Embrace are gearing up to headline a glittering opening ceremony for the 2014 Tour de France.
The Brighouse band are topping the bill at the Yorkshire Grand Depart opening ceremony at Leeds First Direct Arena - their fist arena gig since their recent sell-out comeback tour and album.
The ceremony will also welcome the Tour's cycling stars - defending champion Chris Froome and top sprinter Mark Cavendish will greet the crowd at the event, to be held just two days before the race gets underway.
And during the Team Presentation, 22 of the world's best cycling teams will be welcomed to the arena in a showcase of this year's top Tour de France talent.
Team Sky will parade their top secret Pinarello's Dogma F8 bikes, a year in the making and allegedly the best bikes the team have ever ridden.
ITV sports presenter Jill Douglas and the voice of the Tour de France, Sebastien Piquet, will host the ceremony and will be on hand to interview the riders.
The musical entertainment will continue with Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh, who will team up with York-based musician Alistair Griffin to perform the official album of Yorkshire's Grand Depart - The Road.
And to celebrate the coming together of Yorkshire and France, French singer and composer Pauline Vasser will perform her hit Allo le Monde.
Yorkshire Festive 2014 anthem The Big Wide will be performed by Hope and Social with Grassington Festival as part of the Tour of Infinite Possibility.
Watch the video below to learn more about the Tour of Infinite Possibility, part of Yorkshire Festival 2014
The Leeds rock band set itself a challenge of travelling more than 200 miles and doing three gigs per day on June 7-8 and June 21-22, picking up performers en route to join their Band Anyone Can Join.
At the opening ceremony Hope and Social will be joined by 100 performers to sing their festival anthem.
Opera North will also appear at the celebratory concert, performing music specially created for the opening ceremony, conducted by London 2012 composer Philip Sheppard.
Executive producer Martin Green, who was Head of Ceremonies at the London 2012 Olympics, said: "We're breaking new ground here for the Tour de France with this ambitious show - it's something much bigger and completely new to the cycling world.
"With the theme of the event The People of Yorkshire Welcome the World, this will give the riders the entrance they deserve as the Yorkshire Grand Départ celebrations begin."
The opening ceremony and show, on July 3, will begin with a pre-show at 5.30pm before the live entertainment and broadcast begins at 6.30pm.
Level 2 and Level 3 seats are still available and are priced from £50.75 to £72.75.
To book, click here or call the First Direct Arena Box Office on 0844 248 1585.
Tickes can also be booked in person at the arena box office, based in the Trinity Leeds Customer Service Lounge, open Monday to Saturday, 9am-8pm and Sundays 11am-5pm.
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