On Saturday 25^th of May at The New Bradford Playhouse Bradford’s radical cultural legacy is reignited in ‘The Angel of History’, a series of surrealist encounters by The Café Despard Cabaret (est. 1980). The event includes live performances by members of post punk legends The Mekons (performing as mini-mekons), Sheffield’s answer to Magma and Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis, The Orchestra of The Upper Atmosphere and paganistic performance artists Alchemy/Schmalchemy. 

On Friday 24^th May Threadfest is opened up with an early evening of refreshments and experimental sounds at Delius Arts and Cultural Centre curated by Crow vs Crow. The German Church will play host to performances by The Peter J Taylor Guitar Orchestra, new collaborations by Glaswegian improvisers Jer Reid and Stevie Jones and more. 

Also in Delius Arts and Cultural Centre Nottingham’s ambient psych trio Kogumaza, and Bradford’s fuzzed-out indie popsters The Hobbes Fanclub (ahead of their performances in New York City) will be joined by the North Easts’ finest fingerpicking folk player The Horse Loom at the M@BU matinee on Saturday 25^th. 

Leeds-based epic pop duo The Horn The Hunt have been added to the Bare Plume/DIY or Die club night at The 1 in 12 Club and will share the bill with underground music marvel Mick Flower, Sheffield’s noise-afrobeat exponents Blood Sport and London’s Shopping on the evening of Saturday 25^th May. 

12-string blues player and Yorkshire-cana inventor Serious Sam Barrett takes a break from touring America, performing at Glastonbury and SXSW festivals to perform in the intimate setting of The Sparrow ‘bier café’ as part of What The Folk? acoustic afternoon on Sunday 26^th May. 

Threadfest climaxes with a huge bill of the north’s finest heavy music with Hawk Eyes, Blacklisters, Rivals (featuring members of The Futureheads), Monster Killed by Laser  and more. As a special treat short-lived Bradford ‘creepbeat’ trio Ruby Tombs will resurrect for their first gig since splitting in 2006. Catch it all at The 1 in 12 Club on Sunday 26^th. 

Elsewhere as part of Threadfest, there’s plenty more including sets from Bradford’s critically-acclaimed psych-folk experimenters The Family Elan and free rock jams from Ireland’s Cian Nugent and The Cosmos. Keep an eye on www.bradfordthreadfest.com for more details and announcements including the special guests at No Hands and Rockers and Rollers night who will grace the bill with rising stars Cut Yourself in Half and details on the Oriental Arts showcase at Malik House and Voltage Studios 25^th Anniversary event at The Black Swan. 

On spring Bank Holiday Weekend 24 – 26 May Bradford Threadfest returns for a second year of independent live music celebration. After a successful and vibrant debut, Threadfest 2013 sees even more venues, collectives, musicians, bands and promoters join forces to offer a free taste of the city’s DIY and grassroots musical activity. 

See http://www.bradfordthreadfest.com/ for confirm

At venues including: The New Bradford Playhouse, Delius Arts and Cultural Centre, The 1 in 12 Club, The Sparrow, Malik House, The Beehive Inn, and The Black Swan. 

Bradford Threadfest is a joint effort by a collective of individuals, groups and organisations with support from University of Bradford and Bradford City Council.