Bradford 2025: Big Brass Blowout for city of culture celebrations - including Yorkshire legend Richard Hawley

The quintessential echoes of a brass band were at the beating heart of communities across the county.

And the organisers of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture are bringing those vibrant beats back with a special twist as tickets go on sale for the year-long programme of events to celebrate contemporary culture to showcase the rich history and heritage of the area.

Events, performances and activities will spread from the city to the towns, villages and green spaces across the district, running from January to December 2025.

Music will be key to the programme with a weekend of brass music in the spotlight featuring Bradford’s Black Dyke Band, one of the world’s oldest brass bands:

Bassline Symphony

9 May 2025

St George's Hall, Bradford

Jamie Duggan, DJ Q and TS7 join arranger Katie Chatburn and the Orchestra of Opera North to celebrate the sound of Bradford in this one-night-only spectacular, curated by Tanya Vital.

Bassline is among the most thrilling musical subcultures of the 21st century. Bradford is a hotbed of this electrifying music, but it’s never sounded quite like this – with the trademark crackling rhythms and pulsing low end supercharged by Opera North’s magnificent orchestra.

The Big Brass Blowout: Richard Hawley & the Black Dyke Band

12 Apr 2025

St George's Hall, Bradford

Brass legends team up with Sheffield’s favourite son for a one-off concert – exclusively live for Bradford 2025.

The Big Brass Blowout: Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers – Live

12 Apr 2025

Victoria Hall, Saltaire

A beloved animated classic accompanied by a live soundtrack from the City of Bradford Brass Band.

The Big Brass Blowout: KOKOROKO

13 Apr 2025

St George's Hall, Bradford

The powerhouse London collective effortlessly blend Afrobeat, funk, jazz, and soul to close out the weekend.

The Big Brass Blowout: Echoes of the North

11 Apr 2025

Victoria Hall, Saltaire

BD1 Brass perform live to an extraordinary film celebrating the North through rare archive footage.

As well as celebrating a host of Bradford-born artists, writers, musicians, performers and local cultural organisations, the year-long programme also welcomes national and international partners to this extraordinary year.

Bradford residents will be involved in many of the performances and activities, telling stories about their city and district. Many elements of the programme will be free.

And it will launch with a large outdoor theatrical event created by the district’s very own magician, Steven Frayne - formerly known as Dynamo - and directed by Kirsty Housley. Rise will explore the themes of heritage, people and magic found in unexpected places from January 10 and 11

Bradford 2025 will transform the district through arts and culture to fuel a creative, social, and economic renaissance.

Organisers say it will cement Bradford’s reputation as one of the most welcoming places in the UK where artists, producers, audiences and creative entrepreneurs can flourish.

The UK City of Culture programme includes the regeneration of existing community and cultural spaces, as well as the introduction of new and sustainable extensions to community organisations. The programme will have a lifelong impact through its reshaping of the local curriculum, skills and training programmes and investment in existing and new creative spaces.

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director, added: “I am delighted to announce the first events in the programme for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, which showcase the exceptionally rich, diverse talent that Bradford holds.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate our extraordinary cultural heritage, and for our young population to become leaders and changemakers, starting a new chapter in the story of Bradford.”

For more information about the events for Bradford 2025 and to buy tickets visit: https://bradford2025.co.uk/whats-on/