Preparations for BD Festival 2024

Preparations for the 2024 BD Festival which starts this Friday evening (26th July) and runs through Saturday.  The annual Festival is held in the centre of Bradford around the mirror pool and Centenary Square and includes street theatre, music and dance.

Spellbound - City Park

The performance by street theatre company 'Spark' was definitely a crowd pleaser at last nights Spellbound event in the city centre, a visually and aurally dynamic spectacle!

Beer, Wine & Bubbles!

The World Curry Festival has taken place in Bradford this weekend with chefs from around the world demostrating their curry making skills.  The restored London bus makes an unusual mobile bar.

Sheelangig - Bradford Festival

A Balkan style folk band, good musicians with a bit of slapstick thrown in for good measure, very entertaining.

Transglobal Underground - Bradford Festival

Transglobal Underground, a fusion of musical styles including reggae and Punjabi, great music, great musicians.

Hula Hoop Girl - Bradford Festival

I don't think this was part of the Bradford Festival, but entertaining nonetheless.

Bradford Festival - Angelo Palladino

An absolutely storming session from solo bluesman Angelo Palladino helped kick off the Bradford Festival last Friday.  Angelo, originally a Londoner, now lives (and gigs) in West Yorkshire.  If you are into blues music just go and see the man live!

Commonwealth Flag Raising Ceremony - Bradford

This should really have been posted back on the 10th March.  It's a Commonwealth Flag Raising Ceremony (I think it's the first time Bradford has taken part in this), one of hundreds being held in the fifty three Commonwealth states across the world.  The Lord Mayor of Bradford Khadim Hussain reads a Commonwealth Affirmation before the flag is raised by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe.

Bradford Sea Cadets - Trafalgar Day

This post is a little late as this event happened last Sunday. Around 150 cadets from all eight of West Yorkshire's Sea Cadet units assembled in the town centre.to mark Lord Nelson's victory at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and also to mark the 75th anniversary of Sea Cadets in Bradford.  Cadets assembled in Centenary Square before proceeding through the streets to Bradford Cathedral where a service was held, the procession then returned to Centenary Square. Pictured is the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire Virginia Lloyd chatting to young cadets.

Positive Bradford Day

It's a bit of  a late post as the event took place a couple of weeks ago in the town centre. The weather on the day was considerably better than that of the previous year when wind and rain caused a few problems.  The event is organised jointly by education, arts and business organisations to highlight the positive things going on in the city.  The picture shows drama students from Bradford College entertaining the crowds in Centenary Square.

Bradford Together

A number of groups came together in Centenary Square yesterday afternoon in a celebration of peace and unity in the lead up to the English Defence League demonstration which is to be held in Bradford today. 

Family With Plant

A family (and their plant) pause on their way through Centenary Square as a group of rappers take to the stage at the Big Gig on Sunday.

Big Gig 2013 - Analog Bombs

Plans are afoot to turn the empty Odeon Cinema in the centre of Bradford into a world class multi-purpose cultural venue.  A concert was held in Centenary Square this afternoon to celebrate the good news and to showcase some of the bands and artists, established and up and coming from our region. Pictured is the lead singer of  the band Analog Bombs.

Paprika - Bradford Festival

 

This is another picture from the Bradford Festival and a band by the name of Paprika. The band play an enjoyable mixture of Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsey and Classical Music and have apparently toured all over the world.

Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers - Bradford Mela

Appearing at the Bradford Mela a couple of weeks ago were Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers.  If I remember correctly they are based in Scotland but have trained in Japan under a master Taiko drummer.  The performance was absolutely stunning, with an incredibly deep, thunderous sound emanating from those enormous drums.

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.