Our 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 11 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by The Cellar Bar.
Wednesday 4 – Sunday 8 December 2024
Festive fun: Bedford Christmas Tree Festival
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square MK40 1SQ @ Wed-Sat 10am – 5pm / Sunday 12pm – 4pm
Entry: £3 / Under 16s go free
The countdown is on for the annual Bedford Christmas Tree Festival as it once again casts its spell over St Paul’s this December and sprinkles some festive magic for visitors of all ages.
From 4 – 8 December, the festival returns for its 24th year, featuring 68 glittering trees decorated by local community groups, schools and businesses on the theme of ‘The Magic of Christmas’.
Against this sparkling backdrop, a total of 42 choirs and other performers will entertain guests throughout the festival.
Wednesday 4 December 2024
Festive fun: Fizz at the Festival
St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square @ 6pm – 8pm
Tickets: £10
Enjoy fizz and canapes at this private viewing of the Christmas trees with decorations inspired by ‘The Magic of Christmas’.
Wednesday 4 December 2024
Comedy: Jack Dee – Small World
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 8pm
Tickets: £30
CULTURE WARS, THE ENVIRONMENT, BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY and SOCIAL JUSTICE: these are just a few of the topics that Jack spectacularly fails to address (or even mention for that matter) in his brand new show. Instead, for reasons known only to him, he doubles down on his fascination with the meaningless small things of life like Zoom protocol, what’s new in the world of radiators and the worst careers advice office in the world.
Join Jack as he guides you through his varied life and career with his customary charm and well known gift for talking absolute rubbish on any given subject.
Thursday 5 December 2024
Photography: Glass plate negative workshop
The Higgins Bedford @ 11am and 1.30pm
Free but must be booked at the website here
As part of the Community Portrait Exhibition at the Higgins, you can take part in a free family workshop to produce a glass plate photograph of yourself, just as the Victorians did in the late 1800s.
Using a vintage camera and through the collodion wet plate system you will produce your image on glass as the Victorians did in the 1850s to 1880s. You then will be able to pick up your image after the exhibition to keep.
Suitable for children over the age of 12. All children must be accompanied by adults. For families attending places need to be booked for children and adults.
The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane, MK40 3XD thehigginsbedford.org.uk
Thursday 5 December 2024
Creative: Wreath-making masterclass
Absolutely Shabbylass, 108a Castle Road
More information on their Facebook page here
Celebrating their first Christmas on Castle Road, Absolutely Shabbylass will be hosting a series of events through December to get everyone in the festive mood. From a wreath-making masterclass and late-night shopping event on 5 December, there will be a Christmas craft-making event on 14 December. Find out more at the Facebook page.
Thursday 5 December 2024
Live music: Seth Lakeman
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £22.50
Seth Lakeman is back in Bedford for the first time in over a decade, when he last made an appearance at The Corn Exchange, way back in 2013. The West Country folk singer and multi-instrumentalist is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his album Kitty Jay and comes to Bedford as part of a super-intimate run of dates this December.
Seth was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 for Kitty Jay and his thrilling solo performance of the eponymous title track on live television won him unanimous praise and started him on an incredible solo journey which has included record deals, 11 album releases (including 6 Top 40), BBC Radio 2 playlisted singles, a clutch of awards and touring all over the world.
This show is a mixture of unreserved seating and standing.
Thursday 5 December 2024
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.
Thursday 5 December
Karaoke hosted by Sarah Ellen
The Cellar Bar @ 9pm / requests from 8pm
Free entry
The Cellar Bar is the only place to be on a Thursday night, with over 50,000 karaoke songs to choose from, professional lighting multiple microphones so you can share the stage with your mates.
Thursday 6 December 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 5 December 2024
Comedy: The Dark Room
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12.50
Now in its 10th year, welcome to The Dark Room – the world’s only live-action, text-based adventure game. It’s strange, insane and addictive – it’s a choose-your-own-adventure, so choose it!
How do you play? The audience is trapped in a retro videogame with a sadistic end-of-level boss. Choose your options, survive the abuse simulator that is the improv comedy overlord John Robertson, and escape to win £1,000 – or, be brutally murdered by the rest of the crowd!
Friday 6 December 2024
Classical music: Amici Music perform seasonal favourites
St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Square @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
As part of the annual Christmas Tree Festival, Amici Music Woodwind Ensemble will perform music by Handel, Mozart and a selection of seasonal favourites at St Paul’s church to raise money for the church fund and Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends.. Tickets for the concert are £20 and include a glass of wine and a mince pie. Book your tickets here.
Friday 6 December 2024
Quiz time: Quiz Night
The Place Theatre @ 7pm
£3/person
Join the Place team for their last Quiz Night of 2024 on Friday, 6 December at 7pm. Tickets for the fun-filled festive quiz are just £3 per person and money raised will contribute to their fundraising target. Doors open from 6pm with the Quiz starting at 7pm.
Friday 6 December 2024
Classical music: Christmas Orchestral Concert
Bromham Baptist Church, Village Road, MK43 8LJ @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15/£10
Enjoy a classical Christmas concert by the King’s Chamber Orchestra to raise money for the Utange Orphans charity.
Friday 6 December 2024
Theatre: A Pleasing Terror
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £14.50
Over a century after they were first published, the ghost stories of M R James retain their power to terrify and amuse. This gripping one-man show retells two of the earliest and eeriest.
Friday 6 December 2024
Live music: Tess & The Durbervilles
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy hour 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
Bedfordshire four-piece, Tess & The Durbervilles, are back at The Cellar Bar and are guaranteed to get you dancing throughout the night. With hits from six decades, they cover everything from The Beatles to Jessie J, Dusty Springfield to Kings of Leon, Aretha to the Scissor Sisters and Madonna. You’re guaranteed to be left wanting more more more!!
Friday 6 December 2024
Live music: Lost in Music
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £29
Get ready to recreate the Magical 70s and let us take you on a musical journey straight to the heart of Disco. Relive some of the greatest songs of all time from Artists such as Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge and Chic.
This show boasts a sensational live band, an incredibly talented cast and stunning vocals. So, come dressed to impress as we celebrate the golden age of Disco! With songs such as Never Can Say Goodbye, On The Radio, Hot Stuff, Car Wash, Boogie Wonderland and many, many more.
Friday 6 December 2024
Live music: WHITE TOWN + Guests
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £12
White Town is the pseudonym for musician/producer Joyti Prakash Mishra, most well known for the 1997 worldwide hit single ‘Your Woman’. With its trumpet hook, shuffling drum beat and plaintive lyrics, it was subsequently sampled by Dua Lipa for her song ‘Love Again’.
Although still a prolific recording act, White Town do very few live shows, so we are delighted to welcome them to Esquires for the very first time.
Friday 6 December 2024
Live music: Mat Roberts & J37
The Cellar Bar @ 11pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy hour 6pm – 9pm
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 Mat’s partner in music – the duo J37.
Saturday 7 December 2024
Books: The Big Bumper Book Sale
The Place Theatre @ 10am
Free entry
The Place Theatre is holding its last Big Bumper Book sale of the year this weekend – the perfect time to grab some literary stocking fillers and all in aid of The Place Raise the Roof campaign.
Local author, Barbara Kastelin, will be there to talk about her latest book – Full Moon Over Kabul and there will also be an opportunity to get your copy signed.
Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 December 2024
Shopping: Bedford Christmas Markets
Harpur Suite and Harpur Square @ 10am – 5pm (Saturday) 10am – 4pm (Sunday)
Explore the Bedford Christmas Market and soak up the festive atmosphere with local artisan stalls, delicious treats and free festive children’s fairground rides.
The traditional charter market traders will be also bringing their festive collections at St Paul’s Square and along Midland Road and Allhallows.
Saturday 7 December 2024
Dance music: Mr Scruff
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £12
After 20 years, Esquires is finally bringing Mr. Scruff to Bedford for a mammoth five-hour set. Manchester-based Mr. Scruff has been DJing since 1984, and his DJ sets can range from deep soul/funk/reggae/afro/jazz /latin/hip-hop to harder-edged electro/house/new wave/techno /electronic all knitted together with supreme technical skill and a keen sense of fun.
Saturday 7 December 2024
Live music: Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac tribute
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £26.50
Go Your Own Way is a brand new spellbinding show featuring the music from the legendary multiple Grammy Award Winning Fleetwood Mac.
Their rock n roll legacy is beautifully performed by a highly talented and acclaimed ensemble of musicians who will take audiences on a powerful journey through their incredible songbook.
With hits including “Dreams”, “Don’t Stop”, “Everywhere”, “Rhiannon”, “Gold Dust Woman”, “Little Lies”, “Big Love” and many more.
Paying tribute to their “Rumours” lineup of Stevie, Mick, John, Christine and Lindsey, which remains their most commercially successful to date, this show perfectly recreates the live energy and passion of Fleetwood Mac.
Saturday 7 December 2024
Live music: Double header of live music Cameo & Five Five Six
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm. Bar opens at 6.00pm. Happy hour 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Free entry.
They are back and first up is Cellar Bar favourite Cameo with a stellar solo performance. 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.
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!
Sunday 8 December 2024
Shopping: Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce Christmas Market
St Paul’s Square @ 10am – 3.30pm
Free
Visit St Paul’s Square for the perfect opportunity to shop small and local this Christmas at Bedford’s ever-popular Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce market.
Discover antiques, vintage and retro in their Flea section. Find an array of talented local artists and skilled makers in Affordable Art, and fill your bags and your bellies with delicious food and drink in Local Produce. There’ll be winter wreaths, festive decorations plus plenty of ideas for gifting.
Warm up with mulled wine and hot chocolates and refuel with tasty street food while you enjoy the live music supported by Seeing Eye Rum, which is guaranteed to get us all in the Christmas spirit!
Sunday 8 December 2024
Film: Muppets Christmas Carol
The Place Theatre @ 3pm
Tickets: £5
Come to the Place Theatre for a joyous sing-along screening of arguably the greatest version of Dickens’ classic tale of loneliness and redemption, The Muppets Christmas Carol!
we invite you to an evening of hot chocolates, mince pies and muppet mayhem.
The fun will begin at 3pm, perfect for a family afternoon out or, If you find yourself on your own why not come along and meet a room full of like-minded Muppet movie fanatics over a hot chocolate, mince pies and Muppet mayhem?
Sunday 8 December 2024
Dance music: 80’s daytime disco for grown-ups
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm
Free entry
Fancy dancing along to some 80’s retro bangers on a Sunday afternoon? You’ll be transported back in time to an 80’s retro nightclub where night and day become one, where puffed sleeves rub shoulders with leather and lace and more is more! The party starts at 3pm and you can be home in time for tea.
Sunday 8 December 2024
Theatre: A Christmas Carol
The Quarry Theatre @ 2pm & 7pm
Tickets: from £13.50
Olivier Award winner, Guy Masterson, veteran of many smash hit solo works such as Under Milk Wood, Animal Farm and Shylock, now brings us Dickens’ classic festive fable.
Famed for bringing multiple characters to vivid life, Masterson recreates Scrooge, Marley, the Fezziwigs, Tiny Tim et al in an enchanting, performance that will dazzle and linger long in the memory.
Sunday 8 December 2024
Live music: The X Certs play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Expect a full house for The X-Certs last show of the year at Esquires, playing a mix of songs from their record collections 60’s to 90’s.
Tuesday 10 December 2024
Christmas: Cantamus at Christmas
All Saints Church, Renhold @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 including seasonal refreshments
Cantamus at Christmas presents ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ – Choral Music for the Christmas Season. Conduced by Gary Mudd; organist Paul Edwards. All proceeds to All Saints Church.
Tuesday 10 December 2024
Film: Friends of the Higgins presents an illustrated talk on Casablanca by Charlotte White
St Andrews Church, Kimbolton Road @ 7.30pm
Donation of £8 to the Friends of the Higgins charity
Charlotte returns to St.Andrews Church with the Friends of the Higgins following her sell-out event on Charles II & his mistress Villiers earlier in the year.
Charlotte will be giving another illustrated talk, this time on the classic film, Casablanca.
“I’ve long believed Casablanca to be the greatest war movie ever made and, given an hour of your time and a handful of clips, I think I can persuade you,” says Charlotte.
“I’ll be covering the making of Casablanca, addressing all the legends around the movie, and exploring its rich legacy. Here’s looking at you, kid.
“And because my talk is a Christmas special event, please wear a hat for the chance to win a prize for the best hat.”
Tuesday 10 December 2024
Live streaming: The Royal Ballet presents Cinderella
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
This Christmas, be transported into an ethereal world where a sprinkling of fairy dust makes dreams come true. This enchanting ballet by The Royal Ballet’s founding choreographer Frederick Ashton is a theatrical experience for all the family.
Stuck at home and put to work by her spoiled step-sisters, Cinderella’s life is dreary and dull. Everything changes when she helps a mysterious woman out…With a little bit of magic, she is transported into an ethereal new world – one where fairies bring the gifts of the seasons, where pumpkins turn into carriages, and where true love awaits.
Tuesday 10 December 2024
Quizzing: Fran’s Christmas Quiz Night
The Castle, 17 Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Join Fran for her final monthly quiz of the year – and it’s Christmas themed. Maximum teams of 6. £2.00 per person entry per person. Winner gets the pot and a chance to win the bonus rollover.
Tuesday 10 December 2024
Classical music: Philharmonia Brass at Christmas
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £14 – £40
Christmastime and brass music go hand in hand, so join the Philharmonia Orchestra’s brass ensemble for an evening of seasonal music for the first time at the Bedford Corn Exchange.
The Philharmonia’s dazzling brass players take the spotlight in this carefully curated programme of carols, festive favourites and more.
Wednesday 11 December 2024
Music: Five Star Swing at Christmas
The Quarry Theatre @ 7pm
Tickets: £17.50
Swing into Christmas with the unique Five Star Swing Band show, as featured at London’s Leicester Square Theatre and BBC’s “Children in Need”. Jazz up those Jingle Bells and enjoy all your favourite Christmas songs with the dynamic swing band treatment from Glenn Miller, Sinatra, Basie, Nat King Cole and more.
Thursday 12 December to Sunday 22 December 2024
Theatre: A Christmas Carol
The Place Theatre @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Tickets: from £10
The critically acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company present a brand-new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ fantastical festive fable.
Performed by a multi-talented cast in The Pantaloons’ own inimitable, hilarious and moving style this show features live music, audience interaction and absolutely no humbug!*
*There may be some humbug.
Thursday 12 December 2024
Theatre: Hauntings
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15.50
Hauntings is a spellbinding evening of three tales of the supernatural from two of the world’s greatest writers of ghost stories, E.F. Benson and M.R. James.
With masterful storytelling from the award-winning actor Gerard Logan, Hauntings will transport you to a world of invisible, but terrifyingly present, spirits.
Thursday 12 December 2024
Comedy: Aurie Styla
Bedford Corn Excahnge @ 8pm
Tickets: £15
**VERY, VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF SINGLE TICKETS REMAINING**
After a year of performing worldwide, award-winning comedian Aurie Styla is back on tour, with his biggest one to date. Join him as he talks about this wild world, and his journey to make sense of it, in ‘The Aurator’.
As seen on Deep Fake Neighbour Wars (ITVX), Comedy Central Live, Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), Life’s A Pitch (Sky), Don’t Hate The Playaz (ITV), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Mo Gilligan’s Black British & Funny (C4) and more.
Thursday 12 December 2024
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring The Cody Lee Three
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 12th December 2024
Karaoke: Karaoke hosted by Sarah Ellen & Cameo
The Cellar Bar @ 9pm / requests from 8pm
Free entry
The Cellar Bar is the only place to be on a Thursday night, with over 50,000 karaoke songs to choose from, professional lighting multiple microphones so you can share the stage with your mates.
Hosted by the fabulous Sarah Ellen and Cameo.
Friday 13 December 2024
Theatre: Third Class A Titanic Story
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Third Class’ revives the true story of a young Englishman, packed off on the Titanic, destined to be corrected by his American relatives – a one-man theatre show based on the life of Titanic survivor Edward Dorking.
Edward was gay. Openly gay, and he set sail for NYC on a ticket bought for him by his parents in the hope his American family could put him ‘right’. Third Class charts Edward’s journey from boarding the Titanic to swimming for 30 minutes towards an already full collapsible lifeboat and how he, upon arriving in New York, toured the Vaudeville circuit, recreating the stories for a fact-hungry public.
But Edward didn’t want fame; he wanted revenge. When everyone was talking about the deaths of millionaires and society figures, few were discussing the people who took the lion’s share of the losses that night: the third class.
Edward was coming for the upper classes.
Friday 13 December 2024
Live music: The Devout – Depeche Mode tribute act
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £15
The Devout return to Bedford on their “More Than A Party” UK Tour 2024
Friday 13th December 2024
Live music: Danny Barton
The Cellar Bar at 8.30pm / Bar opens at 6pm / Happy hour 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
The wonderful Danny Barton returning to The Cellar Bar, playing a mix of acoustic rock and pop crowd pleasers and new material.
Always guaranteed to get the party started!
Friday 13 December 2024
Live music: The American Four Tops
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £29
Direct from the USA, Soul Satisfaction’s American Four Tops Motown Show has been travelling internationally bringing all the sweet soul music and the Motown magic to their audiences.
With powerful vocals, splendid harmonies and the high stepping dance routines, you will be taken on a journey through all the hits of the Four Tops including Reach Out (I’ll Be There), Baby I Need Your Loving, Walk Away Renee, Same Old Song, Loco in Acalpulco, Standing In the Shadow, Bernadette along with other classic hits from the golden era including songs from the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Ben E King and many more Motown and soul legends.
Backed by the Soul Unlimited band, soul satisfaction is guaranteed, so…Get Ready Cos Here They Come!
Friday 13 December 2024
Live music: The Shtooks farewell gig
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
After 11 years, four studio recordings, and countless gigs… The Shtooks are calling it a day.
It’s not something they planned as they always wanted to make music together until we couldn’t any more.
Sadly… that day is with us way sooner than we thought. Andrew has developed a condition called Muscle Tension Dysphonia. In simple terms… his voice is shot and it won’t get better. “We’re all gutted,” said the band. “But we can’t call it a day without one final gig.
“Join us for the one last Shtooks show. We’re planning a few surprises to celebrate what’s been an incredible 11 years. And where else but Esquires.”
Friday 13 December 2024
Live music: Joe Cullen
The Cellar Bar @ 11pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy hour 6pm – 9pm
Free entry
He rocks the place every time he plays, so the Cellar Bar is pleased to welcome back Joe Cullen. Playing covers by Ed Sheeran, The 1975, Oasis, Harry Styles, The Killers, Coldplay and maybe some Irish folk mixed in!
Saturday, 14 and Sunday and 15 December 2024
Festive family fun: Christmas fun in Bedford Town centre
Howard Centre and the Old Arcade @ 10.30am – 3.30pm
Free
Enjoy some family fun times in Bedford town centre with plenty of free activities thanks to Love Bedford. Get your face painted at the Howard Centre, take a selfie with Bedford’s beautiful Christmas tree in Harpur Square or by the enormous wreath at the Silver Faces and visit the Old Arcade for some free balloon models.
Saturday 14 December 2024
Film: The Snowman
The Quarry Theatre @ 10.30 am, 11.45am & 1pm
Tickets: from £5.50
A young boy can’t believe his eyes one winter’s night when a snowman comes to life and an unforgettable adventure begins…
Enjoy a special screening of the timeless classic animated film, The Snowman, featuring a live performance of Howard Blake’s musical score, specially adapted for brass band and performed for you by the Hitchin Band together with a pianist and young solo singer.
Saturday 14 December 2024
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Bluham Church, MK44 3NQ @ 1pm
Get into the festive spirit with the North Beds Ramblers Mince Pie walk. It will be a circular 4.5-mile countryside walk from Blunham Church followed by festive refreshments.
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, 14 December 2024
Music: Glen Miller & Rat Pack Era
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £27
Recapture the sounds of a bygone era as the Nick Ross Orchestra presents ‘an unmissable evening of music and song’ – the Classic Big Band Sound of the 40s & 50s with a liberal “sprinkling” of very special Christmas Big Band arrangements.
Saturday 14 December 2024
Live music: Step into Christmas
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £29
Step Into Christmas for the most magical show of the year – a Christmas concert feel good show, bringing all the magic of the season to life, with all those favourite songs you will know and love!
And as granny will always tell you, the old songs are the best, including – All I Want for Christmas is You, Last Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Stay another Day, Let it Snow, White Christmas, Do They Know its Christmas, A Winters Tale, Merry Xmas Everybody and many many more!
It’s the most Wonderful show of the year with a story of festive cheer!
Saturday 14 December 2024
Live music: The Machine Rages On – Beast Decoys – The Stoned Raiders – Rhyme & Reason Tour
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £15
The Stoned Raiders (Cypress Hill), Beast Decoys (The Beastie Boys) and The Machine Rages On (Rage Against The Machine) complete this triple header of the finest tributes at Bedford Esquires, with the Rhyme & Reason Tour.
This was originally a US tour line up between the three original bands which sadly never happened. These three bands have joined forces to bring us a night of the finest beats, rhymes and riffs from three of the biggest artists of the 90s and 00s.
When the sh*t goes down – you better be ready!
Saturday 14 December 2024
Festive music: Opus 18 Community Choir “Carols and Cake”
Priory Methodist Church, 63 Newnham Ave, Bedford MK41 9QJ @ 2pm
Tickets: £10 (children £5) from Evelyn Sutherland 07974742552
An evening of wonderful carols and delicious cake in aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance and Living It Up
Saturday 14 December 2024
Live music: Blame Caesar
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
From their first gig at the Cellar Bar in October 2023, this five-piece have been cooking up indie bangers ever since. Featuring Joe Cullen, Max Randall, Chris Benner, Lui Tomlinson and Ed Bavister, the band released their debut single Shall We Dance in July 2024.
Saturday 14 December 2024
Live music: Georgia Nevada
D’Parys, D’Parys Avenue @ 7 – 9pm
Free entry
Georgia Nevada. performs live at the D’Parys tonight.
Saturday 14 December 2024
Live music: New Noise showcase featuring Givemeyourteeth | Skelta | Michy Tree
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £8
The Mash Up presents: Givemeyourteeth with special guests, Skelta and Michy Tree.
Hailing from Bedfordshire, Givemeyourteeth is a pop-punk artist known for her dreamy sound and introspective, melancholic lyrics. With a headline London show under her belt, GMYT will bring the party to Bedford as part of a showcase of local talent.
Skelta are no strangers to the Bedford scene with a mix of shoe gaze and grunge. After a number of successful shows around the local area, Esquires welcomes Skelta back to rip the roof off again.
Supported by BBC Berkshire and an impressive write up in Rolling Stone Magazine, Michy Tree make their inaugural visit to Esquires with catchy alternative rock with influences from Paramore and Halsey to Bring Me the Horizon.
Be sure to catch a line up of great local and up coming artists in the alternative scene.
Saturday 14December 2024
Live music: Megapint?
The Cellar Bar at 11.00pm
Free entry. Bar opens at 6.00pm
The guys are back for another regular gig at The Cellar Bar. Expect musical excellence mixed with a wonderfully curated list of rock/pop classics.
Sunday 15 December 2024
Live music: Dead Shady play the Aternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Dead Shady are a Bedfordshire based band playing Post Punk and 80’s New Wave.
Sunday 15 December 2024
Live music: U18’s Open Mic
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm – 7.00pm / bar opens at 4.30pm
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.
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 the to Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
