Pop sensations Snow Patrol to soundtrack British culture bid

The famous group has thrown its support behind the bid by offering its recent single, Just Say Yes, for the city to use as its bid anthem.

With three days to go before Derry~Londonderry submits its final bid to the City of Culture panel, Snow Patrol's message to the judges is clear. Just say yes to Derry~Londonderry's bid.

Snow Patrol's front man Gary Lightbody was born in Bangor, but his family originate from Derry~Londonderry.

The band's backing has given an extra boost to the City's campaign which has already gathered support from of thousands of people across the UK.

Gary believes that the city would be a fantastic venue for the UK City of Culture 2013.

"Derry~Londonderry is a vibrant, warm and creative city and its cultural life has always thrived.

"Being shortlisted for UK City of Culture in 2013 confirms what many of us have known all along; that culture is at Derry~Londonderry's heart.

"The city has an exciting future ahead and I can't think of anywhere that deserves to win this accolade more."

And Gary is well-versed with the city's rich cultural history:

"Derry~Londonderry has, a number of times, set the standard for the arts in Northern Ireland.

"The Undertones wrote apolitical anthems for the youth of Ireland at a time when we needed an escape from politics and religion the most. The Nerve Centre was in Derry~Londonderry and highly functional and creative long before we set up the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast. It was the inspiration for us when we were setting the centre up," he said.

Gary added: "I think Derry~Londonderry's best characteristics are its people. They are funny and warm, and I'm not just saying that because I'm related to half of them. Good luck Derry~Londonderry. You should win."

Derry~Londonderry's bid already has the support of a number of film stars, artists, musicians and writers with cultural, ancestral or personal connections with the City, including the poets Seamus Heaney and Seamus Deane; actors James Nesbitt, Gabriel Byrne, Brendon Gleeson and Bronagh Gallagher; TV presenter Anne Robinson; and Manchester United star Darron Gibson.