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Bradford celebrates with 'magic' weekend of music

Adam Laver
BBC News, Yorkshire
BBC Men holding drums wearing traditional south Asian clothes BBC
The weekend was a celebration of music and the diversity of culture in Bradford

A celebration of music made in Bradford took place in the city over the weekend.

Songs and sounds from all over the world were performed by musicians based in the city at a variety of locations.

Starting in Ilkley and finishing in the city centre, the Bradford Progress was billed as an unbroken 36-hour long musical parade.

Jonathan Harper, CEO of the Paraorchestra who helped create the event, said: "It's just been such a lovely thing working in Bradford on this project."

Bradford Progress Lots of people gathered at the Cow and Calf rocks in Ilkley Bradford Progress
The weekend started at the Cow and Calf rocks in Ilkley

"The musicians, the audiences, the people on the street, they have welcomed us with open arms," Mr Harper said.

"There has been interest, there has been confusion, there has been that bit of magic where people get it and get really excited by it."

Jonathan Harper speaking outside in Bradford. He is wearing an overshirt and has a short beard. There are lots of people gathered in the background.
Jonathan Harper said Bradford welcomed him with "open arms"
People all wearing blue polo shirts and a Scout neckerchief playing brass instruments
A variety of music was played throughout the weekend

Starting at 05:00 BST on Saturday in Ilkley, musicians travelled along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to the Roberts Park bandstand before heading to Bradford Industrial Museum and on to Undercliffe Cemetery.

On Sunday the performers moved from the cemetery to The Broadway shopping centre before reaching The Mirror Pool for the finale.

People playing instruments in the Broadway shopping centre with people watching.
People gathered at the Broadway shopping centre for some free music

The music played ranged from Qawwali, jazz, Bhangra and brass bands.

Hundreds of musicians took part in the project that was free for people to attend and was part of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

A line of women all wearing white singing outside the City Hall in Bradford. Children are sat in front of them and there are people playing guitars to the right of the image, and a person playing a violin and person playing a brass instrument to the left of the image.
The event ended in Centenary Square in the centre of Bradford

Music played originated from different parts of the world, including Africa and South Asia, to celebrate Bradford's diversity.

The Bradford Progress has been two years in the making and was organised by artist Jeremy Deller and conductor Charles Hazlewood.

They both help run the Paraorchestra, described as "a fearless collective of disabled and non-disabled musicians".

Musicians from the Paraorchestra, who also took part in Bradford Progress, told the BBC it was "great fun" to be part of the weekend of music.

Bradford Progress People playing instruments while the sun is going downBradford Progress
People were playing music throughout the day

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, said: "From sunrise at the Cow and Calf to the culmination at the Mirror pool, it's been an incredibly joyful and special weekend.

"Musicians, community performers and school children have entertained audiences at locations all over Bradford and shown the city and district in a new light."

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