Comics Dylan Moran and John Hegley, former Bradford City manager Terry Yorath, jazz ace Courtney Pine, Yorkshire writer Gervase Phinn and tabla player Talvin Singh are among the big names appearing at this month's Bradford Festival.

The festival, organised by Bradford Council, features local and international artists, including the acclaimed No Fit State Circus, rated alongside Cirque de Soleil, and pyrotechnic supremos External Combustion.

The festival teams up with Bradford Book Festival this year, bringing readings and family shows into the programme.

The festival is launched on Friday, June 17, with an evening of entertainment in the city centre, beginning with Bradford the Musical, a choral concert in Centenary Square featuring 200 singers, 50 drummers and 50 dancers bringing to life five songs about Bradford. It will also be performed at the Mela.

Bradford-based Cuban singer Omar Peunte performs in the Square while over at Exchange Court there's a show featuring mechanical mayhem from External Combustion. Taking Flight, an intriguing piece of aerial dance woven together with film and music, starts in the Alhambra studio then uses the theatre's exterior walls.

Centenary Square hosts various events, including gigs by indie rock bands Scary Uncle, Analogue Bombs and 7 Hours; an Oxfam Make Poverty History concert headlined by the Peace Artistes; and a market.

There's a circus theme to this year's festival, with a big top in Lister Park housing No Fit State Circus's surreal show ImMortal 2, and Bradford theatre company Mind the Gap's circus-themed version of Animal Farm.

Another big top over at Peel Park houses book festival events at the Mela, including reading groups, workshops, poetry and storytelling.

A dynamic, powerful performance in Exchange Court, called 3600 from Boilerhouse, mixes live action, video and an original soundtrack. Lister Park's tranquil Moghul Gardens are the backdrop for a production by Theatre in the Mill. Time at Moghul Gardens fuses dance, live music, storytelling and an underwater photographic exhibition.

The festival includes a programme of events at the Alhambra and St George's Hall. Dylan Moran, John Hegley and Shazia Mirza are at the Alhambra in the Big Baa-Ha variety show. Other events include Urban Voices of Kala Sangam, music, dance and storytelling based on myths and legends, and the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers. The Lord Mayor's Carnival Parade features more than 1,000 people, with the South Bradford Carnival and No Fit State Circus, and has the theme Rivers and Routes (Roots).

The Mela features the Bradford Vision Village, a marquee hosting community-based activities, and entertainment from acts like Egyptian bellydancers, fusion artists Sweetblood, the Talvin Singh Trio and Pakistani pop sensation Faakhir.

Diverse street entertainers will perform in the city centre and at the Lister Park Family Day - a festival first. Watch out for Chicks on Sticks, Faceless Puppet Caf, Peanut the Clown and Bradford's Pierrotters.

Other events include a Festival Concert from the Black Dyke Band, and Bradford Arts Trail taking in exhibitions at The Priestley, Cartwright Hall and artists' own homes.

Fringe events include gigs at the Love Apple from the likes of Chumbawamba and Gizmo and a Page to Stage writing festival at The Priestley.

At the Mela, there will be workshops and reading groups. Terry Yorath will be at Valley Parade talking about his life and Yorkshire writers Gervase Phinn and Helen Cross read from work. Bradford's Nick Toczek and children's author Pete Murray will entertain youngsters with family fun shows.

At Waterstones local writers will discuss their work in Street Level and, at Bradford Central Library, 200 years of Hans Christian Anderson is celebrated with a special show.

Copies of the programme are now available at Council libraries and information centres. The festival runs until July 3.