Local Teens and Indie Stars Unite to Craft Hometown Anthem Magic

In the town of Leigh, Greater Manchester, a group of young people joined forces with the popular indie pop band the Lottery Winners to create a song that celebrates their hometown. The song, called 'Song for Leigh,' was performed for the first time in front of thousands of fans at the band's homecoming concert at Leigh Sports Village. The project aimed to spread happiness and pride about Leigh, and it gave the young participants a chance to experience what it is like to work in the music industry.

Kerrick Mills, one of the young performers, described the experience as 'phenomenal. ' He said that being in a professional recording studio and seeing how music is made was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Lottery Winners' lead singer, Thom Rylance, explained that many talented people in working class communities do not always get the same opportunities as others. He said the band wanted to help open doors for young people and show them that they belong in the music world. The young people who took part in the project responded to an invitation to join songwriting workshops, where they learned how to write lyrics and express their feelings about their town.

The song features students from Bedford High School, Lowton High School, and the Spirix Youth Theatre, which is based in Wigan and Leigh. The Lottery Winners supported the group as they wrote the lyrics and recorded the song. A music video for 'Song for Leigh' was also made to highlight the talents of young people in Leigh, including music, dance, and visual arts. The video was led by Amy Hodgson from Spirix and funded by Down to Earth and Arts Council England. All the money raised from the song will go to the Gill David Trust, a local charity that supports arts and education. According to a study, there are about 500 creative businesses in Wigan, but only 1. 5 percent of local jobs are in the creative sector, which is lower than the Greater Manchester average. Marti Boardman, another young performer, said there are not enough opportunities for young artists and more should be done to help them achieve their dreams. She said working with well-known musicians was an amazing experience and she learned many things that will help her in the future.