This follows after the City was crowned the winner of the hotly contested UK City of Culture 2025 competition. Bradford placed their bid and they were announced as the winners in May 2022.

The City of Culture was established in 2009. After the success of Liverpool’s year of the European Capital of Culture 2008, the city saw significant social and economic benefits. Andy Burnham the UK’s Culture Secretary from 2008-2009, considered establishing the British City of Culture prize and that the winning city might possibly host events such as the Turner Prize, Brit Awards, Man Booker Prize and the Stirling Prize. It was later announced by Sir Ben Bradshaw in July 2009 that a competition to select the first UK City of  Culture would go ahead.

Bradford City has teased a few details of their music month, including promises of Bassline and Bhangra Sober Rave. The City themes are rooted in Bradford’s unique heritage and character, revealing the borough’s magic hidden in its people, its ambitions and above all its potential.

Full details will be unveiled end of September. The music month will be made up of musicians, venue managers and record labels. Promising to “inspire, entertain & engage” with all of Bradford’s unique and diverse community.

Support for the Cultural Music Month will be provided by Bradford Council, Bradford Producing Hub Art Council England, QM Records founder Ned Archibong, musician Sinead Campbell, and events Manager Gail Simpkins.

Mr Archibong said “Music is such a powerful thing.” “The month is about showcasing everything that’s happening in the local music scene, it’s an opportunity to highlight all the good things that are going on here.”

Sinead posted on Instagram, she said “Feeling grateful to be project managing this years November Is Music Month.” Further she added in her post, “I have some exciting projects and plans in line for the next few years towards Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture”

Not only with the City of Culture be set to bring together it’s diverse and well-rounded community, but it is providing opportunities for local musicians to receive funding and support to put their own concerts together. The cash boost supports the Government’s ambition to grow the economy, with approximately 1,000 performances by local artists and creatives expected to attract more than 15 million visitors in 2025. For more information on the support provided click here.

Sinead Campbell, Bradford Music Month Project Manager added, “Music Month shines a light on the diverse gigs and workshops happening around the district. We also programme our own unique events that bring something a little different to Bradford such as sober raves that bring together Bhangra and Basseline, a Bradford Opera and the Garden of Eden which brings together intimate gigs and a programme of wellbeing music workshops. It is great to work on a project with a goal to grow whilst remaining authentic- keeping values of quality and inclusivity in tact ”

With 2025 UK City of Culture music month nearing, the hope by the team is that it will become a regular date in the district’s cultural calendar.

Tom said in a recent interview, “ There’s loads of people that actually haven’t been to the venue.” “I Think previous clubbers are to want to return and the young generation are going to come back. Thats why we’ve given it the name New World, so that we can get that new experience again.”

It has been eight years since The Arches has proudly held music events. Due to a number of alleged drug and alcohol-related incidents reported by the police, a new nightclub licencing curfew was introduced in Glasgow. It meant that all clubs were to stop selling alcohol and close at midnight. The previous owner said that it lost up to 50% of its revenue and the business sadly went into administration.

Tom has been in communication with the Scotland Police and shared the Watch Tower group’s zero-tolerance drug policy and has agreed on a new licencing curfew of 2am. He said “Obviously, there’s been tragic news in recent weeks. We’ve worked very closely with Police Scotland on our drug policy. We have a zero tolerance drug policy and our message is clear. You know, drugs are illegal and we do not expect people to bring drugs to the venue.

He continued, “We were training with a pure market leader in harm reduction, and we will be working closely with all of them on this and that the event is to ensure that everyone comes to our events and they have a safe and fun time.”

This historic building, situated below the central railway station, was further used from February 2018 as a food market, called Platform, offering a variety of eateries.

Glasgow city is world famous for its legendary music scene. It is internationally recognised as Scotland’s music capital with over half a million people enjoying gigs in its iconic venues every year. And New World is set to join the party with a show-stopping headline by DJ’s.

Tom added, “This project is of huge cultural significance for music in Glasgow, Scotland and beyond. Seeing the unfortunate closure of numerous venues in recent years has been hard on the industry. The venue’s history is renowned, and it holds a special place in people’s hearts, so we know that today’s news will mean so much to so many.”

No announcements have been made as to who will be performing; however, you can visit the Glasgow New World website and sign up to receive the latest news and updates.

Salieu was supposed to perform at the Kasbah nightclub on the 27th of November. The reasons for the cancellation is unclear, with Kasbah yet to comment. As of the time of writing, Kasbah have not put anything new on their twitter for the last nine days.

The show clearly meant a lot to Salieu, who hails from Coventry, mentions Coventry throughout his debut album, and entitled his album Send Them to Coventry. In the same statement, he says “I feel like I’m being let down by the city I love… why do they fear us?”

The show is part of his Afrikan Rebel Tour of the UK, with fellow rapper Backroad Gee as his supporting act, playing six dates across the country. Pa Salieu and Backroad Gee’s track ‘My Family’ helped Salieu become a big name in the UK. You can watch the video below:

This is the second of Pa Salieu’s shows to be called off this year, with a performance at the launch event of Coventry’s UK City of Culture. While the reasons behind the cancellation of his show at the Kasbah as of yet remain unclear, the Coventry UK City of Culture Trust stated, as per MixMag: “Due to the live nature of the investigation at the time we were preparing for our launch event, Coventry Moves, it was decided that it would not be possible for Pa to be involved.”

The investigation they are referring to is the murder case of Fidel Glasgow, where Salieu is alleged to be involved. Fidel Glasgow, the grandson of The Specials singer Neville Staple, was stabbed outside Club M and later died in hospital. While he is not directly involved in the murder, he is “accused of wounding another man during disorder preceded Mr Glasgow’s stabbing”, according to The BBC. Pa Salieu denies all charges. He is due to face trial in January next year.

Despite the Coventry UK City of Culture Trust explicitly stating that the investigation is the reason for his removal from the event, this time around both West Midlands Police and Coventry City Council said they had no involvement in the shows cancellation, as per The BBC.

See ticket information here and tour information below:

22/11/2021 – Thekla, Bristol
23/11 – Academy 2, Manchester
24/11 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
26/11 – Stylus, Leeds
29/11 – O2 Institute2, Birmingham
30/11 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham