Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 finds out what makes the city special - its people.

You might want to turn your sound up for this one.

Gabriela Matouskova said she witnessed bhangra, Irish dancing, flags and "lots of heritage cars," on a Coventry street.

"I was visiting grandma who is 80 next weekend and we heard noise - and being a bit nosy went outside and it was fantastic."

"I said I'd organised it - so it was all for her," she said.

"She actually came out in a Two Tone outfit, which was great - it was all perfectly timed."

Louise Cullen said coming across the motorcade and dancers was "just the best surprise."

"Amazing atmosphere, dancing in the streets," she said.

"What a great way to start our City of Culture year."

Pauline Black kicked off the event with a song called River Rushing Flow - she wore an outfit to embody her role as the spirit of the river that runs beneath the city.

Image source, PA Media

Then a group of young River Runner performers make their way through the Coventry streets as they trace the path of the river.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

In the city centre, the runners met spoken word artist and rapper John Bernard, playing the Energy of Youthfulness.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

The runners also met artist and designer Daniel Lismore (above) - the Energy of Innovation.

Image source, PA Media

Meanwhile, a procession of bicycles passed through the city to celebrate Coventry's manufacturing heritage.

Aaron Law captured these images of the bike peloton passing near Moseley Avenue, in Coundon.

Image source, Aaron Law

Image source, Aaron Law

You can listen to the whole of Pauline Black's song here, which is called River Rushing Flow.

It was composed by Coventry muscians Unamay Olomaiye and Sibongile Mkoba.

The lyrics and melody were created in workshops with the residents of Spon End.

The car cavalcade is on the move across the city too.

They'll be visiting streets, many of which have significant links to the car manufacturing industry.

As 30 bicycles and custom trike ride across the city, you'll surely hear them before you see them as they blast out a custom soundtrack by DJs Parks & Wilson.

The Coventry City of Culture team are keeping everything secret - as part of their "surprising" programme they want to catch people unawares before wowing them with their displays.

The cyclists started their journey at Butts Park Arena at about 10:00 before heading to Spon End where they dismounted to give a special performance for local residents.

Next up, a busy shopping street so watch out if you're waiting for the bus as the road will be closed to traffic.

We'll bring you the latest right here with where the procession has been - let us know if you spot them too.

Pauline Black said today's event is a celebration of the River Sherbourne that runs under the city.

Talking to Naga and Charlie on BBC Breakfast earlier she said the Coventry Moves harks back to the city's origins.

"I'm enticing the future generation to find where the river goes."

A procession of 30 bicycles have travelled through the city.

Led by three custom trikes, the procession is also a nod to Coventry's heritage as home to the UK's bicycle manufacture industry.

Honouring the city's history of innovation and its role in helping create the mass-production of bicycles, a celebration of bikes is being led around the city.

Keep a look out they could be heading to a neighbourhood near you.

This Coventry Moves film tells the story of a group of young people tracing the River Sherbourne as it snakes under the city centre, featuring several of the day's "energies" - well known faces that "encapsulate the spirit of the city".

Richard Williams
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

People are preparing to take part in cavalcades in a celebration of the manufacturing heritage of the city.

The vehicles range from vintage to modern and electric, and will be pausing in people's streets.

Once the UK's answer to Detroit, Coventry had links to early automotive brands Daimler, Armstrong Siddeley, Alvis, Hillman, Triumph and Jaguar.

Pauline Black has said it was a "wow moment" after being asked to perform in today's City of Culture launch event.

You can see more of her story in a special BBC documentary that has gone behind the scenes looking at preparations for today's events.

You can watch Curtain Up On Coventry on BBC One across the Midlands on Monday 7 June at 19.35 and nationally on BBC Four on Wednesday 9 June 19.00.

Meet another of the city's "energies" who will be taking part in the event today - Navin Kundra.

Image source, Joe Bailey/Five/SixPhotography

The singer-songwriter is representing the people power of Coventry, "who built and rebuilt the city, and made its famous watches and bikes".

"I couldn't be more proud and honoured to represent it in this way," he said.

"As a singer-songwriter I've got to travel the whole world and had number one records and all of that was from a dream that was born here.

"And now to be invited to represent people power and the diversity of the city is such an honour."

Fourteen modern-day Lady Godivas have learned to ride horses so they can take part in today's event launching Coventry's UK City of Culture year.

The Godivas, chosen to represent women of the city, include musician Christine "Sugary" Staple and Pru Porretta, who has played Godiva at events since 1982.

Godiva, who died on 10 September 1067, was married to Leofric, the Earl of Mercia and Lord of Coventry.

Together they founded the Benedictine Priory and later the Cathedral of St Mary.

According to legend, Leofric became so exasperated by Godiva's endless appeals to reduce taxes in Coventry, he declared he would do so if she rode naked through the crowded marketplace.

The 14 modern Godivas also include:

• Felicity Alsop, a young woman who has autism and cares for her mother.
• Alethea Balbuena, director of operations of Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.
• Kirsty Brewerton, a clinical sister with the NHS.
• Surinder Dhillon, who founded Ekta-Unity which works to improve the wellbeing of the Asian community.
• Christine Eade, who manages The Pod, Coventry City Council's mental health hub.
• Isabelle Edgar-McCabe, founded baby bank Baby Godiva in 2019.
• Reena Jaisiah, the 2016 recipient of Coventry City Council's Good Citizen Award.
• Last Mafuba, founder of charity Inini Initiative, which provides mental health services to Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
• Caitlin McCarthy, a 16-year-old singer songwriter.
• Jess McLish, who launched Coventry Rocks, a website for families to find local baby and toddler groups, events, attractions and activities.
• Loraine Mponela, a community campaigner.
• Laura Nyahuye, founder of social enterprise Maokwo.

Our friends on BBC Breakfast have been broadcasting from the city this morning.

They spoke to Justine Themen, who's the creative director of today's Coventry Moves event.

She spoke about the importance of culture for communities and the prosperity of a city.

Richard Williams
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Darren Considine is another resident who popped down to watch events in Spon End earlier.

"Coventry really needed this," he said, "It puts us on the map."

"Having Pauline Black here from The Selecter singing a song about Coventry is just really good.

"I feel really proud of Coventry today, really proud."

The official start to Coventry's year as City of Culture was on 15 May, with today's event delayed due to coronavirus restrictions.

Thousands watched the launch on social media, which was marked with a video called Timeless Words Made New.

It featured the words of novelist George Eliot mixed into a new drill track by local producer Coolie. Here's a reminder:

Richard Williams
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

Kim Hackleman watched this morning's opening event in Spon End with Mark "Gibbo" Gibbins.

"It was so incredibly beautiful," she said, "the dancers were so fantastic".

"It felt like so present to Coventry, in terms of the river flowing through the city I love."

Gibbo said he had been involved in writing the lyrics and appeared as a backing singer on some of the music used in the launch event.

"We were there from day one when they approached us, we did sessions on a Thursday night where we brainstormed," he said.

"And then we came up with a song."

On today's event he said "I think they've done a terrific job getting it all together," he added, "It's brilliant what they've done."

"The resilience that Coventry's shown throughout the years is definitely going to shine through today," Ms Hackleman added.