Bradford gets ready to rock

12:52am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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The stage is set for the biggest music event ever to rock Bradford.

Organisers of the city's first ever Music Week are expecting masses of fun-seekers to descend on Bradford and get stuck in to the live music, cult movies and a seminar feast.

Tickets are selling fast for the big gigs which kick off next Thursday at St George's Hall with NME favourites Lightspeed Champion.

Indie heroes Ash are headlining the week, giving a shared stage to the best of Bradford's homegrown music and new national acts making lots of noise.

Other events will include breakdancing, live acoustic sets in the city's Zavvi music store and Starbucks, exhibitions, a record fair and a drumming jam session in Centenary Square.

Fringe events will also be happening all over the city in The Love Apple, Delius, Gasworks, The New Beehive and at Shipley's PM bar and Yo Yo's.

Whiskas, founder of Dance To The Radio Records - home of The Pigeon Detectives - will be giving tips on how to break into the music industry as part of a seminar session at the Impressions Gallery in Centenary Square next Thursday, and during the week the gallery will also be displaying a series of photos and footage taken at BD1 Live gigs in the city over the past years.

The week is being organised by Bradford Council, working with a variety of partners as part of Bradford's Music Development Initiative - they pulled in music promoter Mark Husak and Anthony Kneeshaw from Mono, Bradford's Music Fanzine to bring it all together.

"It's been quite a difficult task but it's done now," said Anthony.

"Tickets are going well but there's lots on that's for free. People just need to check out the website," added Mark.

Word about Bradford Music Week has spread far and wide with ticket sales coming in from outside the city.

"If it's a success, the idea is to put another one on next year and build it from there. We're clashing with a big festival in Spain but that shouldn't affect the massive turnout we're hoping for," said Anthony.

Organisers are expecting a sell-out from the Bradford Hop, an all-day music festival, with bands playing at Delius and the Love Apple from 4pm until midnight next Saturday, May 31. Hop-goers will see 24 bands for just £5.

Acts to watch out for during the week include Shipley singer Laura Groves, The Debuts, Sons And Daughters, Mi Mye, Bradford band Redwire, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, Johnny Foreigner, 14 Corners, Le Tournoi, Slow Club, Gramatics, Tubelord, Napoleon IIIrd, Let's Wrestle, Paul Marshall and Cutting Pink With Knives.