AWARD winning musicians, nannies who tend to vegetables in prams and a critically acclaimed British dance company will entertain in Bradford city centre this summer.
The bright and colourful Bradford Festival will run for three days in June and its organiser, Bradford Council, is promising a high quality multicultural programme with some of the best international, British and local music, theatre, art and dance.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the local authority's portfolio holder for employment, skills and culture, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for people to come into Bradford and enjoy three days of high quality entertainment.
"We have something for everyone here and entry is free.
"The festival is part of a high quality programme of events and activities designed to support economic growth in the city centre."
The festival opens on Friday, June 12 with multi-award winning blues and rock powerhouse Chantel McGregor.
Chantel, who was born in the city, was the first female artist to win Guitarist of the Year at the British Blues Awards in 2013 and clinched the same award in 2014.
Audiences will also be able to see Queensbury-born teen singer-songwriter sensation Oliver Pinder who toured the UK last autumn and just released his debut EP, Island Rain.
Popular Bradford theatrical pop band ISSIMO which has performed its infectious vibes at Latitude, Cornbury, Beatherder and Bingley Music Live festivals, is also on the line-up.
Bradford Festival Choral Society will collaborate with over local choirs for a ‘massed flash choir' performance.
Visitors to City Park on Saturday will see also see British street theatre company Acrojou perform its flagship show, The Wheel House, which unfolds inside and around a specially designed circular set.
There will also be an opportunity to see madcap street theatre duo Plunge Boom perform Vegetable Nannies. The pair will wheel an ancient Victorian pram laden with a prized collection of vegetables around City Park.
Critically acclaimed British dance company C-12 Dance Theatre, who performed Trolleys at the festival in 2012, return with Market Stall, a new piece which blends circus skills, parkour and high energy dance.
Cajun Roosters, a multi-award winning band with some of the finest and most experienced Cajun and Zydeco musicians in Europe will also entertain audiences with fusion folk music from the American Deep South.
Blackbeard's Tea Party, one of the most demanded bands on the folk circuit, will bring its engaging stage show to the city, playing traditional and folk songs with a heavy rock edge.
On Sunday urban Asian duo, Adil Hashmi & S.I.B, will blend Eastern and Western music styles with Urdu/Hindi, English and Punjabi lyrics.
Hype Dance Company performs a high-energy piece inspired by the Sheffield boxing scene, and slapstick choreography and acrobatics will be used by street theatre company Wet Picnic in The Lift, where a member of the audience is invited to choose a floor inside an elegant elevator triggering a unique interactive performance.
This year's Bradford Festival will again offer lots of workshops, activities, food and drink stalls a fun fair and continental market.
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