Audience at St George's Hall given flavour of Bradford 2025

Bradford won the title of being UK City of Culture 2025 more than two years ago now, beating County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough to the crown.

With just three months to go until the momentous year, the first events of the year-long programme were announced at St George’s Hall on Thursday evening.

St George's Hall was packed to the rafters for the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture launch (Image: Telegraph & Argus) The night was hosted by Dr Amir Khan and BBC New Voices winner Irene Kaali.

The room was filled to the rafters with people from all walks of life, organisations, and the political world of Bradford and even further afield, including the King and Queen of Ghana.

Song-Geet Choir (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Before Dr Khan and Irene began the programme announcement, the night was opened with singing from the Song-Geet Choir.

Then a youth on the front row of the crowd, clad in tracksuit bottoms, a gilet, and beanie, with a drawstring JD bag, inexplicably answered a call from a friend.

The youth (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Ty Richards from Cashy C's: The Musical performs 'Swear Down' (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

It quickly became apparent this was part of the show and provoked some joyful laughs from the audience, before his “friend” – Ty Richards from Cashy C's: The Musical – performed ‘Swear Down’.

The two hosts then came into play and announced something “magical” first of all.

The event was hosted by Dr Amir Khan (right) and BBC New Voices winner Irene Kaali (left) (Image: Telegraph & Argus) This was followed by Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, appearing on a video, where he expressed his love for Bradford and revealed he has brought together a magical performance for Bradford 2025.

RISE, created by Frayne and director Kirsty Housley, will take place in City Park and Centenary Square on the second weekend of January (January 10 and 11) to open the historic year.

Steven Frayne, best known as Dynamo, appeared on a video clip (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Steven Frayne, best known as Dynamo, as a youngster (Image: Telegraph & Argus) It was also announced the prestigious Turner Prize would be coming to Bradford too, hosted at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery.

The crowd put on a great show halfway through the night when they appeared live on TV, showcasing a buzzing and buoyant atmosphere to a national audience.

A highlight of the evening was when bhangra band Punjabi Roots, who had already put in a stellar performance of their own, treated the crowd to a mash-up with the Black Dyke Band of Pharrell Williams’s ‘Happy’.

The highlight of the night was Punjabi Roots and the Black Dyke Band performing a mash-up together of Pharrell Williams's 'Happy' (Image: Telegraph & Argus) The Black Dyke Band, who were impressive on the night when performing several times including during the TV appearance, feature in April on the programme.

This will be a weekend celebrating brass music of all kinds.

Before long, the evening came to a close and people left with a spring in their step ready for the opportunities and attention Bradford 2025 will bring.