Music lovers are set to enjoy a varied programme at this year’s Bradford Festival from July 12 to 14.

Bradford City Park will ring out to the sounds of over 21 bands covering Blues and Rock, Reggae, Ska, Folk, Jazz, Electronic, Soul and Funk, Bhangra, Central African, Afro-Latin, and Mexican Mariachi music.

Music lovers are set to enjoy an incredibly extensive and varied music programme at this year’s Bradford Festival from 12 – 14 July.

Celebrated British Electronic-fusion six-piece, The Electric Swing Circus will bring their unique brand of classy 20s swing and stomping electro beats. Combining vintage samples, Gypsy-jazz guitar, electric double bass, keys, live drums, dirty synths and electro beats, the band promises to deliver a dazzling Electro-Swing show.

Lively British Folk duo, Noble Jacks are set to take no prisoners with their high-energy foot stomping rhythms, which have taken festival crowds by storm at Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Bestival.

Two-times winner of Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, British-Asian clarinettist, composer and bandleader, Arun Ghosh will fluidly incorporate jazz, rave rock, folk and South-Asian influences.

Bradford’s very own, multi award-winning singer-songwriter and powerhouse of blues and rock, Chantel McGregor, returns to headline the opening night on the festival’s main stage in Centenary Square.

London-based eight-piece, Zong Zing All Stars will perform uplifting Central African Cavacha dance music, one of the most infectiously danceable World Music forms characterised by intricate guitar picking, soaring vocal harmonies and driving percussion.

Thirty years ago, Maroon Town was the first ska band to mix Ska and Reggae with Rap, Funk and Latin producing a fresh new sound. Festivalgoers are invited to enjoy the high jinks, drama and excitement of their spontaneous live performances.

Well-established on the Yorkshire music scene, Leeds-based quintet, Happy Daggers bring their powerful, energetic and diverse sound to Bradford’s arts festival.

Original Electro-tropical Bristol-based band, Camo Clave will mix traditional Latin American rhythms with modern beats, electronics and processors to create an exciting and energetic ‘21st century tropical party’.

And Dende are set to play a unique eclectic mix of tunes firmly rooted in Afro-Latin styles from Cumbia to Calypso, Ska to Samba grooves.

Bournemouth-based folk-fusion band, Black Water County, promises to have festivalgoers up on their feet with their unique blend of folk, punk and catchy pop melodies with sing-along choruses.

Formed from original members of The Beat and Dexys Midnight Runners, The Beat Goes Bang are set to thrill fans of Ska with new songs created within the popular 80s genre.

Winners of UK Bhangra Awards, innovative six-piece British Asian-fusion band from East London, The Harvey Sahota Band, will perform a unique fusion of Bhangra, reggae, urban, pop and dance to Bradford’s Centenary Square.

Truly unique UK three-piece, Red Hippos play saxophones, sousaphone, fiddle, whistles, bass clarinet, stompbox, flute, and highland bagpipes in music influenced by traditional English, Irish and Scandinavian folk melodies.

Celebrated Bradford Irish music band, Scarlet Heights, notorious for their famous Thursday nights in the Midland Hotel, JB’s Wine Bar and Maguires will headline Sunday evening’s music line-up.

Childhood friends, Ned Archibong and Nicholson Davids, who grew up making music in Frizinghall, and fellow Normanton Street band member, Phoebe Freya, will join Bradford Youth Orchestra to create a brilliant new collaborative piece.

All female London-based band, Mariachi Las Adelitas returns from playing at the Women’s Mariachi Festival in California where they received a standing ovation to perform beautiful arrangements of well-known and loved Mexican Mariachi classics.

Soznak play a high energy fusion of Congolese Rumba, Northern Brass, Ska, Afrobeat Jive and Jazz, and 80s Disco that’s guaranteed to get audiences dancing in Bradford’s Centenary Square.

Dressed up as colourful red ants, brass veteran marching band, Mute-antz bring an entertaining, modern and eclectic repertoire dipping into New Orleans, African, Latin, Blues, Jazz and Middle Eastern music.

Bradford World Music People will perform Egwundu incorporating African spiritual music that promises to energise and uplift audiences.

Formed as part of the 1980s peace marches, Bradford roaming band, The Peace Artistes, will brings their irresistible blend of African, Salsa, Folk and Funk to the Bradford Festival.

Some of Bradford’s most talented children take to the stage on the opening day in the Bradford Festival Schools' Day featuring music, dance and celebration. Local school children will take part in a mass dance and a mass sing, and in workshops and taster sessions organised by the Bradford Local Cultural Education Partnership.

Coun Sarah Ferriby, Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder, said: “We’re thrilled to confirm this incredibly rich and varied music programme which covers a remarkable range of different styles and genres.

“There should be something for everyone here and is a great opportunity for people interested in sampling music from across the globe.

“Admission to the festival is free and everyone is welcome.”

The Bradford Festival takes places in City Park from 12-14 July.

For further information and updates, visit www.bradfordfestival.org.uk