Commoners Choir

Commoners Choir is a rag bag assortment of ne’er-do-wells, misfits, and cake eaters who have come together from all corners of the globe to sing harmonious insurrection, to rouse the rabble and to raise a smile or two. They are a singing newspaper: They sing about stuff that happens, stuff that should be happening, stuff that matters.

Commoners Choir formed in 2015 with a walk up to the summit of Kinder Scout in the Peak District (to commemorate the Mass Trespassers of 1932), and sang their entire repertoire (two songs) to a handful of startled hikers. From such small acorns, mighty oaks have grown.

Their songs and arrangements are written by Boff Whalley, songsmith for the likes of Chumbawamba and Red Ladder Theatre, with inspiration, input and interjections from choir members. Commoner Choir’s live shows distil all that they are into an hour of marvellous melodies, powerful voices, and passionate ideals. Songs about food riots, inequality, the cultural harrying of the North, Woody Guthrie, the Calder Valley floods, homelessness, refugees, the printed word, and the rhyming possibilities of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt…

Commoners Choir have collaborated on recordings and onstage with: Mark Thomas, Reem Kelani, Leon Rosselson, John Jones (Oysterband), Joe Solo and Nancy Kerr.

“Great songs that really say something, with the lusty verve and empathy of voices joining together in a true spirit of community – The Commoners Choir is exactly what we – and you – need right now!” Nancy Kerr and James Fagan

“Bloody marvellous stuff. I always want to charge at something after hearing them.” Mark Thomas

“They sing with fires in their bellies, and tongues in their cheeks.” Beccy Owen