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 Thursday and is the only guide you need to know what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 10 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by The Cellar Bar.
Until Saturday 5 October 2024
Food & drink: Bedford Beer and Cider Festival
Bedford Corn Exchange
Tickets: CAMRA members £2 / non-members £5
Bedford’s annual Beer and Cider festival returns to the Corn Exchange, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the venue. Visitors can expect to sample a selection of 75 different cask beers and 21 brands of cider and perry, plus a small range of about 10 draught foreign and British craft beers will also be available on KeyKeg dispense. A range of German bottled beers will include two from Bamberg, Bedford’s twin city in Bavaria.
Click BBCF46 beer list to see cask, craft and foreign beers already confirmed. More will be added, so keep watching this space!
Commemorative festival pint glasses with this year’s logo will be available for a refundable £5 deposit, or take one home as a souvenir.
Until February 2025
Exhibition: Community Portrait – past, present and future photography
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
Photography techniques from the past, present and future are on display at the Higgins as part of a new collaborative exhibition with Bedford Creative Arts and with the support of Fujifilm UK, which is celebrating its 40th year in Bedford.
On display in The Higgins’ Sir William Harpur Gallery, this new five-month-long exhibition will feature portraits of Bedfordians taken by local photographers using photographic technology either from the past (such as cyanotype or glass-plate techniques) or the present with the latest Fujifilm X Series digital cameras.
Read: New Community Portrait exhibition opens at The Higgins Bedford
Thursday 3 October 2024
Theatre: Steel Magnolias
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £12.50
Is it best to live 30 minutes of wonderful or a lifetime of nothing special?
This warm, witty play explores the impact we make on those around us and along with some heart-ache delivers many laugh out loud moments. Based on the film, which starred Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts, Steel Magnolias is a bittersweet comedy about six distinct but connected women who meet regularly at a hair and beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana.
There are many hurdles for all the women to face but they find comfort in one another. The play is by Robert Harling whose sister died from complications relating to diabetes and potential for such tragedy is always lurking in the wings in this emotional, funny and thought-provoking drama.
Thursday 3 October 2024
Live music: Irish Folk Night
The Castle pub, Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Head to The Castle for a fun night of Irish tunes by the pub’s resident musicians. They’ll be playing some classic foot tapping Irish tunes for all to enjoy.
Thursday 3 October 2024
Quiz: Esquires Monthly Music Quiz
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
£2 per person / max six people per team
Brain cells at the ready, it’s Esquires music quiz and everyone’s welcome. Featuring music from the 50’s to the present, it’s £2 per person to enter with teams of up to a maximum of six people.
Cash prize for the winning team.
Thursday 3 October 2024
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.
Thursday 3 October 2024
Live music: Karaoke
The Cellar Bar at 8pm
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, the one and only Matt Bedford hosting your night.
Thursday 3 October 2024
Live music: Tom Vek + Max Taylor
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
Anyone who frequented the ‘Loaded’ club night at The Pad (RIP) will have heard CC (You Set The Fire In Me) and Nothing But Green Lights pumping out on a weekly basis. Tom has rarely toured over the years, so for Esquires to get a date here in Bedford is somewhat of a coup.
After the avant-garde mix of sounds of Tom’s fourth album New Symbols, the Confirm Yourself EP saw a return to a raw guitar-based live sound. Always fiercely independent, Tom played every instrument plus produced and mixed every track.
Friday 4 October 2024
Comedy: Spontaneous Potter: The Unofficial Improvised Parody
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Grab your wands, don your house robes, and apparate yourselves to the box office! A very magical improv show awaits…
Spontaneous Potter is an entirely improvised wizarding comedy play, based on an audience suggestion of a fanfiction title. An entirely new Potter adventure is magically improvised on the spot – with live musical accompaniment! Accio tickets for this award-winning adult Potter parody.
Friday 4 October 2024
Live music: Matt Bedford
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm
Free entry. Bar opens at 6.00pm
Cellar Bar regular Matt Bedford is back to perform some classic 80’s songs. Matt hosts the Thursday Karaoke nights, so those of you that have been will have had a glimpse of Matt’s talent. Now it’s time to watch the full show!
Thursday 3 October 2024
Live music: Funk and soul hits with Zal Ahmed
The Castle pub, Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Join Zal this Friday for an evening of funk and soul acoustic classics.
Friday 4 October 2024
Live music: SNAYX + Alien Chicks
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £14
Formed from a mosh pit, SNAYX were last seen ripping up the Esquires stage at Ceremony#3. The trio will be bringing their communal carnage back to Bedford this October.
Friday 4 October 2024
Dance: Flamenco Express
The Place Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets: from £15
Flamenco is as universal, powerful and versatile as the blues, as epic as opera, and as delicate and pin-sharp as ballet.
For over thirty years, Flamenco Express has existed to do justice to this unique art form by choosing the best artists and allowing them total freedom of expression. The result is a new emotional and artistic experience every night, delivered by an astonishing range of talent.
Friday 4 October 2024
Dance music: Swiftoggeden – the Taylor-themed club night
Bedford Esquires @ 10pm
Tickets: £7
SWIFTIES! The London residency may have just finished, but the party continues, with the return of Swiftogeddon, a night dedicated to worshipping at the altar of Taylor Swift: non-stop Swifty all night: deep cuts, extended mixes, fan favourites and all the hits.
Do you have a Blank Space in your diary? Then this night is Taylor-made for you! Join fellow fans in a celebration of the genius of the Swift – because she’ll never go out of Style.
This is an 18+ event.
Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 October 2024
Exhibition and charity sale: Pop-Up Art Exhibition & Sale
The MS Therapy Centre – Bradbury House, 155 Barkers Lane MK41 9RX @ 10am – 5pm
Free entry
With over 100 artists signed up to display and sell their works, this annual pop-up art exhibition and sale is raising much-needed funds for the Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire MS Therapy Centre in Bedford.
From jewellery, ceramics and sculpture to paintings, pastels and prints, there is something to suit every taste and budget. Artists will be demonstrating throughout the weekend and more information can be found on the MS Centre website here.
Saturday 5 October 2024
Family fun: Fun Palaces
The Higgins Bedford @ 10am – 5pm
Free entry
A day of free fun activities awaits at this year’s Fun Palaces taking place at the Higgins Bedford on Saturday, 5 October.
Fun Palaces is a free, nationwide campaign for culture at the heart of community and community at the heart of culture and this year the museums will transform into a hub of artistic exploration as families take part in hands-on workshops and exciting activities led by local artists and creators, all completely free of charge.
- Be the first to crack the case! Join “Murder at The Museum“, a brand-new murder mystery app by Cardboard Clues
- Harness the power of nature and learn how to create stunning cyanotype prints using sunlight
- Spread joy with vibrant blooms and craft beautiful crepe paper flowers, perfect for home décor or gifting
- Explore typography and storytelling in The Higgins Bedford galleries. With Edward Bawden’s artwork as inspiration, use colour, line and drawing to find and make stories
Saturday 5 October 2024
Workshop: Howlin Mat – Cigar Box Social
The Place Theatre @ 12 midday
Tickets: £40 (inc food)
Ever wanted to make and own your own guitar? Then now is your chance at this workshop with Blues guitar maestro, Howlin’ Mat. He’ll introduce you to the Cigar Box Social and guide you through making your very own. However, this is more than just a workshop – come and meet like-minded people and leave with a new guitar and a new group of friends.
Howlin’ Mat is a nomadic solo blues artist who has played 1000’s of gigs from The Sahara to the North Pole, receiving plaudits from legendary artists such as John Paul Jones [Led Zeppelin] and Mud Morganfield [son of Muddy Waters]. He was introduced to the Cigar Box Guitar very early on in his playing career and fell in love instantly. Now you can too! theplacebedford.org.uk/
Saturday 5 October 2024
Music and ideas: Levitation ‘24
Bedford Esquires @ midday – 2pm
Tickets: £75
Castles in Space presents their annual festival of electronic music and ideas.
The 2024 lineup features: A’Bear, Field Lines Cartographer, Graham Dunning & DJ Food, James Adrian Brown, James Holden, Jo Johnson, Loula Yorke, The Mistys, Nik Colk Void, Paul Cousins, Polypores, The Soundcarriers, Stone Anthem, System 7 , Twilight Sequence, Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan.
Saturday 5 October 2024
Dance music: Herd alldayer
Herd, St Cuthbert’s Street @ 3pm til late
Free entry
Playing the best in reggae, hip hop, soul and funk, Wes B, Kearns and Jay are on the decks at Herd from 3pm.
Saturday 5 October 2024
Music: Howlin Mat Concert
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £12.50
Howlin’ Mat is a Blues musician who has performed everywhere from the Arctic Circle to the Sahara Desert. He performs up to 200 shows a year and his escapades include him opening for the Happy Mondays, spending an evening with Led Zeppelin legend John Paul Jones on an Island 130 miles inside the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter and having a birthday party being thrown by a notorious biker gang.
Armed with his guitars and a slide on his finger, Mat follows in the footsteps of his musical heroes such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Muddy Waters and onstage he combines his musical talents with hilarious tales of his time on the road.
Saturday 5 October 2024
Live music: Five Five Six
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
If you’ve not seen Five Five Six at The Cellar Bar before, you are in for a treat, get ready for a great night of legendary rock tunes. The Cellar Bar literally rocks when these guys play!
Saturday 5 October 2024
Comedy: Kane Brown: Don’t Listen to Me
The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets: £18.50
Fearlessly hilarious delivery combined with honesty and sincerity. Kane Brown is 19 years in the game, has performed around the world, has opened for Guz Khan on his UK Tour, can be seen on Man Like Mobeen (Netflix), Deepfake (Channel 4), She’s the One (Amazon) and heard on his hit Podcast, Rated 18.
Sunday 6 October 2024
Walking: “Bedford in WWII” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
A walk that reveals the way of life in Bedford and some of the little-known facts about the role it played during World War II. Learn how Bedford became the main hub of the BBC during the war and how it also became a centre of wartime entertainment. Discover a ‘secret’ Bedford and the connections of the town to the code breakers at Bletchley park.
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 the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday 6 October 2024
Live music: Devil’s Mojo play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm – 7pm
Free entry
A welcome return for this female-fronted rock and pop covers band to the Sunday Afternoon Session at Esquires.
Sunday 6 October 2024
Live music: Sunday Chillout Afternoon Session – Cameo
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm – 7pm / Happy Hour 3pm – 9pm
Free entry
Cellar Bar favourite Cameo is back for another solo performance, this time at the Sunday Chillout Afternoon Session.
Expect a beautiful voice and some cracking party tunes from Dolly Parton to Fleetwood Mac to The Red Hot Chili Peppers and so much in between.
Sunday 6 October 2024
Film: What’s Love Got to Do With It
The Quarry Theatre @ 4.30pm
Tickets: £15
The Bedford Volunteer Group is hosting a charity screening of What’s Love Got to do With It in aid of The Hope Foundation (HOPE). The film follows an award-winning filmmaker who documents her best friend’s journey into an assisted marriage in line with his family’s Pakistani heritage.
In the process, she challenges her own attitude towards relationships. Since 1999, the Hope Foundation (HOPE) has positively impacted the lives of three million disadvantaged individuals in Kolkata, India and 97,000 street-connected children have benefited from education programmes. thehopefoundation.org.uk.
Sunday 6 October 2024
Poetry: Read Poets Society
The Eagle Bookshop @ 7pm
Free
The Eagle Bookshop continues to host the Swan Poetry Society’s Read Poets Society evening, with readings to reflect the season. It’s free to attend, but you must book via the Place Theatre’s website.
This month’s theme is Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
Sunday 6 October 2024
Live music: STARCAT ft Slim Jim Phantom, Phil Polecat and Neal X + The Zipheads
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £20
Prepare yourself for an evening of high-octane rock ‘n’ roll from three of the best as Esquires welcomes STARCAT the brand new band ft Slim Jim Phantom, Phil Polecat and Neal X to Bedford for one of their very first shows.
Slim Jim Phantom has secured his place as a true rock-n-roll icon. As the legendary drummer for the Stray Cats, Phantom, alongside band mates Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker, spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 80s. Over 30 years and millions of record sales later, Slim Jim Phantom continues to inspire and excite audiences worldwide. With a sound, style and image that remain as fresh today as they ever were, Phantom has cemented his place among rock royalty.
Phil is the bass player of The Polecats. In 1981 they released their debut Lp “Polecats are go” produced by Dave Edmunds a jewel which every fan of the band should have. They hit the Top 40 alongside the Stray Cats with their take on Bowie’s “John I’m Only Dancing”.
Neal X is the former guitarist with Electro Glam potentates Sigue Sigue Sputnik. They had a No. 3 UK hit single with “Love Missile F1-11” in 1986. He has worked as a sideman for Marc Almond since the ’90s and formed “nearly all-girl” rockabilly outfit The Montecristos who released their debut album “Born to Rock ‘N’ Roll” in 2015.
Special guest support comes from THE ZIPHEADS, a headliner in their own right the band join the tour as special guests straight off the back of recent UK tours with Hayseed Dixie and Reverand Horton Heat.
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Live music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ noon
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
Tuesday lunchtime concert featuring a piano recital by Svyatoslav Antipov. Free with a retiring collection. Free with a retiring collection.
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Film: Bedford Film Society presents – Agent of Happiness
The University of Bedford, Polhill Avenue @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £70/annual membership, £5/day guest
Review in The Guardian: “In Bhutan, they measure progress not just by GDP, but also Gross National Happiness. This quiet, gently absorbing documentary follows two “happiness agents” as they travel door-to-door, like census workers, collecting data for the government’s happiness survey.
“There are 148 questions in total. Do you own a tractor? Goats? What about chickens? When was the last time you cried? Do you trust your neighbours? The agent compiles the answers into a table and crunches the data into an individual happiness score of between 0 and 10.”
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Quizzing: Fran’s monthly quiz night
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 7.30pm
Free entry
Join us for Fran’s monthly Quiz Night. Maximum teams of 6. £2.00 per person entry per person. Winner gets the pot. Chance to win the bonus rollover.
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Friends of the Higgins talk: Alison Evans on Dod Procter the famous early twentieth-century English female artist
St Andrew’s Church Hall, Kimbolton Road, MK40 2PF @ 7:30pm
Tickets: Free to members/£8 suggested donation for guests
When Dod Procter’s painting ‘Morning’ was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1927, the sensation it caused made her truly a household name, recognised as one of the leading artists of her day.
This talk looks at her long career, astonishing oeuvre and significant influence – achievements made all the more remarkable in the context of her time and gender – while revealing a little of her fascinating life and friendships.
Wednesday 9 October – Friday 11 October 2024
Community Theatre: Talking Heads – Soldiering On and Her Big Chance
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: From £10
Certain Age presents two of Alan Bennett’s well-loved Talking Heads monologues.
Soldiering On introduces us to Muriel whose life revolved around her husband, Ralph; she ran their home, brought up their children, hosted dinner parties for his colleagues. After Ralph’s death, she has to find a way forward.
In Her Big Chance we meet Lesley, an actress, who tells us about filming the video she has just completed ‘targeted chiefly on West Germany’ and shares her experiences with us. Alan Bennett’s astute observation brings his usual poignancy and humour to these two stories.
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Classical Music: Philharmonia presents Sibelius, Grieg & Nielsen
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Transport yourself to the Nordic countries as masterpieces by Sibelius, Grieg and Nielsen open the Philharmonia’s 2024/25 season in Bedford.
Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 begins with a whisper from horns and timpani, which spreads through the woodwind section in a glorious evocation of sunrise. The second movement is a set of variations on a simple, wistful theme. Then comes the moment Sibelius fans have been waiting for – the magnificent ‘swan’ theme of the finale, with its jubilant horn chords and sweeping strings. Grieg’s Piano Concerto is one of the most popular works in the orchestral repertoire.
From its dramatic opening with its timpani roll to its anthemic finale, tonight it is in the hands of Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen. First comes Nielsen’s Helios Overture. Inspired while travelling to Athens, the Danish composer traces the journey of the sun across the Aegean Sea in a wondrous celebration of the Greek god Helios.
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Theatre: SK Shlomo: BREATHE
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £12
A Rollercoaster Love Letter to Music by SK Shlomo
Described by The Times as a “one-person music festival”, international non-binary beatboxing star SK Shlomo returns with award-winning new solo show BREATHE: a rollercoaster love-letter to the lifesaving power of beats, bass & breathing.
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Live music: DEKKER + Kate Keddie
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
American singer/songwriter Brookln Dekker, better known by his surname-moniker, Dekker, has lived in Nottingham since 2010. He released his third album this Spring, and after over 20 years of writing and playing thousands of shows with bands and projects including Rue Royale, Lambert & Dekker, it’s all come together for Brookln in the form of Dekker.
Wednesday 9 October 2024
Live music: Borough Council + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
The three-piece band from Hastings released their third single, ‘Strobe Lights’ last June. While on tour, they will be selling exclusive CDs containing brand new music cut from rehearsal recordings including this track released on YouTube in August.
They will be releasing a short album in winter 2024.
Thursday 10 October 2024
Film: The Colour Purple
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
In 1909 Celie a black American girl is given away in marriage by her abusive father to a local farmer Albert who treats her cruelly. Celie is God-fearing and deliverance comes in the form of Suge – a jazz singer who takes her away to another city far away from her misery. She now gets her long-due happiness.
Please note this is not a remake or the original 1985 Steven Spielberg film but a screen version of the Broadway musical.
Thursday 10 October 2024
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring Minnie and the Moochers
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 11 October 2024
Comedy: Chris Kent: Back at It
The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets; £16.50
Cork man Chris Kent returns with his brand new show “Back At It”.
After a dose of the real world (having gone back to the day job as an electrician), Chris found himself with two jobs and the ridiculous notion of trying to buy a house. It turns out he did not have enough jobs. Something had to give and sure there’s no future in electricity anyway…
Friday 11 October 2024
Live music: Fast Love – the tribute to George Michael
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £29
Direct from London’s West End, the UK’s finest George Michael tribute show arrives in Bedford.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening celebrating a global superstar, as he puts the Boom Boom into your heart in the all-new production, Fastlove – a tribute to George Michael.
The show is packed with crowd-pleasing anthems from the Wham! classics of the new pop revival to the chart-topping success of the eighties album Faith, plus the awesome tunes of the nineties and noughties.
This is a spellbinding experience you don’t want to miss. You’ll be getting up (to get down) to all your favourite songs: Careless Whisper, Freedom, Faith, Father Figure, Outside, Jesus To A Child, and many more.
Relive the passion, the flair, and the unique sensitivity of George Michael in this incredible concert sensation.
Friday 11 October 2024
Live music: The Krakens
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
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.
Covering a variety of rock songs through the ages featuring songs from: Elton John, Queen, Nirvana, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day and many more.
Friday 11 October 2024
Dance music: Boombastic presents Get Ready – 60s/70s Motown, Soul & Disco Night
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets:£7.50
Featuring the BIGGEST hits of 60s/70s Motown Soul and Disco!
The biggest floor-fillers of the era including The Jacksons, Marvin Gaye, 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…
Saturday 12 October 2024
This week’s Saturday morning walk covers the final stage of the John Bunyan Trail from Stevington Church Street to Elstow Moot Hall. To take part, meet at Elstow Moot Hall at 9.30am. There is parking near the Church on roads near the Moot Hall. The group will then take a few cars to Stevington, from where the 13.2-mile walk will start at 10am.
The eight-mile afternoon walk begins at Priory Marina, walking through Cardington, towards Cople and Willington and back along the river. Some road crossings.
Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Art and crafts: Printing at the Panacea
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Road, MK40 2NX @ 10.30am – 2.30pm
Free entry
Join local artist Anne-Marie Abbate to make food and drink inspired art on the Panacea Museum’s 1857 printing press.
Suitable for ages 6 to 96!
Sessions are drop-in, with no need to book.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Film: Bedford Documentary Film Festival
Amptill Room, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street @ 10am – 4pm
Tickets: £5
The third annual Bedford Documentary Film Festival is back at the Bunyan Meeting for a day filled with fascinating documentaries from around the world.
Immerse yourself in thought-provoking stories, engage with filmmakers, and connect with fellow documentary enthusiasts. Highlights include ‘SLAM’ about suicides at a Catholic School in Atlanta Georgia and ‘Blind and Primed’ which tells the story of James who loses his sight but is determined to improve his fitness to do a parachute tandem freefall.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Music: Excursions Festival
Bedford Esquires @ midday – 11pm
Tickets: £10
Connie Constance headlines Excursions Music Conference with support from Home Counties, The Itch, Balter and Low Girl and more to be announced.
Excursions brings music industry professionals including nationally renowned artist managers, A&Rs, radio pluggers and festival bookers to Bedford Esquires for an exciting day of talks and workshops aimed at equipping young people with tips and advice for kickstarting a career in music.
Learn about music career pathways, network with music industry workers, gain insight on building your own artist marketing strategy, hear stories and advice from musicians who’ve ‘made it’ and meet other like-minded people. There will also be the chance to hear from local venue owners about opportunities to help nurture and grow a sustainable music scene in Bedfordshire.
There’ll be live performances from some of the best of the UK’s up-and-coming artists as well as new local talent. Plus guest DJs and street food throughout the day.
This event has been supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Music: The Rolling Stones Now
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £16.50
Come and see the band who have been strutting, pouting & riffing now for over 25 years! So put on your dancing shoes and join in the rock’n’roll party!
The Rolling Stones Now is a celebration of all that has made the Rolling Stones legendary. In full costumes, recreating the Stones live shows of the late 60s – 90s, Mick’s pout, Keith’s riffs and Bill’s stony face are all on show as the band play some of the greatest songs ever written including ‘It’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll’, ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’, ‘Paint it Black, ‘Midnight Rambler, ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Sympathy for the Devil’.
Don’t miss a night of struts, riffs and downright dirty Rock n’ Roll where Satisfaction is guaranteed. The seating at stalls level will be rock ‘n’ rolled back to create a dancing space for those who want to strutt ‘n’ stroll the night away.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Live Music: New Harmony
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy Hour until 9pm / 3am close
Free entry
Making their return to The Cellar Bar, New Harmony are the ultimate crowd pleasers bringing you the very best in Reggae, Motown and stone-cold classics.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Walking: “I Never Knew That” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
“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!
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 the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Dancing: Daytime disco for grown-ups
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm / Happy Hour 3pm – 9pm
Free entry.
It’s back! The Cellar Bar Daytime Disco is the perfect excuse to dance and sing along to some of the greatest hits ever on a Sunday afternoon! Why wait for the evening to have fun? And it’s all free! No tickets required and there are free glow sticks and props.
Indulge in an afternoon filled with nostalgic tunes, singalongs, and a great atmosphere. The glitterball will be up and the neon outfits on. There will be a warm welcome to anyone dressing up – they’ll even get a free shot from the bar.
“Not only are we giving customers coming to this event a fabulous time, but please remember that we are just a bar and anyone can just come in, you don’t need to come just for events,” said Cellar Bar owner, Marcus. “We can’t wait to see you!”
Sunday 13 October 2024
Live music: Vintage Stuff play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm – 7pm
Free entry
The return of Vintage Stuff, the Bedford-based Blues/Rock band that refuses to grow old.
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.
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 | From 3 October: Thursday- Saturday – 10am – 4pm (last entry 3.30)
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 to the Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
