As anybody in-volved with bands in Bradford will testify, a mini musical revolution is quietly taking place beyond the city's streets where tales of property investment and business regeneration are forever hogging the limelight.

A plethora of gigs, nights and events are allowing more bands to be seen, heard and enjoyed, encouraging more musicians and audiences alike to participate in this potentially highly-rewarding resurgence.

The people who could be credited with bringing about this renewed interest, among others, are the team behind local music fanzine Mono and gig promoter Granadaland.

Their latest push to promote and provide music in Bradford was the highly-anticipated BD1 LiVE, which was launched on Friday at St George's Hall following talks with Bradford Theatres.

Headliners were Leeds-based five-piece Duels, who are currently recording a follow up to last year's critically-acclaimed debut, The Bright Lights And What I Should Have Learned.

Shipley folk-pop singer-songwriter Laura Groves, and Bradford's Analog Bombs and Monty Casino were also on the bill.

The concept is to expand the range of gigs on offer at St George's, with the aid of a pot of funding from Bradford Council, bringing in younger audiences and allowing local acts the chance to perform at a venue previously out of their reach.

Anthony Kneeshaw, aka Neesh, from Mono, said the gig was a great success and stressed the importance of what a lively, vocal music scene can do for a city.

He says: "There were more than 300 people there - it was a big success really, to say it was a launch night. Hopefully it is something we will be able to build on."

Along with Chris Wall and Ben Holden at Mono, and Mark Husak at Granadaland, Neesh has been at the forefront of and is well aware of the musical regeneration that has got bands in and out of the district excited about coming to play in front of Bradford audiences.

He says: "There is definitely something happening in the last year or so. There are more gigs and more bands coming from outside the city to new nights by people such as Granadaland and Blank Generation, at places such as the Love Apple and the Delius.

"I think there are a lot of people in Bradford who want to go out and see quality live music, instead of having to get on a train and go to Leeds.

"A lot of gigs are being put on in Bradford now, but BD1 LiVE is something a bit different and a bit special.

"We hope it will attract national and international bands to the venue, so we can provide them with local bands for support, which would be a win-win situation.

"The venue is full of grandeur and splendour, and so it would be great if we could use it more like this.

"Not to put the other venues down, because we will be carrying on putting gigs with them as well, but George's is something unique and something which the city should use a lot more."

Neesh is a firm believer in the positive effects a thriving art community can have on a city.

"It's good for a city to have a healthy music and art scene. It gives people an outlet and it can inspire a lot of people as well," he says.

"That's why these nights are for anybody who is 14 or above."

The scheme is going through a pilot phase throughout May, June and July, after which it is hoped the night will become a regular fixture in any music lover's diary.

The next night will be on Thursday, June 28, and will feature a more post rock-tinged line-up of I Like Trains, Falconetti, Worried About Satan and Lab Noise.

Tickets, which are selling out quickly, cost £7 and are available by contacting (01274) 432000.