Bingley Music Live: Council advertises £3m tender to bring Yorkshire music festival back to life
Bradford Council is looking for an operator to sign a £3 million contact to bring back Bingley Music Live to the city.
A tender request to “develop and deliver future editions of a new major music festival at Myrtle Park” has been published by the authority, and seeks a partner to run the event until at least 2029.
Bingley Music Live was, for many years, a highlight of Bradford’s cultural calendar.
Tens of thousands of people would visit the Myrtle Park festival each year, and it has been headlined by bands including the Pet Shop Boys, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Echo and the Bunneymen.
The event was run by Bradford Council, but ended in 2018 after that year’s festival ran £300,000 over budget.
When Reform was voted in as the largest party in Bradford in May’s local elections, new leader Councillor Stephen Place declared in a social media video that he planned to bring back the music festival, as well as the Bradford Mela at Lister Park.
On Thursday (Oct 8) the council’s executive will discuss its culture strategy for the coming years, and how Bradford will continue on from the success of the district’s year as City of Culture.
The report says: “In 2022, executive approved a commitment of £1.423 million per year for five years to support the Bradford 2025 programme and its legacy, commencing in 2025. This commitment formed part of the successful UK City of Culture bid and is reflected in the council’s medium term financial strategy.
“The remaining provision comprises £1.423 million in each of 2027/28, 2028/29 and 2029/30.
“The funding will also support the creation and development of flagship events and experiences, including plans for a new major music festival in Bingley and the reintroduction of Bradford Mela, helping to increase footfall, attract national attention and strengthen Bradford’s position as a major cultural destination and producer.”
The contract tender that the council has put out for Bingley Live runs from November 2026 to November 2029, and is worth £2.5m (£3m including VAT).
The tender contract says: “The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council is inviting expressions of interest and proposals from suitably qualified and experienced festival promoters and event organisers to develop and deliver future editions of a new major music festival at Myrtle Park, Bradford under concession contract arrangements.
“The council is seeking an ambitious, commercially capable and collaborative promoter with the vision, creativity and experience to shape the future of one of Yorkshire’s most established outdoor music festivals.
“This is more than an opportunity to deliver an event, it is an opportunity to work collaboratively with the Council to create a nationally recognised festival that delivers lasting cultural, economic and community benefit for the Bradford district.”
The tender request runs until October 16.