There's so much going on at present that I'm having difficulty keeping up to date with my blog posts! This event on the canal happened a couple of weekends ago. It was a Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 event, called 'The Bradford Progress', and involved a musical journey across the Bradford district, celebrating the music made in the city and those who make it. It was created by Paraorchestra, which is a collective of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians, under the leadership of Charles Hazlewood and in collaboration with Jeremy Deller (a Turner prizewinning artist).
It all began at first light on the Saturday with a dawn ritual by Paraorchestra and the Commoners Choir, among the ancient Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor. There was then 'an unbroken procession of music that wove its way into the heart of the city across two days, carried over land and water by hundreds of musicians from across Bradford'. They performed on the moors, in parks, in museums, on trains, in Undercliffe Cemetery, in the Broadway Shopping Centre and finally in City Park in the centre of Bradford.
Although (being deaf) I don't hear music very well, I decided I'd go and watch the canal procession, and I'm glad I did as it was a joyous affair (with the added bonus for me of bumping into a number of friends along the way). Musicians were playing on various boats, which joined and left the procession as they slowly journeyed from Bingley Five Rise Locks through to Saltaire.
The musicians below were from Paraorchestra, skilfully managing not to injure each other whilst creating a lively sound from Saltaire's rather compact Titus trip boat.
Liza Bec, a composer living with music-induced epilepsy, was playing beautifully on what I understand is a Roborecorder, a digitally-enhanced instrument they built specially to help overcome their disability. (Click the link for more info)
I'm not certain but I think the third boat I saw was the Toby Brazier Quartet, playing a catchy blend of jazz fusion.
There were lots of people turned out to watch, on what was a beautiful spring day, and it was well-stewarded by the many volunteers supporting the City Of Culture, with paramedics in attendance too. (One young man was carrying such a massive load of medical equipment that I joked with him that he'd be the one needing resuscitation!)
So far I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of events on offer under the Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 banner, their inclusivity and the way they have been organised. Well done to Shanaz Gulzar and Dan Bates, who head the leadership team - and of course to all the hundreds of local people making it happen on the ground.