Your weekly what’s on guide for Bedford and the surrounding area from the Bedford Clanger.
Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford Clanger what’s on guide lands every Wednesday and is the only guide you need to know what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 11 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by The Cellar Bar.
Wednesday, 15 & Thursday, 16 January 2025
Theatre: Buretti: The Man Who Sewed the World
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £10
Set in a 1970s TV television talk show format this theatre production portrays the fascinating tale of Freddie Burretti, David Bowie’s close friend and Ziggy Stardust costume designer.
With a befitting musical score, the show reveals Burretti’s toils with 1970s homophobia, events leading up to meeting David Bowie and the legendary 1972 BBC Top of the Pops broadcast.
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Stevington Cinema Club presents: The Royal Opera’s The Tales of Hoffmann
Stevington Village Hall Court Lane, Stevington MK43 7QT @ 6.30pm
Tickets: £17
Through the haze of the years, a poet remembers the women he loved. But when it comes to matters of the heart, nothing is as it seems. Particularly when the devil himself is involved…
Journeying back to his school days, Hoffmann relives his childhood romance with Olympia, a model student in every sense. Doomed love follows him into adulthood, where the dancer, Antonia, is taken from him too soon. Meanwhile, the sensual courtesan Giulietta has her own secret agenda. As memory and fantasy becomes increasingly blurred, will Hoffmann find the enigmatic Stella before it is too late?
Thursday, 16 January 2025
Bedford Skeptics present: We Were Social Before We Were Human
The North End Club, 60 Roff Avenue, Bedford MK41 7TW @ 7.30pm
Donations appreciated
At the first Bedford Skeptics events of 2025, Dr. Colin Talbot will talk about the evolution of sociality and cooperation in humans and what it means for our social, political and economic institutions.
Group selection (not just the selfish gene) produced humans who cooperated to survive. “It Takes a Village to Rise a Child” in the famous African saying. Which does not mean we aren’t also competitive – sometimes violently so – but without cooperation we would not be here as a species. As Colin wrote in his 2004 book, we are “paradoxical primates”.
Colin is a Professor of Government (Emeritus) at the University of Manchester and a Research Associate at Cambridge. He now lives in Bedford.
Thursday 16 January 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring Mark Keeley solo show
The Dance Hall, Wixams Retirement Village, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 6EA @ 8pm – 10.30pm
Tickets: £12.99
An evening for dancers and music enthusiasts alike. Cashless bar, plenty of seating (night club set up) and dance floor. Book in advance and come along at 7.15pm for a 45-minute dance class in Balboa, one of the original swing dances of the era. For the main event, just turn up – pay cash at reception – have fun, no booking needed.
Thursday, 16 January 2025
Live music: Peter Andre in The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 8pm
Tickets: £45 (limited tickets remaining)
Starring Peter Andre, The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is a spectacular high-pitched celebration of timeless music from one of the biggest-selling groups of all time.
This nostalgic musical journey pays tribute to the life and career of those four boys from Jersey, who started singing under a streetlamp but soon went on to become one of the most recognised groups in history.
Featuring a supporting cast of incredible performers from smash-hit award-winning West End musicals, The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will leave you on a ‘high’ and guarantee you’ll be saying ‘Oh, What A Night!
Thursday, 16 January 2025
Live music: Karaoke
The Cellar Bar @ 9pm / requests from 8pm / Happy Hour 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
The ONLY place you need to be for karaoke on a Thursday night – The Cellar Bar on the High Street. Pure karaoke with over 50,000 songs to choose from.
Perform like a pro with the Cellar Bar’s professional lighting, sound and a proper stage, with the best-sounding performers and acoustics on the High Street. Sing with your friends using multiple microphones and, of course, Cameo and Sarah Ellen hosting your night.
Friday, 17 January 2025
Quiz night: Bedford Friends Of Al-Walaja fundraising quiz night
The Three Rivers Church, Denmark Street @ 7pm
Teams of six / £5 per person / includes refreshments
A charity quiz night held by Bedford Friends of Al-Walaja to raise funds for Palestinians. Please bring cash. There will be a raffle and Middle Eastern refreshments.
Friday, 17 January 2025
Live music: Duzzy Avocado
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 7.30pm
Free entry
Join Jenny by celebrating her 10-year pub-iversary at The Castle.
Girl band Duzzy Avocado will be singing their original songs and covers with a twist. Expect songs laced in folk, country and bluegrass, with intricate three-part harmonies, soaring violin, soulful guitar, joyful banjo, uke & percussion the night.
Friday, 17 January 2025
Live music: The Krakens
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens @ 6pm / Happy hour @ 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
The Krakens are back! This four-piece rock band features Chris Craigen on keys/vocals, Naomi Vranas on bass, Jon Mason on guitar and Seb Hensman on the drums.
Expect to hear hits from Elton John, Queen, Nirvana, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day and many more.
Saturday, 18 January 2025
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Station Road/Church Street by Railway Station, MK43 0RU @ 1pm
This Saturday’s walk is a six-miler around Lidlington. Please be aware there is a steep start.
Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 18 January 2025
Live music: Danni Nicholls
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £13.50
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Danni Nicholls will return to the Esquires for an unforgettable evening of live music to welcome in the new year.
Performing a mix of new songs from her forthcoming album plus some classics from her back catalogue, Danni Nicholls returns from Nashville TN for a hometown show with the best local musicians as her band – Sam Barrett, Ryan Barnes and Dave Banks.
Saturday, 18 January 2025
Comedy: Felicity Ward; I’m Exhausting
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Star of ‘The Office’ (Australia), Felicity Ward returns for her first national tour in six years. In a two-hour laugh-out-loud extravaganza, Felicity Ward talks about something that no one has ever done before – she had a baby.
The show is about pregnancy, and not getting pregnant, and birth, and post-natal depression, and motherhood, and identity, and sexuality, and the disintegration of how things were, and missing home, and Quorn, and transition lenses, and fingering. All the big things. All of them.
Saturday, 18 January 2025
Live music: Bootleg Blondie – ‘The world’s No.1 official Debbie Harry & Blondie tribute band’
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
CBGB’s comes to Bedford Esquires with the return of ‘Bootleg Blondie’ this month.
Expect to hear some of the greatest hits across a vast back catalogue including: Heart of Glass, Dreaming, Union City Blue, The Tide Is High, Rapture, Atomic, Hanging on the Telephone, (I’m Always Touched by Your) Presence Dear, In the Flesh, Rip Her to Shreds, One Way or Another, Picture This, Sunday Girl, Maria, In the Flesh, Denise, Call Me and many more.
Packing out venues up and down the UK they are the only tribute to have actually featured real members of Blondie with both Clem Burke sitting in on the drum stool and Gary Valentine taking over bass duties occasionally.
Saturday, 18 January 2025
Live Music: May Contain Nutz
The Cellar Bar @ 9pm / 3am close
Free entry
We’re delighted to welcome back MayContainNutz who entertained us at our River Festival After Show Party back in July. What a fab night that was! MayContainNutz are a 4 piece party rock band from Bedford.
Sunday, 19 January 2025
Live music: Fran Pegg Band plays the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Fran Pegg and her band return to Esquires for this week’s Sunday afternoon session. With her soulful blues and raspy rock’n’roll, Fran has been compared to Janis Joplin and Etta James.
Sunday, 19 January 2025
Live music: U18’s Open Mic
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm – 7.00pm / bar opens at 3pm
Free entry
The Cellar Bar is throwing its doors open to the next generation of Bedford musicians, with a dedicated junior open mic session for under 18s.
Whether you sing, play guitar, drums, or any other musical instrument, or are a band already, you are welcome to take part. It’s a chance for you to perform on a stage in front of an audience with a full pa, drum kit, amps, lighting.
Hosted by none other than Mat Roberts, Mat will be on hand to offer support and advice, as well as doing a few jam sessions of his own.
Under 18’s are welcome in the bar from 5pm until 9pm on Sundays for Junior Open Mic.
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Live music: Tuesday lunchtime concert
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
This week’s concert features a piano recital by Huan Zhang.
Free with a retiring collection.
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Live music: 6 o’clock Record Club
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 6pm – 11pm
Free entry
Join Pete Burridge for his 6 O’Clock record club at The Castle. Come along and listen to some classic tunes from Pete’s collection or bring your own to be played on the evening, what better things is there to do on a Tuesday evening in January?
Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Classical music: Song Haven
St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road @ 12 noon
Free entry (including light lunch)
Songhaven is founded on the belief that people living with dementia (including carers and companions) deserve the dignity of high-quality live music experiences in a relaxed, inclusive, and joyous atmosphere.
This concert is the second in a four-concert pilot series in Bedford. Each will feature three professional classically-trained artists – two singers and one pianist – performing a range of musical genres, followed by a free social light lunch.
Thursday, 23 January 2025
Film: Stevington Cinema Club presents: Mrs Harris Goes to Paris
Stevington Village Hall Court Lane, Stevington MK43 7QT @ 6pm
In partnership with the House of Dior, Mrs Harris Goes To Paris tells the charming tale of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own.
After she works, starves and gambles to raise the funds to pursue her dream, she embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change not only her own outlook, but the very future of the House of Dior.
Thursday, 23 January 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring Chris Lord and her Blues Express
The Dance Hall, Wixams Retirement Village, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 6EA @ 8pm – 10.30pm
Tickets: £12.99
An evening for dancers and music enthusiasts alike. Cashless bar, plenty of seating (night club set up) and dance floor. Book in advance and come along at 7.15pm for a 45-minute dance class in Balboa, one of the original swing dances of the era. For the main event, just turn up – pay cash at reception – have fun, no booking needed.
Friday, 24 January 2025
Theatre Workshop: Empower You – Performance Skills Workshop
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £80 for six-week course
Unlock your full potential with the Empower You Performance Skills Workshops, brought to you by Standing in the Wings.
These dynamic sessions are designed to boost your confidence, enhance your presentation abilities, and refine your performance skills.
Whether you’re looking to excel in public speaking, improve your stage presence, or develop your personal brand, our coaches provide tailored guidance to help you shine.
Friday, 24 January 2025
Live music: Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £24
Combining global music, reggae, fusion and punk influences, Jah Wobble has entranced the world with his hypnotic bass riffs for over four decades and has become one of Britain’s most influential and distinct bass players.
Accompanied by his band, Invaders of the Heart, Jah Wobble is reborn into a new decade as defiant as ever with a brand new UK tour.
Friday, 24 January 2025
Live music: Mat Roberts
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm / bar opens @ 6pm
Free entry
Mat Roberts has been a huge supporter of The Cellar Bar from the start, hosting the venue’s open mic night and junior open mic, so they are delighted to welcome him back for a night of musical entertainment.
Expect a diverse range of music, from pop to rock and anything in between. Performed with his partner in music – the duo J37.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk: Discover Dockland walk / meet @ Bedford Station MK40 1DS @ 9am
Afternoon walk: Near Fox and Hounds Riseley MK44 1DT @ 1pm
This Saturday’s morning walk is a nine-mile Discover Dockland walk from London Bridge to Canary Wharf and light installation show.
The afternoon walk is a little closer to home; meeting at Riseley followed by a seven-mile walk towards Swineshead.
Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Classical music: Bedford Sinfonia
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: vary
An evening of classical orchestral music that is fun, fabulous and uplifting.
It features an exciting percussion and timpani concerto by Panufnik with soloists David Hext and Rachel Gledhill who came through the Bedfordshire Youth Music scene, and are now at the top of their game playing for top UK orchestras.
In addition, Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le Toit, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 and a short piece from Svendsen, Norwegian Rhapsody will complete the programme.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Open mic: Bedford’s Got Talent – Open Mic Night
The Quarry Theatre @ 7pm
Tickets: Pay What You can from £7.50
Discover Bedford’s brightest stars and hidden gems at Bedford’s Got Talent – Open Mic Night, a unique evening celebrating creativity and the arts.
From thought-provoking spoken word to heartfelt poetry, captivating music, and laugh-out-loud comedy, this event promises something for everyone. Be part of Bedfordshire’s first-of-its-kind showcase, bringing together an eclectic mix of local talent and performers from further afield. Whether you’re here to support or step up to the mic yourself, it’s going to be a night to remember.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Live music: Megapint?
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm / bar opens @ 6pm / Happy Hour @ 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Live music: The Greensands Single Launch Party + Car Boot Sale + WKTD & Mind Sigh
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Head down to Esquires and celebrate the launch of the Greensands’ new single ‘Going Gold’.
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Dance music: UK Garage Legend MC Kie + Sean Harvey
Halo Nightclub, 29 Mill Street, Bedford @ 9pm
Free entry before 11pm / £11.55 on the door
Halo, the new nightclub on Mill Street, will be opening its door at a launch event this weekend, featuring UK Garage legend MC Kie and Bedford’s very own Sean Harvey.
The club’s new owners said: “We’re incredibly excited to breathe new life into this iconic venue. Our mission is to restore the venue as a cornerstone of Bedford’s entertainment scene, offering a space that brings people together, whether it’s for a night out with friends or a special daytime event.
“This launch party is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to share what’s to come.”
Saturday, 25 January 2025
Dance music: Get Ready – 60/70s Motown, Soul & Disco Night
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £6
Get Ready! featuring the biggest hits of 60s/70s Motown Soul and Disco.
The biggest floorfillers of the era including The Jacksons, Al Wilson, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Rick James, Chic, Sister Sledge, The Temptations, James Brown, Diana Ross, The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Ray Charles and more…
Sunday, 26 January 2025
Classical music: Organ Recital featuring Paul Searle-Barnes
St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford, MK40 2PF @ 4pm
Free to attend / no tickets required
Organ recital from accomplished organist and Director of Music at St Andrew’s featuring music by JS Bach, Mozart, Percy Whitlock, Derek Bourgeois and Dupré.
Free with retiring collection.
Sunday, 26 January 2025
Live music: The Flamin’ Wet Gurus play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
A warm welcome back to Flamin’ Wet Gurus for their first Esquires Sunday Session of 2025. Reggae, drum n bass, folk n funk, brass, percussion and harmonies. What more could you want?
Sunday, 26 January 2025
Community Theatre: Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £12
Spies, murder, love, and other trademarks of Alfred Hitchcock come to life in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast of the master of suspense’s earlier films. With The Lodger, Sabotage and The 39 Steps, Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play is a triple feature, complete with vintage commercials, that recreates a daring train chase, a serial killer’s ominous presence, and a devastating explosion through the magic of live sound effects.
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Rediscovering Black Portraiture
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
The newest exhibition at the Higgins began as a diversionary lockdown project in 2020 and can now be seen at Kensington Palace, the Bodeian Library in Oxford and now in Bedford.
It features the work of Manchester-born professional opera singer, Peter Brathwaite, who has lived in the Black Tom area of Bedford since 2018.
With all his singing work cancelled during the pandemic, Peter began looking for an outlet for his creative talents and started recreating famous and lesser-known Black portraiture paintings using as props whatever he could find around his house.
It was inspired by the Getty Foundation’s lockdown project, but quickly took on a life of its own, gathering a large international online following. You can explore the project at his Instagram page @peter_brathwaite.
And from Saturday, 18 May, they will form part of an installation at the Higgins Bedford which will lead visitors through the main collections and into Cecil Higgins’ house, with Peter’s interpretation of The Paston Treasure at its heart.
Read: ‘Rediscovering Black Portraiture’ at the Higgins Bedford this May
Exhibition: Edward Bawden & Me
The Higgins Bedford until
Free entry
Brand new work by some of the biggest names in contemporary British art, illustration and textiles are on display at an exhibition at the Higgins Bedford in celebration of the work of one of Britain’s most inventive and influential artists
Entitled Edward Bawden & Me, the exhibition has been curated by Bawden’s good friend, illustrator and printmaker, Chris Brown and also features work by local artists’ collective, the Circus of Illustration.
Read: Star-studded new Edward Bawden exhibition opens at the Higgins Bedford
You can also read the full article in the February issue of The Bedford Clanger.
Every Thursday
Cocktails, Quiz Night & Karaoke
The Cellar Bar from 5.00pm
Pit your wits against The Cellar Bar’s resident quizmaster to see if you can win the jackpot every Thursday from 8pm. £2 per person entry and a maximum of six per team. The winning team will win the jackpot PLUS a round of shots. Followed by Karaoke til close
Every Saturday
Food & drink: Cocktail mixology masterclass
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm / doors open at 12 noon
£30 per person
The Cellar Bar’s resident mixologist, Marley, will explain how to create some outstanding cocktails for your tasting enjoyment. Then, it’s your turn to put what you’ve learned into practice by making (and drinking) three cocktails!
Every Sunday
Live Music: Open Mic Night
The Cellar Bar @ 7.30pm
Free Entry
Every Sunday, join Mat Roberts for the Cellar Bar’s weekly Open Mic night. An opportunity for new and experienced performers to get up on stage and perform.
So whether you think you are the next Tom Grennan or just want a good night of entertainment, head the to Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
