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 find out 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, 19 February 2025
Karaoke: Drag karaoke and Bingo hosted by Drag Queen Fanny Burns
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm / bar opens at 7pm
Free entry
Guaranteed to be a very funny evening with Fanny Burns, her new home at The Cellar bar.
Joining us every month, drag queen Fanny Burns will bring her own spin on karaoke and bingo, it’s hilarious and good fun. The bingo cash jackpot has been well over £100. £2 per card of 6 tickets, meaning 6 chances of winning. Raffle tickets for Fanny’s Flaps game are just £1. £2 tickets for Fanny’s Flaps with a cash jackpot of upto £250 to be won.
The Cellar Bar is a safe, inclusive, environment for all of our customers. Free entry, just turn up.
Make sure you’re there early enough to get drinks and bingo tickets. Bar opens at 7pm. This show contains adult humour and swearing and is strictly an over 18’s event.
Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Community: Bedford Friends of Al Walaja host: Voices from Palestine
Queens Park Community Centre, 52 Marlborough Road, MK40 4LF @ 7.30pm
Free entry
A group of visitors from the village of Al Walaja in the West Bank of Palestine will be visiting Bedford this week to share their experiences of life under occupation.
The three visitors will be talking about their lives in the West Bank, the day-to-day challenges they face under Israeli occupation and their hopes for the future. The event is hosted by Bedford Friends of Al Walaja.
Thursday, 20 February 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring the Fabulous Miss Jones Trio
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, 20 February 2025
Live streaming: NT Live: The Importance of Being Earnest
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 7.15pm
Tickets: £6
Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy.
While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.
Max Webster (Life of Pi) directs this hilarious story of identity, impersonation and romance, filmed live from the National Theatre in London.
Friday, 21 February 2025
Live music: Moments of Pleasure – Kate Bush tribute
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
This five-piece band features the amazing vocals of Lisa-Marie Walters whose vocal and visual performance is frankly astonishing, emulating the voice and mannerisms of Kate Bush like no other and generating so much love and emotion from the audience.
The show will take you on an amazing journey through much of the incredible Kate Bush back catalogue – Moments Of Pleasure will perform many of the singles such as Running Up That Hill, Wuthering Heights, Hounds of Love, Babooshka, Wow and Cloudbusting together with popular tracks from albums such as The Kick Inside, Lionheart, Never For Ever, The Dreaming and Hounds Of Love.
Friday, 21 February 2025
Comedy: Ed Patrick: Hold Your Breath
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £14
NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author, Ed Patrick injects Bedford with a gut-punchingly hilarious show about becoming a junior doctor, the NHS, the pitfalls of modern medicine and the power of questioning it. There’s plenty of laughing gas to go round.
Friday, 21 February 2025
Double header: Lord Baker Soul & Ska Show all night until 1am
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
An incredible Soul and Ska show that will get you dancing from the first song. Lord Baker really knows how to entertain and we guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Saturday, 22 & Sunday, 23 February 2025
Children’s Theatre: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Quarry Theatre @ 1pm & 3pm Saturday; 11am & 1pm Sunday
Tickets: from £13.50
The critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show created by Jonathan Rockefeller features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting four stories by author/illustrator Eric Carle: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Busy Spider and of course, the star of the show – The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969 selling more than 48 million copies worldwide.
Saturday, 22 February 2025
Community: LGBT+ History Month Festival
The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane @ 11am – 4.30pm
Free entry
Head to the Higgins for their first LGBT+ History Month Festival Day on the them of Social Activism. There will be a range of talks to enjoy, plus activities, panel discussions and a book launch.
11am: Registration and Welcome
11.15am: Opening key note by Max Fisher, RSci (They/Them) multi-award winning disability advocate, speaker, scientist, druid, drag king. 12.15pm: Power in Poetry with Katie O’Pray
2.15pm: Social Activism Panel discussion chaired by Alex Baird, University of Bedfordshire. Introducing our guest activists Drew Dalton, Lisa Vine and Harun Tulun
3.15pm: Panel discussion social activism questions and audience Q&A, chaired by Alex Baird
4pm: ‘The Prosecutor’ Book launch, featuring the story of Fritz Bauer, a Jewish gay man who sought justice, with author Jack Fairweather.
Saturday, 22 February 2025
Community: Bedford Repair Cafe
Project 229, Bedford Road, Kempston MK42 8DA @ 10am – 3pm (last walk-in @ 2.30pm)
Free
Get one item per household fixed for free by local volunteers.
No need to book, just turn up! Bikes, small electricals, clothes, toys. More info at their Facebook page.
Saturday, 22 February 2025
Live music: James Taylor Quartet + The Hurricanes
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £22.50
One of the pioneers of the Acid Jazz scene, JTQ have taken their distinctive trademark howling Hammond sound to the masses for over 30 years; still famed for their upbeat, energetic live shows with no sign of slowing down.
Guest support comes from The Hurricanes – a raucous blend of loud garage/Mod vibes, channelling the soulful groove of 60s Soul, the rhythmic pulse of R&B, and the rebellious spirit of Boss British Beat, as if transported straight from the iconic year of 1966.
Saturday, 22 February 2025
Live music: Money for Nothing – Dire Straits tribute act
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £30
Money for Nothing was formed in 2000 as a tribute to one of the world’s premier rock bands – Dire Straits.
The abundant energy and the excellence and musicality of their performance makes Money For Nothing a “must see” for any rock enthusiast or Dire Straits fan. The line-up features top-class and experienced musicians that make this band a worthy tribute to Dire Straits.
Saturday, 22 February 2025
Live music: The Krakens
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm / Bar opens at 6pm / Happy hour @ 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
The Krakens are back, covering a variety of rock songs through the ages from Elton John, Queen, Nirvana, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day and many more.
Sunday, 23 February 2025
Family fun: Crafteroon
The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane @ 2pm – 4pm
Free
Crafternoons are a monthly creative activity sessios for families to have a go at together and enjoy. Suitable for under 12s. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please be aware that space is limited and there may be a wait to start.
Sunday, 23 February 2025
Soul Factory: Soul Factory – Sunday Afternoon Chillout with DJ Rocky & Guests
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm
Free entry
Head to the Cellar Bar for an afternoon of pure soul, funk, RnB, Motown and Northern Soul classics with Soul Factory.
Sunday, 23 February 2025
Live music: The Soho Dukes play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
World-renowned, critically-acclaimed, electrically-powered, rascally rock ‘n’ roll the Soho Dukes make their Esquires debut at the Sunday afternoon session.
Sunday, 23 February 2025
Live Music: Open Mic Night
The Cellar Bar @ 7.30pm / doors open @ 3pm / Happy Hour 3pm – 9pm
Free entry
Mat Roberts hosts the Cellar Bar’s 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 to the Cellar Bar every Sunday.
So, just turn up and take advantage of the full PA, full backline and drums and even an in-house bass and guitar.
Monday, 24 February 2025
Theatre: It’s the Economy Stupid
The Quarry Theatre @ 7pm
Tickets: from £12.50
Based on a true story of a family caught up in the 90s recession, It’s the Economy, Stupid! reveals the humanity behind economics.
Armed with bags, boxes and an old board game, Joe Sellman-Leava and Dylan Howells embark on a quest to uncover how the economy wins elections, and why the force that dominates our lives is so bloody complicated. The show is touring the UK after its sold-out, critically acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe.
Tuesday, 25 February 2024
Art & Culture lecture: James Allan: Islamic Art: geometry, The Arabesque, floral designs and figural art
The Addison Centre, Kempston @ 10.45am / 11am start
Tickets: NBAS members – free / guests £10
In this lecture, Professor James Allan will look at geometry and the arabesque, following the latter into the range of floral designs current in later Islamic art. He’ll show how geometry and the arabesque combine to make highly intricate, but deeply satisfying, designs in a range of media.
It is mistakenly believed, both by Muslims and non-Muslims, that Islamic art is non-representational. Professor Allan will explore Islamic art’s figural side, and show how widespread figural art really is, even, most surprisingly, in some religious settings.
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Live music: Tuesday lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
A trumpet recital by Tom Thornton of the Philharmonia.
Free with a retiring collection.
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Music: The 6 o’clock Record Club with Pete Burridge
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 6pm
Free entry
Join Pete Burridge for his 6 O’Clock record club @ The Castle
Come along and listen to some classic tunes from Pete’s collection or bring your own to be played on the evening.
Tuesday, 25 February 2024
Art: The Circus of Illustration’s Drink and Draw – For a Loop
The Park pub, Kimbolton Road @ 7.30pm
Free (£2 donation appreciated)
On the last Tuesday of every month, Bedford’s creative community meets up at the Park pub for the Circus of Illustration’s monthly Drink and Draw sessions. With a different theme each month, it’s open to absolutely anyone (over 18) of any skill level and there’s no need to book.
This month they will be trying their hands at some simple animations thanks to the wonderful team behind Animade Frames.
They will have a bunch of templates available for you to draw into and with a quick click of a button, you’ll have a short animation to show off to your friends.
Equipment and resources are provided in a no-pressure, relaxed atmosphere to chat, drink and doodle.
Drink and Draw is for all grown ups!
– Chat with new people who like creative stuff
– Do some no-pressure doodling and get inspiration from others.
– Equipment provided
– All abilities welcome
– No membership, no signing up, it’s free to just turn up and join in.
– £2 donation welcome!
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Film: Bedford Film Society presents – Zone of Interest
The University of Bedford, Polhill Avenue @ 7.30pm
Tickets: members free / £5/day guest
The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Live music: She Drew The Gun
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £16.50
She Drew The Gun returns to Bedford Esquires for the first time since their sold-out show in 2019. Now heading towards their fourth album, the project is the brainchild of Louisa Roach, who has steadily released a string of excellent music over the last decade.
2016’s debut ‘Memories of Another Future’ was swiftly followed by a crowning as Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition winner. The follow-up ‘Revolution of Mind’ was named one of BBC 6 Music’s Albums of the Year, while 2021’s ‘Behave Myself’ saw record praised as “some of her most finessed and contoured songwriting to date”.
Thursday, 27 February 2025
Theatre: Forgotten in the Land of Egypt
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
In 1631, The Fens, the flat area of land stretching from Cambridge to Norwich, were drained. In 2050, The Fens return to the sea. Two children play in the waterscape. They tell tales of a mythic Waterman, who scours the water for sunken parts. But, in the bitter struggle for survival, soon the play adopts a more sinister note. Meanwhile in Ely, 2023, a priest gets a visit from a woman haunted by prophetic dreams.
It’s a play about grief, faith, and the climate crisis; the crashing confluence of past and present; the refusal to heed the warnings we’re given.
Thursday, 27 February 2025
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring The Untouchables
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, 28 February 2025
Family fun: Exploring with Kaye Leidoskope – Exploring Transport
The Place Theatre @ 10am
Tickets: Pay what you can
Join Kaye Leidoskope for these monthly lively & lovely interactive sessions for children two to five years and their grown-ups. At each session we explore a new subject area like transport, animals and weather.
You can expect play, songs, crafts and we always have bubbles… perfect for little ones to creatively learn through play!
Friday, 28 February 2025
Comedy: Ed Byrne
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £32.50
From the quote attributed to Mark Twain, humour is defined as Tragedy Plus Time. Come and join Ed as he tests that formula by mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs.
Edinburgh Fringe 2023 was a bumper five-star review year for Ed. They came in thick and fast alongside outstanding critical acclaim for this exceptionally funny, ‘Best Reviewed Stand Up Show at Edinburgh 2023’ (British Comedy Guide).
As seen as Hosting Live At The Apollo and regular appearances on QI and Mock The Week.
Friday, 28 February 2025
Live music: Mat Roberts & J37
The Cellar Bar @ 9pm / bar opens @ 6pm / Happy hour @ 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
Mat Roberts is back at the Cellar Bar so expect a diverse range of music, from pop to rock and anything in between. Performed with his partner in music – the duo J37.
Friday, 28 February 2025
Live music: Paktofonika
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £42.75
A concert not to be missed. The legendary Paktofonika will appear in Bedford for the first time.
“I am God”, “Fleetful Moments”, “Me to Me” and “Priorities” will be rapped live in Bedford.
Friday, 28 February 2025
Live music: The Future Sessions ft Blame Caesar, Plateau and Monochrome and The Dog Cat Scene
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £8
The Future Sessions return to Bedford’s Esquires this month, with the spotlight on local emerging talent featuring another four of the region’s bands, all fighting hard for your attention.
blender brings together Blame Caesar, Plateau and Monochrome, plus The Dog Cat Scene – making their debut at Esquires.
From Saturday, 1 March – Saturday, 8 March 2025
Exhibition: Wire and Textile – a solo exhibition by Cecilia Gatehouse
Eagle Gallery, 20 St Peters Street, Bedford MK40 2NN @ Monday-Saturday 10.30-5 pm; Sunday 11-3pm
Ticket price: Free Entry
An exhibition of the work of Cecelia Gatehouse opens at the Eagle Gallery this March. Cecilia’s work is mainly figurative and she uses images from personal experiences, photographs and her own imagination. Her pieces celebrate the beauty of nature, convey feelings of belonging, but also of alienation in an increasingly challenging world.
Drawing with wire and threads gives her work a feeling of translucency, intended to express memories, movement and emotion. She adds colour and texture by inserting collages of painted and stitched fabrics. Upon closer inspection one can see recycled objects such as buttons, lace, and beads – materials that once were discarded have been repurposed and given value.
Saturday, 1 March 2025
Live music: Soul Factory – Saturday Afternoon Chillout with DJ Rocky & Bobby
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm / bar opens @ 3pm
Free entry
Head to the Cellar Bar for an afternoon of pure soul, funk, R&B, house, Motown and Northern Woul classics with Soul Factory.
Saturday, 1 March 2025
Live Music: Cameo
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / late close
Free Entry
Up first on Saturday night is Cellar Bar favourite Cameo who is back for another solo performance. Singing classic rock/pop songs from Dolly Parton to Fleetwood Mac to The Chili Peppers and so much in between.
Saturday, 1 March 2025
Live Music: MoonDog and the SunCats
The Cellar Bar @ 11.00pm / late close
Free entry
We’re excited to welcome the pioneering band of ‘schwafflepop’ MoonDog & the SunCats. They are not just a band, but more of a fun experience in melodic story telling. Not to be missed.
Sunday, 2 March 2025
Live music: Lost 4 Words play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Lost 4 Words return to Esquires for the first time in a while.
Carl, Mike, John and Wayne will be playing their own takes on many a rock classic.
Sunday, 2nd March 2025
Live music: Waterloo Duo – ABBA Tribute
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm / bar opens at 3pm
Free entry
‘Waterloo’ The Best of ABBA duo is a fantastic tribute to the Swedish supergroup. If you love Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Voulez-Vous and many more hits you’ll love this incredible performance.
Why not combine an afternoon of ABBA tunes with the Cellar Bar’s Bottomless Afternoon Tea packages?
Sunday, 2 March 2025
Live music: Andy Bell (Ride / Oasis) Pinball Wanderer acoustic show + James Chapman (Maps) DJ set
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: prices vary
Andy Bell (Ride / Oasis) will be playing a special acoustic show at Esquires this month in support of his new solo album ‘Pinball Wanderer’.
The album is a collection of eight songs that marks the start of a new sonic chapter for Andy. While his two previous solo releases (2020’s The View From Halfway Down and Flicker from 2022) were based on material he had been accruing since the 1990s, this one is entirely new and it’s a mix of psychedelic melodies – Can via Stone Roses grooves.
The lead single is a quite stunning cover of The Passions ‘I’m in Love with a German Film Star’ featuring Dot Allison (One Dove / Massive Attack) and Michael Rother (Neu!)
You can pick up a ticket along with pre-ordering a copy of the album from Slide Record Shop now.
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Colour and Light
The Higgins Bedford until 2 November 2025
Free entry
Art from the 18th century right up to the present day will be on display at The Higgins Bedford in its new exhibition, exploring the fascinating relationship between Colour and Light.
Read: Exhibition: ‘Colour and Light’ illuminates The Higgins Bedford
Running until 2 November 2025, the exhibition will showcase works from The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection, including iconic pieces by JMW Turner, John Singer Sargent, Sonia Delaunay, Peter Blake, and Chila Kumari Singh Burman.
Colour and Light will also feature a specially commissioned artwork by Bedford-based artist, Alison Goodyear, entitled ‘Light & Colour’, as featured on the front cover of the February issue of the Bedford Clanger. This immersive digital experience, created in collaboration with four Bedford community groups and is inspired by the works in the exhibition.
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
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX
11am – 5pm (last entry 4.30) Thursday – Sunday
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a Christian group formed in the early twentieth century who created their own ‘Garden of Eden’ in the centre of Bedford.
The Panacea Museum is located across several Victorian buildings that formed the community’s headquarters. It tells the story of the Panacea Society and other similar religious groups.
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
The February issue of the Bedford Clanger is out now. Grab a copy at one of our many pick-up points throughout the Borough.
You can find your nearest one using our map here.
