Festival 2023 full programme announcement

Bradford Council has announced the full line-up for this year’s BD:Festival. Featuring world-class artists and performers, including international and national names; plus, home-grown talent from across the Bradford District.

BD: Festival is free to attend and designed for families and children of all ages. The festival will take place on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 July at locations across the city centre and is the perfect way to start the school summer holidays.

The festival will animate three main areas over the course of the two days with themed names attached: the multi-award-winning City Park and Centenary Square (Beyond The Beat), areas surrounding The Broadway shopping centre (Beyond Boundaries), plus, Bradford’s Kirkgate and Oastler Market (Beyond These Walls).

The programme has been designed to amaze audiences with wondrous performances, encourage individuals to unearth hidden gems from across the city and offer people the chance to explore some of Bradford’s heritage in unique ways.

BD:Festival has also teamed up with QM Records, to host MOVES Festival at Kala Sangam across both evenings of the festival. Featuring some of the industry’s most exciting talent, including Lunar C, Blazer Boccle, Musumba, Red Shakes and KG.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s, Executive Member for Healthy People and Places said: “BD:Festival is one of those annual events that really shines a light on the possibilities for Bradford; it’s a chance for us to really celebrate art, culture and heritage in a multitude of ways. We’re looking forward to welcoming some brilliant international, national and local artists and performers into the district.”

BD: Festival is produced by Bradford Council and demonstrates the growing ambition set out in Culture is Our Plan, the district’s 10-year culture strategy, as the Bradford district works towards its year of City of Culture in 2025.

BD:Festival line-up includes:

Mirage (A Day of Celebration)
An experiential dance performance like no other. Using an immersive setting to question the standards, the stage itself and the audience. Prepare to be in awe by the dynamism of this performance.

[The Frame]
[The Frame] proposes to stand in front of Bradford’s urban daily life to do a drastic exercise: observe it, meet strangers, provoke surprises and crisscross the ordinary to discover the extraordinary (booking is required. Link here: https://www.qmrecords.com/moves).

Sarcastic – Idiot; Alternative Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Anger isn’t always a bad thing! A savage and silly exhibition that uses funny relatable texts to critique pop-culture, hypocrisy and provoke public debate, allowing the audience to insert their grievances and say things they wouldn’t normally voice.

Oastler Market Speaks
Formally known as John Street Market, we celebrate the market history with the audio play ‘Shutters Down’ by local creative and poet Kirsty Taylor, poster and street art installation.

Picturing High Streets / Picturing Bradford
Outdoor photography trail. Photos of Bradford’s high streets taken by local people, displayed around the city.

Preview the BD: Festival Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8M_DZE3hN0

For the full programme, view the BD: Festival Programme & Map here: https://www.visitbradford.com/whats-on/bdevents

More information on MOVES Festival https://www.movesfestival.com/moves-bradford