Our What’s On Guide is sponsored by The Place Theatre, hosts of Overgrown. Played in teams over Zoom (age 10+), Overgrown is a prompt for conversations about our relationship with nature and other species. Players share their hopes and fears for the future, unpack the competing agendas at play in their region, and explore solutions and compromises.
Thursday 25 May 2023
On the river: Fish and Chip Lunch Cruise
John Bunyan Boat, Priory Marina @ 12pm
Tickets: Adult £26
Have a relaxing lunchtime cruise among Bedford’s picturesque countryside and the Embankment, to discover Bedford’s unique pyramid.
Enjoy a fish and chip lunch while navigating the town lock, past the 12th-century mound of Bedford Castle before going under the historic Town Bridge to Queens Bridge.
Thursday 25 May 2023
Live music: Coach Party + Slaney Bay
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £12
A triumphant return to Bedford for the Isle of Wight four-piece who have received bundles of support from the likes of 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1, and Radio X’s John Kennedy.
The band have been Ones To Watch tips from Dork, The Daily Star, and Radio X – with continuous support from tastemakers The FADER, NME, The Line Of Best Fit, DIY, CLASH, Music Week, Fred Perry as well as national newspapers such as the i and The Observer – where the band were marked as star quality in the making.
Support from Slaney Bay.
Friday 26 May 2023
Food & drink: Bedford Eat Feast Bank Holiday Weekend
Riverside Bedford @ 4pm – 9pm
Free entry
Bedford Eat Feast returns to Riverside Bedford (near Wagamama) to kick off the Bank Holiday weekend in street food style.
Friday 26 May 2023
Live music: Lord Baker Soul & Ska Show
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm. Doors open at 5.00pm
Free entry
An incredible soul and ska show that will get you dancing from the first song. Lord Baker really knows how to entertain!
Friday 26 May 2023
Live music: Prima Queen + Oscar Browne
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Prima Queen’s love story is one that cinema could only aspire to. An instant connection that was nearly missed. A divide of 4,000 miles and the Atlantic Ocean. An almost-marriage. A tour supporting The Big Moon, Dream Wife and Wet Leg, and six-figure streams. The magic of their ethereal, guitar-driven sound is built not on romantic love, but something immeasurably stronger: female friendship.
Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden almost didn’t meet at all. Kristin travelled from her native Chicago to join the same course as Louise last minute in London, and as soon as she saw her perform in front of the class, Louise as good as musically proposed to her right there and then: “Will you be in my band?”
Prima Queen sold out their show at The Lexington two months in advance and have already found fans at The Guardian, the NME and Steve Lamacq who has given the band over 100 plays across 6 Music and Radio 1, personally inviting them to wrap up 2022 with a Maida Vale Session.
Friday 26 May 2023
Live music: Luther UK
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £26.50
The world’s premier show in celebration of ‘The Velvet Voice’ of the one and only Luther Vandross. Experience all the hits from his amazing career, culminating in over 40 million album sales and eight Grammy awards including many of the greatest dance anthems and love songs ever written.
Fronted by international Luther Vandross tribute, Harry Cambridge and his 10-piece band, the evening will feature classic tunes including “Never Too Much”, “ Here and Now “, “Give Me the Reason”, ”I Really Didn’t Mean It”, ” Stop to Love”, “So Amazing”, ”The Best Things in Life Are Free”, ” Always and Forever”, ” Endless Love”, ”Ain’t No stoppin’ Us Now”, “Your Secret Love”, “Shine”, “The Closer I Get To You”, “Love The One You’re With”, ”Any Love”, “Superstar”, “Until You Come Back to Me”, ”Dance with My Father” and many many more.
Luther Vandross – the legend lives on in Bedford.
From Saturday 17 May 2023
Exhibition: We Are Ten
The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane
Free entry
The Higgins begins its 10th birthday celebrations with an exhibition featuring old favourites and rarely seen works from the collection, all chosen by organisations, groups and individuals who have worked with the museum and gallery over the last decade.
The exhibition runs for the next year, with special events planned next month to mark the exact date the museum reopened in 2013. Watch this space for more information.
Saturday 27 May 2023
Walk: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Sharnbrook Academy MK44 1JL @10am
12-mile walk from Sharnbrook to Souldrop, Wymington and Podington. Meet at Sharnbrook Academy.
Saturday 27 May 2023
Food/Drink/Music: FoodDrunk 07
Bedford Esquires @ 12.30pm – 9pm
Free entry
The only way to kick off the Esquires’ summer season and always one of the highlights of the calendar – FoodDrunk is returning to Bedford for the club’s seventh all-day street food, cider and music party.
Bedford’s first street food festival took place here in 2017 and returns bigger and better for 2023, with more bands and DJs than ever before.
Once again the car park will be transformed into a mini food market, whacking up the bunting and even getting out a few hay bales for good measure. With sounds as good as the tastes throughout the day, there will have two indoor rooms of live music, with the Roll Your Own Records crew taking over the outdoor area.
All of the street food vendors have five-star hygiene ratings and they have all been tested by the Esquires team first. In addition, a selection of over 15 specialist ciders will be on offer, exclusively for FoodDrunk, as well as the usual bar offerings.
Entry is FREE all day – gates open at midday just in time for lunch.
Saturday 27 May 2023
Live music: Carrdine’s Cockney Sing-a-Long
The Wellington Arms @ 8pm
Free entry
A right old Cockney knees-up is guaranteed at the Welly this weekend. Join Mr. Tom Carradine on the ol’ Joanna as he presents an evening of timeless songs with audience participation.
Let your host lead you in a traditional cockney sing-a-long, with songs from the music hall era, WWI and II, the West End stage and traditional popular songs from across the decades.
A good old-fashioned knees-up!
Saturday 27 May 2023
Magic: Magical Bones: Soulful Magic
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £18
Following sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival and across the UK, the Britain’s Got Talent finalist takes to the road with a brand-new show full of the most awe-inspiring and high-energy magic you’ll see this year.
Direct from appearances on America’s Penn & Teller Fool Us, BBC1’s BAFTA Awards, ITV1’s This Morning and Sky’s Around The World In 80 Tricks.
Saturday 27 May 2023
Live music: The Primitives – 35th anniversary of LOVELY
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £18
In the band’s own words: “A power jangle, noise pop band originally from Coventry, UK. Got in the charts a few times”.
The Primitives was the second gig that promotor, Mr ROAR went to at Esquires waaay back in March 1987 (whaaaat?) – although the venue was called The Greyfriars International Club in those days, fact fans.
Does this band need an introduction? Nah, but don’t think it starts and ends with mega chart buster CRASH, there are dozens of fuzz pop smashes in their locker and Tracy Tracy is still a dab hand with a tambourine.
Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the album ‘Lovely’, the set will feature a mini acoustic set, as well as all the hits.
Saturday 27 May 2023
Live music: Louisa Nixon and DJ Funk
The Cellar Bar @ 9.00pm. Doors open at 12 noon.
Free entry
This weekend sees Louisa Nixon’s debut performance at The Cellar Bar. She’ll be performing hits from the decades followed by DJ Funk.
Sunday 28 May 2023
Walking: “I Never Knew That”
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am (meet at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square)
Tickets: Adult £3 / children over 8 £1.50. All walks must be pre-booked here.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
“I Never Knew That” is the most commonly heard phrase after the completion of a Guided Walk. This Walk encompasses all that information about Bedford and its many features that YOU never knew!
Sunday 28 May 2023
On the river: John Bunyan Boat short cruises
Bedford Suspension Bridge, Bedford Embankment @ midday, 1.45pm and 3pm
Tickets: Adult £7 / Child (5-15) £4.50 / Child (0-4) £0 (plus booking fee)
The John Bunyan Boat will be moored up by the Suspension Bridge on Sunday, ready to offer three short cruises of the Embankment. These will be “pay onboard” cruises so no need to purchase tickets in advance, just come along 15 minutes before the cruise time and pay by cash or card.
Sunday 28 May 2023
Live Music: Soul On Sunday
The Cellar Bar @ 3.00pm. Doors open at 12 noon.
Free Entry
An afternoon of Soul and Motown classics at the Cellar Bar with DJs Bobby and Shazza at the helm. Playing only vinyl records, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon! The wheels of steel will be spinning from 3pm until 7pm.
Sunday 28 May 2023
Live music: Optimist play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Optimist make their Sunday afternoon session debut at Esquires.
Bank Holiday Monday 29 May 2023
Family fun: Milkshake Live! Monkey’s Musical
Bedford Corn Exchange @ midday and 3.30pm
Tickets: £16.50 / £15.50
Milkshake! Monkey is back and can’t wait to put on a spectacular NEW Show for you all, joined by some of his favourite Milkshake! friends plus two Milkshake Presenters.
Join Paddington, Daisy & Ollie, Milo, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Blue’s Clues & You! and of course Milkshake! Monkey for an unforgettable family time at Milkshake Monkey’s Musical.
Learn the amazing songs and dances with your favourite Milkshake! friends and watch as the music, the lights, the costumes and the stage brings Milkshake! to life. With great Milkshake friends, anything is possible.
Bank Holiday Monday 29 May 2023
On the river: A round trip of the Embankment on the John Bunyan Boat
Sovereign’s Quay @ midday, 1.45pm and 3pm
Tickets: Adult £7 / Child (5-15) £4.50 / Child (0-4) £0 (plus booking fee)
Relax as the John Bunyan Boat cruises by Bedford’s landmarks and the wildlife on the Great River Ouse. See how many of the landmarks you can spot? Included in the child cruise ticket is the John Bunyan community boat EyeSpy card. You can book in advance online to guarantee your place, or take your chances and pay onboard.
Monday 29 May – Friday 2 June 2023
Family fun: Half-term activities
Throughout Bedford Borough
Once again, our friends at Explore Bedford have rounded up the best family-friendly fun that’s going on in Bedford this half-term. You can find out about activities at the Higgins, libraries and further afield at Herrings Green Activity Farm and the Forest of Marston Vale.
All information is on their blog here.
Tuesday 30 May 2023
Art & Culture: The Arts Society North Bedfordshire – Bethe Morisot
The Addison Centre, Kempston @ 10.45am
Tickets: Members/free, non-members/£10
Join Lois Oliver, curator of the Berthe Morisot exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery as she explores what set Morisot apart from her predecessors and contemporaries.
Connect with like-minded people and make new friends through a shared curiosity for the arts by joining the Art Society of North Bedfordshire.
Tuesday 30 May 2023
On the river: EyeSpy Cruise
John Bunyan Boat, Sovereigns Quay @ 12pm, 1.45pm & 3pm
Tickets: Adult £7.00 Child £4.50
Keep the kids busy this summer holiday with the John Bunyan Family EyeSpy cruises, while you relax on a cruise through the Embankment and enjoy the landmarks and wildlife on the Great River Ouse.
Included in the child cruise ticket is the John Bunyan community boat I-SPY card.
Tuesday 30 May 2023
Poetry: Door-to-Door Poetry
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15 / £12
In March 2019, Rowan set out to visit 12 locations across England, one every month. Through this bold – and arguably stupid – act, he was trying to find out what matters to people, what is the state of our nation and if strangers are really as scary as they’re made out to be. But as March 2020 approached, world events pushed the project in a very different direction…
A show about trust, class and community, this funny and thought-provoking mix of theatre and spoken word tells the story of what happened to Rowan on his final outing as a Door-to-Door Poet. In a post-pandemic world, it asks what lessons we’ve learned and suggests a bold rethinking of our relationship with those around us.
Tuesday 30 May 2023
Art: The Circus of Illustration’s Drink and Draw – Still Life
The Park pub, Kimbolton Road @ 7.30pm
Free (donation appreciated)
The Circus of Illustration’s monthly Drink and Draw is back and everyone (over 18) is welcome. This month’s theme is ‘still life’.
Any skill level, free, no need to book, just turn up. Equipment and resources are provided in a no-pressure, relaxed atmosphere to chat, drink and doodle.
Wednesday 31 May 2023
Walking: “The Silent Faces of Bedford” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square
Tickets: £3/£1.50
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of our walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £3.00 per adult or £1.50 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Wednesday 31 May 2023
Drag Showcase: Miss Palma Violet and Miss Lushes Lips
The Cellar Bar @ 8.00pm
Free entry
Come and join the laughter, fun and entertainment with two fabulous local drag queens – Miss Palma Violet and Miss Lushes Lips.
An evenign of live cabaret, lip syncing, adult fun and games, insult comedy, raffle, disco and much more.
This show contains adult humour and swearing and is strictly an over 18’s event.
Thursday 1 June 2023
Live music: Opus Kink + Maruja (rearranged date)
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £11
ROAR CLUB faves Opus Kink return to Esquires.
“Horn-fuelled filth-funk, where punk and jazz combine in grimy circumstances” (Thomas Smith, NME Magazine)
“Barnstorming, infectious” (Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music)
“One of the most enjoyable genre fusions I’ve ever seen” (Nels Hylton, BBC Radio 1)
Friday 2 – Saturday 3 June 2023
Theatre: Endgame
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 / £10
Based on his earlier play, Fin de Partie, Beckett’s Endgame was translated into English by him and first performed in 1957 at the Royal Court Theatre.
Beckett felt that Endgame was a better play than Waiting for Godot; it also features someone who is waiting: Clov is waiting to leave his blind master, Hamm.
“I love order. It’s my dream. A world where all would be silent and still, and each thing in its last place, under the last dust.” “The end is in the beginning and yet you go on.”
Friday 2 June 2023
Live music: Riskee & The Ridicule + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
Combining grime, hip hop, punk and metal influences to make an exciting and unique sound, Riskee and the Ridicule are a tour-de-force band of politics, protest and punk who practice what they preach.
Riskee and the Ridicule fuse seemingly disparate genres of music to create a focused assault that hits you in the heart like a hammer with its combination of instant anthems, insanely catchy songs and intelligent, socially conscious lyrics.
Pioneers of the grime punk subculture, this is a band once seen you won’t forget. Riskee has a determined sharpness of tone; cynical and sarcastic, akin to Scroobius Pip. It’s an incendiary thing, brimming with passion and intensity.
Friday 2 June 2023
Live music: Cameo MC
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm.
Free entry
Cameo appeared on The Voice in 2020 and turned the heads of Ollie and Tom – they have good taste!
Saturday 3 June 2023
Children’s comedy: Comedy Club 4 Kids
The Quarry Theatre, St Peter’s Street @
Tickets:
Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children and their families… but without the rude bits!
It’s just like a normal comedy club, but it’s on in the day, kids are allowed in, and thus there is a higher than usual chance of heckles like “why is that your face!?”
The line-up for this show includes Olaf Falafel and Paul Duncan McGarrity.
Saturday 3 June 2023
Walk: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Colmworth Golf Club MK44 2AP @ 1.30pm
Six mile circular walk towards Wilden and back.
Saturday 3 June 2023
Live music: Sack Sabbath
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Sack Sabbath are Europe’s best-known, longest serving and most authentic tribute to the masters of metal, Black Sabbath.
Sack Sabbath were formed in 2002, and in the past two decades have delighted audiences across the UK and Europe with their stunning take on the classic era of Black Sabbath.
Playing only the very blackest of Sabbath from the classic years 1970-78, they deliver a powerhouse performance with every song reproduced to perfection by some of the finest rock musicians in the UK and fronted by the best Ozzy impersonator in the business bar none.
Saturday 3 June 2023
Live music: Sarpa Salpa + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £9
Sarpa Salpa return to Esquires on Saturday 3 June for their first headline show at the venue since August 2021.
Expect to hear some new material the band have been cooking up alongside side a host of Sarpa faves.
Sunday 4 June 2023
Workshop: Puppetry
The Place Theatre @ !0am
Tickets: £10
Suzanne is a professionally trained actress, puppeteer, puppet director and physical performer. Credits include War Horse (NT), The Magicians Elephant (RSC), Treasure Island (Birmingham Rep).
During the workshop you will learn the basics of Puppetry, object manipulation and bringing a puppet character to life using raw materials.
Using skills learned whilst working in the industry, Su will take you through a fun workshop incorporating these skills plus encouraging you to use your creativity. Please bring yourselves, your imagination and your openness.
Sunday 4 June 2023
Poetry: Read Poets Society – Spring 2023
The Eagle Bookshop @ 7pm
Tickets: Free but please book via The Place Theatre website
Join the Read Poets Society for their monthly poetry reading of poems reflecting the season. This monthly event takes place at The Eagle Bookshop in St Peter’s Street.
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.
Until 2024
Exhibition: Edward Bawden – Planes, Trains and Automobiles
The Higgins Bedford @ Tues – Sat: 11am – 5pm/Sun: 2pm – 5pm/Closed Mondays
Free entry
Let Edward Bawden transport you in this exhibition celebrating all things travel.
Drawn exclusively from the Higgins Bedford’s Edward Bawden archive, see large linocuts of London’s iconic stations and an array of wonderful vehicles from hot air balloons to jumbo jets and tall ships to cruise liners.
Read: New Edward Bawden ‘trains, planes and automobiles’ exhibition to open this weekend
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
