EVERY SUNDAY - OPEN MIC EVERY THURSDAY - KARAOKE WITH MATT BEDFORD NOVEMBER
CAMEO/FIVE FIVE SIX WORKSHOP BOYS/OPEN MIC
FILM NIGHT - QUADROPHENIA KARAOKE LAST CHANCE RAG TIME BAND MEGAPINT?
RETROVIBES/OPEN MIC KARAOKE THE KRAKENS MAT ROBERTS/BAZOOKA JOE JUNIOR OPEN MIC/OPEN MIC
KARAOKE/BINGO - FANNY BURNS KARAOKE FACEDOWN BAD HOMBRE SOUL FACTORY COMEDY KARAOKE MATT BEDFORD ZEROES
FRIDAY & SATURDAY - ALL LIVE MUSIC IS FREE ENTRY
JOSEPHINE WELLS | 4
“Cheers!”
BOUGHT IN BEDFORD | 5
Countdown to Christmas
WHAT’S ON | 6
Diaries at the ready
Introduction
The countdown to Christmas is ON and as ever, for us that means a joyful celebration of Bedford’s amazing independent shops and businesses. Check out page 5 to find out about our festive Bought in Bedford campaign that launches this month.
We’re also celebrating the 175th birthday of Josphine Wells, the driving force behind Bedford’s Wells and Co brewery (page 4) and looking forward to the 400th anniversary of the birth of John Bunyan
THEATRE | 8
The best of this month’s theatre
FILM | 11
Movie mayhem
FOOD & DRINK | 13
Thai-tastic
LIVE MUSIC | 15
Bring the noise
Preparing for Bunyan’s big birthday
HOMETOWN TOURIST | 18 GREAT BEDFORDIAN | 19
Roll up, roll up, it’s Rosanna
MEET THE TEAM
Read on page 18 about the plans that are already afoot for the commemoration in 2028 and how you can get involved.
As ever, we’ve got the pick of the best art and culture, theatre, live music and more for you to choose from. Enjoy!
Team Clanger
Even more events are included in our weekly What’s On Guide, published every Thursday afternoon on our website at bedfordindependent.co.uk
Commercial Director: Julia Course / julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk
Design: Ben Graham / ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk
Food & Drink: Paul Hutchinson
Theatre: Paula Walker
Website: bedfordindependent.co.uk
The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing
Heasman
Erica Roffe, Julia Course & Paul Hutchinson (Image: Two-D Photography)
JOSEPHINE WELLS
Cheers,
Josie! Wells & Co launches birthday brew
Bedford-based brewery, Wells & Co is launching a new beer to celebrate the birthday of one of the family’s most influential women.
In honour of what would have been Josephine Wells’ 175th birthday, the exclusive beer, Josie 175 is a chardonnay barrelaged pilsner, available from Brewpoint, Beerfly on St Cuthbert’s Street and Wells & Co pubs.
Josephine was the wife of Wells & Co’s founder, Charles Wells, and has been described as the wind in his sails. Born on 22 October 1849, Josephine was the inspiration for founding the Wells family brewery in Bedford and she is the great-greatgrandmother of the business’s current CEO Peter Wells.
In the early 1870s when on leave from the navy, Charles met and fell madly in love with Josephine, but he was told by her father that he could only marry her if he left the navy and set up his own local business. With this, he gave up his sea-faring career, settled on dry land and became a brewer.
They married in 1876 and Charles bought the Horne Lane Brewery, situated on the banks of the River Great Ouse, along with purchasing 36 pubs at auction. And so, the Wells & Co story began. Charles has always been central to its brewing story, a dependable family man with a visionary outlook, and by his side was unsung hero Josephine, who was central to this family brewing business becoming firmly anchored in Bedford.
Recipe for success
As part of the celebrations, some recipes found in a handwritten book by Josephine will be adapted for Brewpoint’s Tap Room menu. The meals included would have been used daily to fuel the growing family of eight Wells children.
The small, worn leather-bound book was sent to Wells & Co by a local resident who found it in the bottom of a trunk at her flat on the Embankment while a college student many years ago.
Inside the yellowed, ingredient-splattered pages are dozens of handwritten recipes including Pound cake, pork pies, lemonade, and cheesecake.
Josephine Wells was my great-greatGrandmother and the longstanding wife of our founder, Charles Wells. As a mother of eight and guiding family force, Josephine has been a huge inspiration behind the Brewpoint beer range, having played a significant role in the history of Wells & Co. To be able to commemorate what would have been her 175th birthday shows just how far we have come.
CEO of Wells & Co, Peter Wells
As part of the celebrations, we’ve partnered with Wells & Co to offer one lucky reader and three friends a tour and beer tasting at Brewpoint, plus a four-pack of beer.
To enter, simply answer the following question: How many children did Charles and Josephine Wells have?
Email the answer plus your name and address to win@bedfordindependent.co.uk by Friday 22 November. See bedfordindependent.co.uk for full terms and conditions.
What’s the best time on a clock? 6:30, hands down.
Josephine Wells / Image: Wells & Co
Josephine Wells handwritten recipe book / Image: Wells & Co
Bought in Bedford - Christmas 2024
Since its launch in 2012, the Bedford Clanger has always aimed to put Bedford’s independent retailers on the map, and this Christmas is no exception.
This November we’re launching Bought in Bedford - your essential guide to the best of Bedford’s independent retailers right on our doorstep.
And it’s not just shops in the spotlight. We’ve also got details of local online businesses plus restaurants, cafes and bars. Basically, if you want to get in the festive spirit in Bedford - this is your one-stop guide.
With a wealth of independent businesses in the town centre, plus four-hours’ free parking at Allhallows and Lurke Street car parks every Monday - Saturday (it’s free all day on Sunday), you need look no further for festive inspiration. From homewares to houseplants, clothes to coffee, art to antiques, Bedford’s indies have got you covered.
Thursday 21 November 2024
Doors open at 6.30 with time to look at the Rediscovering Black Portraiture exhibition, with the talk starting at 7.15pm
At The Higgins Bedford Castle Lane, MK40 3XD 6.30-8.30pm, £6.85, concessions £5.50
As you’d expect, Bought in Bedford is beautifully designed and features spotlights on local businesses, a handy town-centre map and links to relevant websites.
You will be able to pick up copies of Bought in Bedford at the same pick-up points at the Bedford Clanger or read it online at issuu.com/bedfordclanger
Share your photos of purchases and/or food and drink from one of Bedford Indies on Instagram using #boughtinbedford and you will be entered into a giveaway. More details will be in Bought in Bedford.
WHAT’S ON
Ouse Muse - poetry at the Eagle Bookshop
On Tuesday, 5 November, Ouse Muse returns to the Eagle Bookshop on St Peter’s Street for their monthly poetry and spoken word night. This month’s guest poets are Martin Figura and Helen Ivory, who will be reading from their latest collections, The Remaining Men and Constructing a Witch.
Guests are encouraged to bring along their work to share too, as the event will finish with an open mic session.
Eagle Bookshop, 16 - 20 St Peters St, MK40 2NN 7.45pm for 8pm start
Food and feasting in art
On Tuesday, 26 November, North Bedfordshire Arts Society welcomes Sarah Ciacci for a talk on The Holiday Season: food and feasting in art. The event is at the Addison Centre in Kempston at 11am and costs £10. northbedsartssociety.org.uk
Comedy at the Quarry: Garrett Millerick Needs More Space
Friday 15 November 2024 @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £15
Garrett Millerick Needs More Space sees comedy’s ‘angriest optimist’ return for a hilarious, honest, and mostly historically accurate, exploration of space travel. In his new hour, Garrett examines his totally insignificant place in the universe and how little we actually know about anything. Needs More Space promises to be his funniest show yet as he looks to the stars to find solutions to our earthy complications.
Spanish-speaking workshops at The Place Theatre
On Friday, 15 November, Bedford Language Centre will be hosting a Spanish speaking workshop at the Place Theatre. It’s the ideal opportunity to gain experience speaking a foreign language and of course, practice makes perfect. From 6pm there will be different workshops taking place throughout the evening. You can drop in on the day or send an email to info@bedfordlanguagecentre.co.uk
Bedford Skeptics present: Phone calls from the dead with Dr Callum Cooper
Thursday 21 November @ 7pm
The North End Social Club, Roff Avenue / Donations appreciated
An evening of exploration of alleged phone calls from the dead, often associated with after-death communication experiences, where reports occur of deceased individuals allegedly making contact. However, unusual reports of telephone calls from living individuals and perceived ‘extraterrestrials’ have been documented too. Dr Cal Cooper will be presenting examples of such cases, the history, controversies, theories and more… ring, ring
Being Human festival activities at the Panacea Museum this month
This November, the Panacea Museum on Newnham Road is hosting a series of events as part of Being Human, the UK’s national free festival of the humanities. Until 30 November, the exhibition Preparing for the Apocalypse - Towers, Prophets and Meaning will explore the ‘towers’ of the Panacea Society, towers in literature and in the Bible.
On 7 November, museum director Zara Matthews will give a special talk about the Pancean towers and on 14 November there will be a biblical discussion with CenSAMM Academic Director James Crossley regarding The Apocalypse. The Panacea Society believed that the end times were imminent, and looked forward to immortality in their own Garden of Eden here in Bedford.
I put all my cash into an origami business. It folded.
Also at the Panacea Museum this month...
Teaching Talons will be bringing their amazing animals to the site of Bedford’s very own ‘Garden of Eden’ on 2 November. Sessions take place at 10.30am and 11.45am and it’s completely free. Encounter snakes, reptiles and owls including live feeding demonstrations. Chip the dog will also be there to show off his tricks!
The Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Road, MK40 3NS panaceamuseum.org
One-day workshops at the Rothsay Education Centre
From 10am on Saturday, 16 November, the Rothsay Education Centre is hosting eight one-day workshops that are open to members and non-members alike. Choose from politics, art, publishing, poetry and more. Full details can be found on their Facebook page. Just search ‘Saturday workshops 16 November’.
Rothsay Education Centre, Rothsay Gardens, MK40 3QB recbedford.co.uk
Wonderful walks
This month, North Beds Ramblers have a wealth of walks throughout the Borough. Choose from a circular countryside
walk through Ravensden (Saturday, 2 November), an 11.5-mile walk around Stagsden (9 November) or a walk around the Twinwood site returning via Milton Ernest (16 November). Full details can be found on their website ramblers.org.uk
Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire: the latest instalment
Local history buff and beer lover, Lloyd Lugsden has combined his two passions to produce a series of books reminiscing about the lost pubs of the shire. This month sees the release of volume three of Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire, shining a light on those watering holes we miss and those we’ve long forgotten.
The book covers dingly dells to the county town of Bedford, via Luton and is a celebration of the pubs, landlords, landladies and punters through the generations. With unashamed nostalgia, the books include anecdotes plus evocative pictorial insights of the pubs. Hostelries featured in volume 3 include The Crown on Tavistock Street to the lesser-known Jumps Inn in Marston Mortaine.
Copies are available from The Eagle Bookshop on St Peter’s Street or DM Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire on Facebook or Instagram to order your copy by post. A great Christmas gift for the barfly in your life.
New ‘relaxed’ dementia-friendly concerts in Bedford
Tuesday 19 November @ midday | Free entry St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road
Songhaven, a new dementia-friendly concert series is coming to Bedford. The wheelchair-accessible events are 45 minutes long and feature two singers and a pianist, performing a mixture of musical genres, ending with a joyous sing-along and free social light lunch. They’re free to attend but booking is essential.
ticketsource.co.uk/songhavenbedford or by phone on 07881 925934
The Place Theatre @ 11am & 3pm / Tickets: from £10
Daisy Donald is bright, bold and full of fun but she’s also hiding a secret…that she lives with Type 1 Diabetes, an invisible disability. Adapted for the stage from Jade Byrne’s much-loved book, this brand-new family show takes you on a remarkable journey of learning about disabilities and difference, filled with take-home songs and positive messages of acceptance.
Theatre: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Saturday 9 November 2024
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £12
Candlelit Theatre bring The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde dramatically to life with their signature storytelling approach using shadows, sounds and theatricality to faithfully recreate the tale. Imagination ignites in the darkness. This show is perfect for those studying the text at GCSE and for drama lovers alike.
Theatre: Another Goodbye
Thursday 14 November 2024
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £12
Another Goodbye – A performance and conversation about love and loss. When Adie’s mum decided it was time to stop
her medical treatment, Adie promised herself that she would travel to Germany and visit her regularly. Then the pandemic happened… This is a story of a letting go, a passing on, another goodbye. The performance is followed by a conversation with staff from Keech Hospice Care.
Theatre : Nightmares
Tuesday 26 November 2024
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £14
Three classic ghost stories – live on stage! The show features three of the most spine-tingling tales ever written – ‘The Judge’s House’ by Bram Stoker, ‘The Kit-Bag’ by Algernon Blackwood and ‘John Charrington’s Wedding’ by E Nesbit. These pleasing terrors are brought to you by The Book of Darkness & Light, who have toured the length and breadth of the country with their unique brand of ghost story theatre for the past nine years.
Comedy: Tony Slattery- Resuscitated
Friday 29 November 2024
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £16
Back from the dead following a failure to file his living will, please welcome Lord of Misrule Tony Slattery for this rare discussion show with his good friend, Erica Lear, as they chart the highs and lows of his life and career, including his time as a stalwart on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Together with his improv accomplice James Payton (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Captain America: The First Avenger, Glass Onion) and their troupe of friends – they will turn your brilliant suggestions into unforgettable, never-to-be-repeated improvised comedy, or at least that’s the plan.
At the Quarry Theatre this month
26 St Peters St, Bedford MK40 2NN / quarrytheatre.org.uk
Children’s Theatre: Mr Sleepybum
Saturday 2 November 2024
The Quarry Theatre @ 11am & 2pm | Tickets: from £10
Do you have stupid and silly dreams at night? Well, Mr. Sleepybum does, and he’s going to re-enact them all for you in this high-energy, interactive, kids’ comedy show for the whole family. Mr Sleepybum is a multi-award-nominated, one-man,
Acupuncture is a jab well done.
character comedy kids show, written and performed by character comedian Jody Kamali. Mr Sleepybum performed a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 and received rave reviews from the press and audiences.
Comedy: Felicity Ward: I’m Exhausting! Friday 8 November 2024
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm | Tickets: £15
Star of ‘The Office’ (Australia), Felicity Ward returns for her first national tour in six years. The show is about pregnancy, and not getting pregnant, and birth, and post-natal depression, and motherhood, and identity, and sexuality, and the disintegration of how things were, and missing home, and quorn, and transition lenses, and fingering. All the big things. All of them.
Comedy: Rob Newman: Where the Wild Things Were Saturday 9 November 2024
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm | Tickets: £20
Rob Newman’s epic stand-up show goes from cave paintings to car-free cities, by way of Imperial Rome’s chariot ban, Rapper’s Remorse, and the dance steps of Homo Ergaster.
Theatre: The Man Who Thought He Knew Too Much
Monday 11 & Tuesday 12 November 2024
The Quarry Theatre @ 4.30pm on 11 November & 7.30pm on 12 November
Tickets: from £12
Wes Anderson meets Hitchcock meets Spaghetti Western in this multi-award-winning, intercontinental, inter-genre, cinematic caper of accusations, accidents, and accents. Roger, a Frenchman in 1960’s New York, has spent years following the same predictable routine until a minor delay saves him from an explosion. Throwing his ordered world into chaos, Roger chases his would-be assassins around the globe.
Tickets: Free but please book via The Place Theatre website
Join the Swan Poetry Society for their monthly reading of poems reflecting the season. This regular homage to poetry and spoken word is the perfect antidote to a grey Sunday evening.
This month’s theme is “Put a Girdle Round about the Earth’ . Make of that what you will!
As a quirky house clearance team removes the belongings of deceased hermit Albert, they learn about his life and hidden talent. As the furniture and rubbish clears, so does the chaos of their own lives. Parental guidance - the show features some swearing.
Theatre: A Christmas Carol
Wednesday 24 November 2024
The Sharnbrook Mill Theatre @ 4pm / Tickets: £18
The great, great-grandson of Charles Dickens, Gerald, returns with his highly acclaimed one-man production of A Christmas Carol, the much-loved tale of redemption and Christmas cheer. This is a fundraising event.
water. You will be
This month, Bedford Film Society has four screenings at the University of Bedfordshire, including the Oscar-nominated Perfect Days. Films begin at 7.30pm.
You can still join as an annual member for £70 or guests can pay £5 either on the door or via their Eventbrite pages. Visit their website for more information. bedfordfilmsociety.org.uk
Perfect Days
Tuesday 5 November
eaglegallery
This Oscar-nominated Wim Wenders film follows Hirayama who seems utterly content with his simple life. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveal more of his past. A deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us.
The Settlers
Tuesday 12 November
Set in Chile at the turn of the 20th century, three horsemen embark on an expedition, tasked with securing a wealthy landowner’s vast property until one of them comes to realize their true mission is to violently “remove” the indigenous population.
ART BY LOCAL ARTISTS
Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 11am - 3pm Mondays from 16th November - 24th December
wheelchair access available
Tel: 01234 346995. For more information on exhibitions, artist galleries & special events visit www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk
Etero is a 48-year-old woman living in a small village in Georgia. Unexpectedly, she finds herself falling into a passion with a man and is suddenly faced with the decision of whether to continue to pursue a life of independence.
War Pony
Tuesday 26 November
At 23, Bill is determined to hustle his way to the “American Dream”. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho can’t wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, Matho’s finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world.
Wicked Little Letters at Stevington Cinema Club
Thursday 21 November @ 6.30pm
Stevington Village Hall is the venue for the village cinema club, which this month is showing the absolutely brilliant ‘Wicked Little Letters’ starring Jessie Buckley and Olivia Coleman. Visit stevingtoncinemaclub.uk for full details.
Quadrophenia @ The Cellar Bar, Bedford High Street. Wednesday 6th November @ 7.30pm | Tickets: £6 (includes drink)
The Cellar Bar is hosting its first pop up cinema night, featuring the era-defining Quadrophenia and its iconic soundtrack by The Who. thecellarbarbedford.co.uk
I met my wife on a dating site. We just clicked.
FOOD & DRINK
It’s quite possible you’ve heard the name Tana Thai but would be forgiven for not knowing where it was, thanks to its unusual location a little outside of the main town centre area but arriving at the small Thai restaurant on a wet Friday night that was part of its charm.
Stepping through the door, you immediately understand why Thailand is known as the ‘land of smiles’ as we were greeted with several from all the staff members, whether they were the ones showing us to our table or serving other customers, the greeting made me feel instantly welcome.
The décor is understated, around the tables but each end of the restaurant is a different matter, with the bar area covered in orchard, cherry blossom and sculptures representing Thai culture. The other end is a feast for the eyes and ears as water cascades down the wall, creating a wonderful sound that enhanced the Southeast Asian experience.
Our server, clearly knowledgeable in Thai cuisine, gave us some guidance and recommendations on Thai food – perfect if you’ve not had the pleasure before, but a nice reminder if you have, and we made our order.
Starting with the classic dishes of Thai Money Bags and Chicken Satay, we thought we knew what to expect. However, we were pleasantly surprised at how Tana Thai has clearly put lots of love and years of experience into making these dishes better than we’ve ever tasted. It’s clear the ‘homemade’ claim for the Money Bags is true when looking at the intricate way they’re tied together.
Tana, the chef behind the restaurant attended the famous Wandee Culinary Art School in Bangkok. She says she has always been eager for everyone to discover the beauty of Thai cuisine and every time she cooks, she does so as if cooking for her own family using only the very best ingredients and lots of love.
Those who know me will know I don’t do well with lots of chilli so for my main course I was guided towards a Lam Shank Massaman, which is coconut milk braised lamb & potatoes in a mild homemade curry of warm spices – to say this was delicious is an understatement. The meat fell off the bone and the creamy sauce was a perfect mix of sweet and spice, I’m thinking about it while writing this review now and can’t wait to try it again.
My partner enjoyed their Gaeng Daeng, a red curry with coconut milk, Thai aubergine, bamboo shoots and sweet basil, which they said was exactly what they had hoped it would be, and was perfectly complimented by fragrant Jasmine Rice.
We chose Lychees and ice cream for our dessert, which I used to enjoy a lot growing up but hadn’t had in years – the fresh sweet taste was a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Sadly, for us anyway, there was no Mango Ice Cream on the menu but as Tana Thai make all their food fresh each day, they said that unfortunately it was too expensive to keep making if it wasn’t all sold in time – may Clanger readers can order ahead and encourage them to hold a special Mango Ice Cream night –we’ll certainly be there.
Tana Thai can be found at 20-22 Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedford MK42 9AD
Wednesday & Thursday: 5:30pm to 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Sunday: 1:30pm to 8:00pm
Monday: 5:30pm to 9:00pm
Tuesday: Closed
Diners are advised to book in advance at 01234 481 482 or via info@tanathai.co.uk
You can also order for delivery at tanathai.co.uk/order-online
The reviewer was gifted a meal as part of the review process.
Thai Money Bags
Lam Shank Massaman
LIVE MUSIC
The Dream Machine + French Mothers + WKTD
Friday 1 November
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £12.50
The Dream Machine are back in Bedford this month, as part of their UK tour. The band come to Bedford following recent support shows for The Coral, The Lathums, Noel Gallagher and The Charlatans, while gearing up for the release of their James Skelly-produced second album, Small Time Monsters.
Sunday Afternoon Chillout - The Workshop Boys
Sunday 3 November @ 5pm - 7pm
The Cellar Bar / free entry
Formed by former members of Los Marbles and Cutting Out, The Workshop Boys have fast become one of Bedford’s most loved bar bands. See the Cellar Bar’s website regarding options for combining afternoon tea and bottomless afternoon tea with this event. thecellarbar.co.uk
THE SKIDS + Spear Of Destiny
Wednesday 6 November @ 7pm Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £27.50
THE SKIDS and Spear Of Destiny will be warming up for their UK tour at Bedford Esquires this month. Both headliners in their own right and selling out the venue in their own right at Esquires the bands were last paired together at the Corn Exchange in
2018 which saw over 700 people in attendance. With Esquires being the smallest venue on the tour we would advise picking tickets up nice & early for this date.
Smoove & Turrell
Friday 8 November @ 7.30pm
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £20
The story of Smoove & Turrell began in the post-millennium North East of England with a group of working class lads and a shared passion for soul. Their first track was the now classic ‘I Can’t Give You Up’ recorded at band-member Mike Porter’s house as his Hammond Organ was immovably wedged in his utility room. Their newfound Northern Soul style demanded that a Smoove & Turrell live band was formed so they swiftly filled out their ranks with a crack team of like-minded Geordie musicians. Airtime on BBC6Music’s ‘The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show’ was a kick-starter for their assault on national radio eventually landing Radio 2 record of the week twice and a playlist on 6 Music.
Black & Gold
Saturday 9 November
The Castle, Newnham Street / Free entry
The Castle pub will host Black and Gold for an evening of seriously foot-tapping Irish music. The craic is sure to be mighty!
I’m going to try velcro instead of shoe laces. Why knot?
THE BUG CLUB + British Birds
Saturday 9 November @ 7.30pm
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £15
Formed in 2016 in the little-known rock n’ roll hotbed that is Caldicot, Monmouthshire, The Bug Club’s name does a good job of introducing the band and their music. A tight-knit, collaborative effort focused on telling tales of the everyday that we often take for granted, shot through with humour and riffs-aplenty. Initially championed by BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley, along with Adam Walton and Huw Stephens on Radio Cymru, The Bug Club have since earned the support of DJs, fellow artists and press worldwide.
Maddie Morris
Sunday 10 November
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £10
Folk singer Maddie Morris is an artist who strives to make a difference in the world. Bold, insightful and refreshingly unique, they take traditional song in new directions to shine a light on contemporary issues, offering new perspectives about the world we live in today.Maddie was recently commissioned by Unlimited to explore LGBTQIA+ experiences of disability through traditional music, and has also been proud to collaborate with organisations such as Queer Folk, The Bit Collective and Trans Pride Brighton.
Tibetan Monks from Tashi Lhumpo Monastery - From the Roof of the World
Friday 15 & Saturday 16 November 2024
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £14
Tibet – the Land of Snows: home to Buddhist lamas whose ancient rituals have fascinated people for thousands of years.
‘From the Roof of the World’ presents chant, mantras, music and dance by eight Tibetan Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery who open a magical window on to a world of reincarnation and Buddhist mysticism which has inspired audiences in theatres and festivals throughout Europe.
From the contemplative, mesmerising chant of Buddhist texts to swirling costumed masked dances accompanied by ancient Tantric musical instruments including horns made from human leg bones, skull-drums, cymbals, bells and with the shattering sound of the dungchen (long horns), the Monks evoke the atmosphere of sacred Tibet: an experience of an ancient culture accessible to all, with introductory explanations offering additional insight into this endangered world.
Maruja + Guests
Friday 22 November @ 7.30pm
Bedford Esquires / Tickets: £12.50
Maruja is an evocative force that transports listeners to a world of diversity and gritty realism. For the better part of a decade, they have relentlessly honed their craft, pouring over every note with a precision that borders on the obsessive. It is not just a passion that drives them but rather an all-consuming need, a force that compels them to create and perform with a visceral intensity that is both electrifying and terrifying.
Bad Hombre
Saturday 23 November @ 6pm
The Cellar Bar / free entry
Bad Hombre are a high-energy trio formed in 2012 with over 250 gigs under their belt. Performing Surf, Pop, Rock, Mod, Indie, Punk & New Wave covers, expect to hear your favourite tunes from The Jam, Stereophonics, The Kinks, The Fratellis & Kaiser Chiefs amongst many others. The band’s energy is infectious, dancing shoes and drinking hats are recommended!
Bedford Choral Society presents Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Saturday 23 November @ 7.30pm
Bedford Corn Exchange / Tickets: prices vary
Bedford Choral Society will be at Bedford Corn Exchange this month, performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Soul Factory - Sunday chillout with DJ Rocky Sunday 24 November @ 3pm The Cellar Bar / Free entry
Enjoy Happy Hour (from 3pm on Sunday) and an afternoon of soul & r&b music with Soul Factory at the Cellar Bar.
Philharmonia Orchestra presents Santtu and Jess Gillam Saturday 30 November 2024, 7.30pm Bedford Corn Exchange / Tickets: £15 - £40
Celebrated saxophonist Jess Gillam joins the Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor for an evening of irresistible tunes. Jess will show audiences exactly what the saxophone can do, in Glazunov’s 1934 concerto – a staple of the repertoire. Santtu opens the concert with music by Glazunov’s student, Shostakovich: the suite from his satirical operetta, Moscow, Cheryomushki. The concert ends with Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony, the work of a composer at the top of his game and remains one of the most popular in the canon.
Long fairy tales have a tendency to dragon.
HOMETOWN TOURIST
John Bunyan stained glass window / Image: John Bunyan Museum
2028: A significant anniversary for Bunyan, Bedford and Beyond
2028 will mark the 400th anniversary of the birth of John Bunyan and the 350th anniversary of his most widely known publication, The Pilgrim’s Progress.
We are hoping that this will be a major event in the life of Bunyan’s hometown of Bedford, and around the world. After all, The Pilgrim’s Progress has been translated into over 250 different languages and dialects, and new versions are still coming out today.
John Bunyan was born in Elstow, just outside Bedford and he worked as a tinker, making and mending pots and pans, ploughs and implements, in the surrounding area. You can still see the anvil that he carried around with him, in the John Bunyan Museum, attached to Bunyan Meeting Church in Mill Street.
John Bunyan / Image: John Bunyan Museum
He started writing The Pilgrim’s Progress while he was in prison for his beliefs. It is a story about someone who sets out on a
journey of discovery. Along the way, he meets people who help and guide him, but also some who deceive him, or treat him cruelly. He overcomes many trials in this mix of adventure story and journey of faith.
Why does something that happened 400 years ago matter to us today? Because many of the themes of John Bunyan’s life are just as relevant today. We are still concerned about freedom of speech, political imprisonment, the place of faith in life, and the power of education and literacy in a world where it is often denied through censorship or persecution.
And the 350-year-old The Pilgrim’s Progress is still widely read and loved, as evidenced by the thousands of visitors who come to visit the John Bunyan Museum from all over the world.
Although the anniversary is four years away, the museum is already being approached by local, national and international communities to begin organising celebrations. In October, they will be making a presentation to Bedford’s community leaders, with lots of people and organisations keen to be involved. Ideas include theatre and musical performances, a book festival, an international conference, an exploration of John Bunyan’s Christian faith, reading and hearing in diverse communities, publication, and more.
If you or your organisation would like to know more, are interested in sharing in the anniversary, or already have plans to which the John Bunyan Museum or others might be able to contribute, please get in touch.
Visit bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum and follow the countdown clock, or email Janet Wootton (chair of the Anniversary Steering Committee) revjwootton@btconnect.com
Architects are good at coming up with concrete plans.
GREAT BEDFORDIAN
This month’s Great Bedfordian is someone who has revolutionised sustainable shopping in Bedford and is the owner of the town’s only ‘living wall’ - and she’s a living legend!
As the founder of The Store on St Cuthbert’s Street, Rosanna Heasman is passionate about Bedford and its many indie retailers. She helped bring the St Cuthbert’s Street Festival to life and loves to collaborate with neighbouring businesses to raise the profile of the town centre.
We wanted to know all about her favourite spots in Bedford, so here they are…
Name: Rosanna Heasman
Occupation:
Business Owner of The Store in Bedford (the refill/ eco shop)
Born here or blow in?
Blown in all the way from Milton Keynes (City of Dreams as we call it) Moved here in 2010 as a young 18 yo, travelled some and lived abroad for a year but came back to Bedford to settle and start my business.
Best breakfast in Bedford?
For a lazy Sunday I’m going to The Barn by the Bedford Cheese Co which has a pretty good one. But otherwise Cibos to me always slaps.
Best boozer?
You may not get the best cocktail but always a good time at the George & Dragon.
Best
coffee or cuppa?
Well Not technically in Bedford but I got to say Wooden Hill roasters in Ampthill know what they’re doing when it comes to making a good coffee, but otherwise judging by how often I visit Vanilla Tree, that would come up next.
Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford?
Probably some of the live shows of friends bands or intimate gigs at Esquires.
Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress?
I started it...and then read the highlights at the museum.
Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger?
Tell me the best place to buy a good one and I will.
An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about?
Gotta shout out to my gym in town centre at The Martial Method. Small group martial arts fitness classes and a proper hidden gem to find.
Best Bedfordian?
I always rate the people who really put in the effort, and don’t just SAY but DO.. Tim Edwards who started Beerfly is one of those as are Matt & Gabs Pearson who were some of the founders of Foxy Wings. They do what they can and where they can to support small and indie businesses and just all round great people trying to better Bedford.
Three words that best sum up Bedford?
Small but mighty
Rosanna Heasman Image: The Store
Bedford Cheese Company Breakfast / Image: Bedford Cheese Company / Facebook
