New venue Bradford Live unveils star-studded shows

Comedians Bill Bailey and Rob Brydon and DJ Jo Whiley will be among the first performers at Bradford Live, the operator of the new music venue has revealed.

The identity of the first acts at the restored Art Deco building that replaced the city's Odeon Cinema have been long awaited after it was sold to Bradford Council for £1 in 2013.

Other shows announced for the 3,800-capacity venue include a performance by dance group Diversity, a stand-up comedy night headlined by Phil Wang and a homecoming gig for Bradford rock group New Model Army.

Sir Howard Panter, creative director of the venue's operator Trafalgar Entertainment, said: "The wait is finally over and the good times are coming."

He added: "We've assembled the kind of opening season that this magnificent venue and Bradfordians deserve and there's more to come with further artists being announced over the coming weeks."

Bill Bailey will perform his tour show Thoughtifier on Sunday 31 August.

Actors and comedians Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley, Shane Richie and Joe Pasquale - dubbed The Prat Pack - will perform the next day with a "spectacular variety show", including comedy routines and musical performances.

Brydon's Christmas show will be staged at the venue on Wednesday 10 December, a festive performance of music, stories and impressions, accompanied by an eight-piece band.

On Saturday 4 October, comedian Ed Gamble will host a stand-up comedy night headlined by Phil Wang, with performances by Lou Sanders, Lucy Beaumont and Bradford comic Jonny Pelham.

New Model Army, which formed in Bradford in 1980, will perform a homecoming gig alongside Keighley band Terrorvision and Halifax group Paradise Lost on Saturday 13 December.

DJ and TV presenter Whiley will bring her 90s Anthems show to Bradford on Friday 26 September.

Other shows include jazz vocalist Clare Teal, dance group Diversity, Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance and naturalist and explorer Steve Backshall, with events scheduled through the later part of Bradford's year as the UK City of Culture and into 2026.

Bradford Live was taken over by Trafalgar Entertainment when NEC Group dropped out of running the venue.

It had been mired in controversy as tickets had been sold for two tribute act shows, but customers were refunded without explanation.

Trafalgar Entertainment signed a 25-year lease over the venue in April.

Tickets are being sold at Bradford Live's website.

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