I could get involved in the Year of Culture.”

The singer said speaking to residents had shaped the message of the song which will define the Year of Culture. “Don’t make it all about cotton,” he said they told him, pushing Whalley to focus on modern day Burnley’s continued spirit of industry and its potential.