The Demon Barbers - Bradford Festival

I never got around to posting pictures from the Bradford Festival a fortnight ago.  I think this was my favourite band, but how to describe the performance.  Well, folk rock, but with clog dancers, hip-hop dancers and a bit of sword dancing thrown in for good measure, absolutely stunning!

Armed Forces Day - West Yorkshire Fire And Rescue Service Band

The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Band were a visual as well as aural spectacle following at the Armed Forces Day Drumhead Service this morning in Centenary Square. 

Bradford Festival - Pearl and Deanie

I didn't get around to posting pictures of the Bradford Festival the other week, so here are street entertainers Pearl and Deanie.  To qualify for a free lolly you need to be able to tell a good (clean) joke, if you don't know any jokes, a song will do!  The singing stars are volunteer stewards for the Bradford Festival.

Stop The Cuts

Further cuts in public spending will probably mean more cuts to council services and jobs. Protesters putting across their point to passers by in the city centre yesterday.

Big Sing For Peace

Around four hundred children from local schools gathered in Centenary Square today for a 'big sing' to celebrate Bradford's peace heritage.  Yorkshire folk singer and song writer Roger Davies made an appearance with a song specially written (with the help of some of the kids) for the event.
I believe Roger is performing at the Cleckheaton Folk Festival in early July.

Save Our Media Museum

This picture was taken on June 8th, at the beginning of a campaign by local politicians, councillors and our local newspaper to save the National Media Museum from closure.  Funding for a group of museums  including the Media Museum is to be reduced and one of the establishments in the group may therefore  have to close, possibly the Media Museum here in Bradford.  Back in early June actor John Hurt and Monty Python star Terry Jones were speaking out in support of the museum.  Since then a growing number of celebrities and politicians have added their names to the campaign, the latest being American film director Martin Scorsese.

Flag Raising Ceremony - Royal British Legion

Members of the Royal British Legion gathered in Centenary Square this morning for a flag raising ceremony to mark the start of a week leading up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 29th June.  The flag was raised by the new Lord Mayor of Bradford cllr. Khadim Hussain.

Biking Is A Breeze

The Big Breeze Bike Ride took place in Lister Park earlier today.  The event, aimed mainly at women and young families took place on the traffic free roads around the park.  The participants were accompanied by experienced cyclists who were able to give a bit of help and guidance to those new to cycling, or those returning to cycling after a long break.  I think the overall aim of the scheme is to get more people onto bikes, which has got to be  a good thing. (Although I have to admit to leaving my own bike in the shed this morning and arriving by car as it was raining heavily)!

World Curry Festival 2013

A three day event of curry from Britain, India, Pakistan, Kashmir, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Jamaica and Lebanon hosted at the City Park, here in Bradford.  Hot stuff!

The 70's Show

I was looking back  through some of the pictures that I took at the Bradford Festival recently and thought that this one could have been taken forty years ago, it must be that 1970's moustache and long hair.  What are they doing?  Just killing a bit of time before the next act comes on stage.

Bradford Festival 2013

It was an impressive start to the Bradford Festival weekend on Friday evening with an open air evening of choral and song courtesy of the Bradford Festival Choral Society, Bradford Catholic Youth Choir and Skipton Building Society Camerata.  Pictured is the musical director of the Bradford Choral Society, Thomas Leech.