Bradford could be the next big venue for music weekend festivals - like Glastonbury - if a leading city businessman has his way.

Dean Loynes, chairman of Bradford Inner City Licensing Association and owner of city nightspots The Boilerhouse and The Courthouse, is calling for a major festival with big names in music crossing styles and cultures.

He wants Bradford to host the kind of big-name event that Leeds is holding over the weekend of August 24-26 when the line-up at Temple Newsham Park includes Eminem, Manic Street Preachers, and Supergrass.

Mr Loynes has put forward the idea as part of Bradford's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2008 - and says the city should already be preparing for a major event in that year.

"It's not about what Bradford is planning to do in seven years time. It's about what we are doing now," he said.

"If Bradford is to be a serious contender, it needs to show it is capable of staging a huge event, with enough support to pull it off.

"Odsal Stadium would be ideal for an August bank holiday weekend - a serious rival to other weekenders in the country. It could have some of the world's biggest names in the business.

"The entertainment has to be diverse, catering for all tastes.

"If it was sponsored by a powerful music business name like Virgin or EMI there would be no problem in attracting big acts and getting publicity.

"It would have a fantastic knock-on effect on businesses such as shops, hotels, restaurants and pubs across the city.

"It needs to be organised by a body of people who know what the kids want. It's about young people and business people working with the Council."

Mr Loynes' vision is for a major festival held during the Capital of Culture year as the culmination of a series of smaller events.

"All the clubs in Bradford could hold their own in-house DJ and band competitions, and the winners could go on to take part a major annual event, featuring both local acts and big names," he said.

"These could be free events in Centenary Square, where they would be easily policed."

Mr Loynes wants Bradford's music events to include acts from all its cultures.

"We call ourselves a multi-cultural city but at the moment there is no music event in Bradford which unites cultures and attracts big names.

"The way to promote cultural harmony is to understand each other's cultures. Music is a great way of doing this.

"There's enough interest in Bradford for an event of this calibre. If we are serious about winning this huge cultural title for Bradford, we have to do something that people will take notice of."