'Magical' 36-hour musical journey takes over city

An unbroken 36-hour long musical parade through Bradford and its surrounding countryside, which has taken two years to plan, has got under way.

The event, known as The Bradford Progress, part of the City of Culture 2025 celebrations, began at dawn with the ethereal sounds of the Paraorchestra echoing across the famous Cow and Calf Rocks at Ilkley Moor.

The Progress aims to celebrate the district's diverse music with performances staged in unexpected places, including mills, museums, cemeteries, and even on boats, buses and trains.

Jonathan Harper, the Paraorchestra's chief executive officer, said the start of the event had been "beyond our imagination" and "magical".

The Bradford Progress, which is due to conclude on Sunday afternoon at the Mirror Pool in the heart of the city, was created in collaboration with the Paraorchestra, Charles Hazlewood, artist Jeremy Deller and people in the Bradford district.

Mr Harper said: "The whole point of it is to have unfamiliar music in unfamiliar places, creating this journey across the districts.

"You might hear a Ukrainian choir on a train, perhaps, or you might be passed by an open top bus with a brass band on it."

Later on Saturday, the Progress took to water for a four-mile mobile performance along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal from Bingley to Saltaire.

It featured artists such as Liza Bec, the Toby Brazier Quartet, Ey Up Klezmer, Flash Cassette, Steve Varden, Dean McPhee and Vijay Venkat.

Watching the narrowboats, onlooker Sharon Rae said: "It's really interesting and a good use of the canal.

"We all know it's wonderful, but to bring other people here is a really special thing."

Meanwhile, Janet and Keith Wilson, who said they lived nearby, also enjoyed watching part of the free event.

They said it was good to see the canal being put to use, adding: "It is great to see so many people have turned up."

The Bradford Progress is expected to feature a variety of musical styles, including folk, punk, Bhangra, gospel, baroque, Bassline, brass band, electronic, Sufi, Indian Classical and minimalist.

As well as Paraorchestra, a range of other musicians are taking part, including the Bingley Ukulele Group, Bradford Cathedral Choir, City of Bradford Brass Band, Bradford Accordion Band and the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Band.

Mr Harper said: "Music is such a great, powerful unifier.

"I'd encourage people to get out and come to one of the events."

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