This was more than an opening ceremony. It felt like a love letter to a city misunderstood.
Eleven thousand people bought tickets to watch Bradford welcome its year as the UK’s City of Culture.
“It’s a really, really good opportunity for people to see what Bradford is about,” one young local tells me, “for people to come into Bradford, dispel the myths and realise that, actually, it’s a city with a lot to offer.”
For Friday night’s performance, Bradford’s city centre square became an urban stage.
Spoken-word poets strut across the rooftops; aerial acrobats dangle from scaffolding; rappers are accompanied by a symphony orchestra playing from a glass-sided office building next to the main stage.
The performers, all Bradfordian, shared with the crowd what they believed makes this city special.
“My veins is full of northern grit,” sang a community choir, “We got that northern Soul.”
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“We’re far from ordinary people.”
This evening’s big finish? A special performance from Bradford-born illusionist Steven Frayne, formally known as “Dynamo”.
“All my ideas started in Bradford,” Frayne says and recounts how he resisted TV bosses who tried to tone down his accent.
“I’m never losing my Yorkshire accent,” he tells the crowd, to loud cheers.
Over the next 12 months, Bradford will be teeming with cultural events – from theatre to film, dance, music and art.
It’ll host the Turner Prize and have a special exhibition by Bradford-born painter David Hockney.
But it’ll also feature the city’s newest talents from across all backgrounds.
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“Diversity for me is a number-one strength in Bradford,” Community Cast dancer Richard Dunbar told me.
“Over 150 languages spoken, and the richness of that culture, that’s why our programme is so rich. There might be people out there who seek to divide but actually diversity unifies people in Bradford.
“We’re ready to tell the world our story.”
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Bradford follows Coventry as the UK’s newest City of Culture. It’s a title that brings with it investment and interest.
Millions of visitors are expected over the next 12 months, spending an estimated £130m.
The money is, of course, important. Transformative, even.
But right now it’s the sense of hope and excitement about the year ahead that feels most tangible.
