Bradford Live announces the first shows as part of its 2024 launch season

Honoring two music greats are the first shows to be announced at a long-awaited new entertainment venue.

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC The ultimate tribute to ABBA and the legend – Bob Marley's music will take place at Bradford Live in November.

The former cinema has sat empty for 23 years, with work continuing to transform the site into a 3,800-capacity venue.

Darren Moore, general manager, said it was “very exciting” to start advertising events.

The venue is scheduled to open in the fall, although the exact date has not yet been confirmed.

NEC Group, the operator, said it expects the developer to hand over the space mid-year, allowing it to complete the final fit-out.

The venue hopes to attract 300,000 visitors annually and host more than 200 events.

Opened in 1930 as the New Victoria, the building later became Gaumont and hosted some of music's biggest stars such as Buddy Holly and the Beatles.

It became a center for Odeon films and a top-ranking bingo club in 1969, but closed in 2000 and was threatened with demolition.

After a grassroots campaign to save it, developer Bradford Live took it over in 2012 and reached an agreement with NEC Group as operator in 2017.

Tickets for the first shows go on sale Friday.

“We are now in the opening year, and to be able to start announcing events is very exciting,” Moore said.