CONTENTS
FUN PALACES | 4
Fun for all the family
WHAT’S ON | 6
Spooktacular Halloween fun and more
FILM | 9
Bedford Film Society launches new season
THEATRE | 10
The best of this month’s theatre
LIVE MUSIC | 13
Bring the noise
FOOD & DRINK | 15
Grab a coffee and a new plant at Not Another Jungle
HOMETOWN TOURIST | 18
New photography exhibition at the Higgins. Say cheese!
GREAT BEDFORDIAN | 19
Top tips from game designer, Darrell Cannon
Introduction
As we head into Autumn, there’s plenty to do whatever the weather this month.
From super-sleuthing at the Higgins as part of this year’s Fun Palaces celebrations to Bedford Film Society’s new season of critically acclaimed and award-winning picks, we’ve got you covered.
October sees the start of the Philharmonia’s 2024/25 Bedford residency at the Corn Exhange and we have details on the full season (see page 6). There is also a new community
MEET THE TEAM
photography exhibition at the Higgins which uses techniques from the past, present and future in collaboration with Bedford Creative Arts and Fujifilm who celebrate their 40th year in Bedford. Read on in our Hometown Tourist feature on page 18.
Plus, as ever, we’ve also got the pick of this month’s live music, theatre, comedy and film. 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
Editor: Erica Roffe / clanger@bedfordindependent.co.uk
Commercial Director: Julia Course / julia@bedfordindependent.co.uk
Design: Ben Graham / ben@twenty-sixstudios.co.uk
Cover design: Alice Pattullo (with thanks to the Higgins Bedford)
Theatre: Paula Walker
Website: bedfordindependent.co.uk
The Bedford Clanger is published by Progress Publishing
Erica Roffe, Julia Course & Paul Hutchinson (Image: Two-D Photography)
FUN PALACES
Unleash your inner super sleuth, artist and typographer as Fun Palaces return to Bedford this October
A weekend of free fun activities awaits at this year’s Fun Palaces, taking place at the Higgins Bedford and the Panacea Museum on Saturday, 5 and Sunday, 6 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
Make your own artwork on the Panacea Museum’s Victorian printing press (Sunday only)
We went behind the scenes at the museum to ask Darrell Cannon, the inventor of the Cardboard Clues app and founder of board game cafe, Ready Steady Roll, to explain how he came up with Murder at the Museum and what readers can expect when they take part.
I liked the idea of creating something bigger where you could follow the characters around in real life, rather than on a table, and solve the mystery. I originally thought of an outdoor version, and then though a museum - specifically The Higginswould be a great location and Murder in the Museum was born.
“The game is inspired by Micro Macro, a detective board game we loved playing at Ready Steady Roll,” explained Darrell.
Darrell reunited with artist Katie Allen to design the 10 different characters which make up the three mysteries to be solved as part of Murder at the Museum. The game launches on Fun Palaces weekend with free taster sessions on Saturday. The usual cost is £25 per group to solve three mysteries, which should take you approximately an hour to complete.
“It’s going to be running until 19 January and all ages can play, from families to groups of adults,” said Darrell. “It’s site-specific and the clues relate to where you are in the Higgins, so it’s a great way to explore the museum at the same time. There’s no time limit, so you can take as long as you like and you can compete against other players to win points.”
As well as Cardboard Clues, Darrell has also created two board games since selling Ready Steady Roll. The first, Shoot to the Stars, is a fun trivia game for all the family and Clink, is a simple card game that will be launched shortly in the UK.
Who’s this fun guy?
Games master: Darrell Cannon and some of the Cardboard Clues characters / Image: Darrell Cannon
“I love helping people have fun,” said Darrell. “I’ve got a passion for making fun experiences accessible to all and for sharing my love of games. I just can’t wait for people to take part in Cardboard Clues at this year’s Fun Palaces and throughout the year.”
To book Cardboard Clues visit cardboardclues.com/fun-palacesneak-peak-event-booking/
COMPETITION
Win one team ticket to Cardboard Clues “Murder at the Museum” at the Higgins by answering this easy question: What is the name of the new card game Darrell Cannon has created?
Please email your answer to win@bedfordindependent.co.uk by Friday, 11 October. The winner will be notified on Monday, 14 October. Terms and conditions can be found on our website.
Fun Palaces is an ongoing national and international campaign, nurturing and supporting the potential and positivity of sharing people’s enthusiasms, passions and skills with their own local community. Fun Palaces has an annual weekend of events each October, although Fun Palaces can also happen at any time of year.
This project is supported by Arts Council England.
HALF TERM ACTIVITIES
AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD
27 OCTOBER TO 3 NOVEMBER
Come and join in with a variety of creative activities and storytelling.
Sunday 27: Storytelling in the Gallery for under 7’s
Tuesday 29: Make a Monster Collage*
Wednesday 30: Make a Wizards Wand*
Thursday 31: Make a Clay Pumpkin*
Friday 1: Puggle Club creative activities for Early Years
Sunday 3: Crafternoon creative activities for Families
*Workshops are aimed at 5 to 12 year olds and last an hour, booking essential. Scan the QR code or see our website for further details and to book places. www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk
WHAT’S ON
‘Art Under the Bed’ affordable art sale
The ‘Art Under the Bed’ art sale makes its much-anticipated return to the Basement at Bunyan this month. The event is an exhibition of original artwork, previously stored under the bed or elsewhere in the artists’ homes that is now reemerging for sale at half its original price. The sale runs from 15 - 19 October from 11am 4pm and is organised by artist Anne-Marie Abbate.
Basement @ Bunyan, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street MK40 3EU
Bedford Documentary Film Festival
12 October @ 10am - 4pm Amptill Room, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street / 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.
Do you sing in the shower? Do you think singing is only for the rugby ground or church? Then Bedford Sings is here to make you think again. The celebration of communal singing returns from 24 October - 2 November and project Director Duncan Fraser says they’re looking forward to celebrating some of the best choral singing in Bedford. “We’ve got a range of exciting events from barbershop and collegiate to rock, Disney and Jazz. Over 500 singers will celebrate singing in all its forms, so come and join in the fun.”
You can find out about all the events and book tickets at their website. bedfordsings.com
Poetry night at the Eagle Bookshop
Sunday 6 October @ 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.
theplacebedford.org.uk/
Drink and Draw Halloween special
Tuesday 29 October @ The Park pub, Kimbolton Road @ 7.30pm Free entry but donations appreciated
Get in the Halloween spirit and unleash your inner artist at this month’s Drink and Draw. The theme is ‘spooky monster character designs’ and no previous artistic experience is necessary. Just turn up with your imagination and all materials are provided.
Charity art sale in aid of Primrose Car Service
Bedford Hospital Charity is holding its annual art sale in aid of the Primrose Car Service this month. From 1-5 October the exhibition and sale will be held at the Basement at Bunyan at the on Mill Street. There will be a wide range of art works, many of the Bedford area, and lots of unique items on display and for sale. The Primrose Car Service is a much valued chauffeuring service that takes Bedford Hospital patients undergoing radiotherapy from their home to Addenbrookes in a door to door service during one of the most challenging times in their lives. Thanks to our event sponsors the Bedford Clanger. The only publication dedicated to arts, culture, events and more in Bedford Borough.
What did the quilt say to the bed after it fell on the floor? “Oh, sheet!”
2024/25 season concerts at Bedford Corn Exchange
Sibelius, Grieg & Nielsen
Part of our series Nordic Soundscapes
Wednesday 9 October 2024, 7.30pm
Santtu and Jess Gillam
Hear the world-class saxophonist live
Saturday 30 November 2024, 7.30pm
Philharmonia Brass at Christmas
Celebrate the season with friends and family
Tuesday 10 December 2024, 7.30pm
Osmo Vänskä conducts Mendelssohn
Featuring electrifying pianist Mao Fujita
Friday 21 March 2025, 7.30pm
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason plays Rachmaninov
Plus thrilling music by Tchaikovsky
Tuesday 29 April 2025, 7.30pm
Book now: tickets from £15 philharmonia.co.uk/bedford 0800 652 6717
WHAT’S ON
Step into relaxation and mindfulness at this month’s Saturday Soundbath
Sunday 27 October @ 7pm / Tickets: £15
Seeking relaxation and mindfulness in Bedford? Then allow Yanni to treat you to a relaxing Sound Bath experience at The Place Theatre. A sound bath is a meditative experience where participants are “bathed” in sound waves produced by various healing instruments. As you recline comfortably, you’ll be enveloped in the soothing vibrations of singing bowls, rattles, chimes, and drums.
For further information on booking, see the Place website. theplacebedford.org.uk/
The
Philharmonia
returns to Bedford Corn Exchange for its new season
As the Philharmonia prepares to return to the Corn Exhange
for its new Bedford residency, there are some real treats in store for classical music fans this season inclusing fantastic symphonies by Sibelius, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov’s beloved Second Piano Concerto.
The orchestra’s Principal Conductor, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, returns to Bedford in November and he’s joined by one of the most exciting names on the British classical music scene: saxophonist Jess Gillam.
And in December, the Philharmonia’s superb brass players take centre stage for the first time for an evening of seasonal music. Read more about their season opener on our live music pages (pages 13 & 15). Anyone booking three or four concerts saves 10% on the ticket price, or book all five and save 15%. philharmonia.co.uk/seasons/2024-25-bedford-season/
Make your own cigar box guitar at the Place Theatre
Saturday 5 October @ 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/
Halloween special: drag karaoke at the Cellar Bar
Wednesday 16 October @ 8pm / free entry
Fanny Burns is back for a Halloween special drag karaoke at the Cellar Bar and it promises to be spooktacular!
Don your fancy dress with the chance to a cocktail and take part in the new game, Fanny’s Flaps to win a cash jackpot of £250. You’d be disappointed if this show didn’t include adult humour and swearing, but just in case, please be aware that this is stricutly for over 18s.
I decided to host a party in space. Now I just have to planet...
FILM
What’s Love Got to Do With It
Sunday 6 October @ 4.30pm
The Quarry Theatre / 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.
Bedford Film Society 2024/2025 season
Bedford Film Society’s new season begins on 1 October, with screenings now taking place on Tuesdays at the University of
Bedfordshire Theatre on Polhill Avenue. Membership, including tickets for the full season, is £70 (£3.50/film), with day-guest tickets at £5.
The season kicks off with the Sundance Grand Jury Prizewinning British film, Scrapper on Tuesday, 1 October. Other films this month include Agent of Happiness (12) on 8 October, Night of the 12th (15) on 15 October, Evil Does Not Exist (12) on 22 October and Chile ’76 (15) on 29 October.
This season the society will be celebrating its 75th anniversary and we’ll be bringing you news of their plans later in the year. In the meantime, head to their website to find out more about this month’s films, or check out our weekly what’s on guide.
bedfordfilmsociety.org.uk
THEATRE
At The Place Theatre this month
theplacebedford.org.uk
Steel Magnolias
Thursday 3 October @ 7.30pm / Tickets from £12.50
Is it best to live 30 minutes of wonderful or a lifetime of nothing special? 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.
Community Theatre: Talking Heads - Soldiering On and Her Big Chance
Wednesday 9 - Friday 11 October @ 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.
Theatre: StageWrite: Autumn 24
Sunday 20 October @ 7.30pm / Tickets from £5
StageWrite is a hothouse for the development of new writing for theatre, designed to help plays grow from page to performance. It supports writers in the process of getting their work up on its feet and in front of an audience for the very first time. StageWrite presents two plays over the course of one evening, performed by professional actors, and includes a short Q&A session after each piece.
Theatre: Santi & Naz
Tuesday 22 October @ 7.30pm / Tickets from £14
Santi and Naz are bestest-best friends living in a village in pre-partition India. One Sikh, one Muslim; they have little understanding of how religion will divide them. As partition draws closer, the girls remain oblivious to the spreading social unrest and violence. They’re too busy stealing books, swimming in the lake and spying on Rahul (the local hottie). When Naz is betrothed to a tailor from the soon-to-be capital of Pakistan the threat of separation for the young women looms on the horizon. Bound by their love for each other we learn how far they will go to avoid the inevitable.
Children’s Theatre: Exploring with Kaye Leidoscope Friday 25 October @ 10am / Tickets from £2
Join Kaye Leidoskope for these lively and lovely interactive storytelling sessions for under-fives and their grown-ups. Expect songs, games, crafts and dancing, perfect for little ones to creatively learn through play!
Kaye Leidoskope (aka Kaye Mahoney) is an experienced performer and workshop leader who loves to help little ones (and big ones!) to create and learn. She also runs Puggle Club, the preschooler’s creative arts programme at The Higgins, and you can follow her on social media to find out more.
Theatre: Kickhouse Mysterium
Sunday 27 October @ 11.30am
A quest to make amends, in a magical world of Mysterium. Jon, the chaotic student of Frank the Dog, breaks a precious artefact and has to redeem himself through a series of bizarre, yet playful, challenges and games. If successful Jon will acquire the status of ‘master’, repair the artifact and redeem himself. Along the way Jon is hampered in his quest; with set-backs, twists, turns, and the interference of the sinister Cyprian Londt. Funny, fast paced, stylish, ‘clowning’, set in a ‘home-made’, magical, world full of contraptions, illusions and mystifying objects.
Theatre: Frankenstein (on a Budget)
Thursday 24 October @ 7.30pm / Tickets from £14
One man, one monster, one glorious dream to singlehandedly tell the most famous cult horror story of all time, and absolutely no budget whatsoever. What could possibly go wrong?
Frankenstein (On a Budget) features one actor, some decidedly dodgy backdrops, lots of weather based puns, plenty of cardboard props and more hats than you can throw a stick at. Can our ill fated doctor build his monstrous creation, play 25 characters, sing a lot of songs, attempt accents from across the world, perform a dance routine, and ultimately save the day in just 60 minutes?
The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford MK40 3DE
At The Quarry Theatre this month
quarrytheatre.org.uk
Comedy: Kane Brown: Don’t Listen to Me Saturday 5 October @ 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.
THEATRE
SK Shlomo: BREATHE
Wednesday 9 October @ 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 an awardwinning new solo show entitled BREATHE: a rollercoaster loveletter to the lifesaving power of beats, bass & breathing.
Comedy: Chris Kent: Back at It
Friday 11 October @ 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 ...
Theatre: Mettle
Thursday 17 October @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £15
Drawing on conversations with his father, multi-award-winning performer Nicholas Colletee presents Mettle, charting the progress of a young man in one of the most dangerous theatres of war and contrasts all this with his personal relationship with the man he is proud to call “Dad”. Told in a physical style, using sound and contemporary music to paint the scene, this is a true modern odyssey.
Theatre: The Rise of the Empress
Friday 18 October @ 7.30pm / Tickets: £15
Step into a world of thought-provoking discussion and captivating storytelling with this groundbreaking play, “Rise of the Empress.” Immerse yourself in an engaging narrative of discovery that digs deep into the lives, experiences and perspectives of two Black women navigating the world as they know it and the world they would like to see. In this powerful production, the stage becomes a canvas upon which the stories, struggles, and triumphs of Black women unfold. Through a series of moving conversations, heartfelt monologues, and authentic interactions, “Rise of the Empress” brings the complexities of being Black and female in contemporary Britain to life.
Murder for Two
Friday 25 - Saturday 26 October @ 7.30pm / Tickets: from £23
An anarchic musical murder mystery with a twist: one actor investigates the crime, whilst the other plays all the suspects! And they both play the piano throughout! When the body of an acclaimed novelist is discovered at his birthday party, all the guests fall under suspicion. Can local beat-cop and wannabe detective Officer Marcus solve the mystery before the experts arrive?
The Quarry Theatre, 26 St Peter’s Street, Bedford MK40 2NN
Why do coffee cups avoid the city? They’re afraid to get mugged.
LIVE MUSIC
TOM VEK + Guests
Thursday 3rd October @ 7.30pm
Bedford Esquires | 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.
SNAYX + Guests
Friday 4 October @ 7.30pm
Bedford Esquires | 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.
The Tendons
Friday 4 October @ 8.30pm
The Cellar Bar | Free entry
Legendary Punk Rockers The Tendons return to The Cellar Bar for what promises to be an amazing night of high-energy punk rock.
Howlin’ Mat in concert
Saturday 5 October @ 7.30pm
The Place Theatre | 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, while on stage he combines his musical talents with hilarious tales of his time on the road.
Five Five Six
Saturday 5 October @ 8.30pm
The Cellar Bar | 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!
Philharmonia presents Sibelius, Grieg & Nielsen
Wednesday 9 October @ 7.30pm
Bedford Corn Exchange | Tickets
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.
LIVE MUSIC
DEKKER + Guests
Wednesday 9 October @ 7.30pm
Esquires Bedford | Tickets:
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.
Live music: The Krakens
Friday 11 October @ 8.30pm
The Cellar Bar | 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.
The Rolling Stones Now
Saturday 12 October @ 7.30pm
The Quarry Theatre | Tickets: £16.50
The Rolling Stones Now is a celebration of all that has made the 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’. 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.
Hayseed Dixie + guests
Friday 18 October @ 7.30pm
Esquires Bedford | Tickets: £25
‘Maximum rockgrass’ returns to Bedford for the first time in over half a decade, when Hayseed Dixie play Esquires this month. When John Wheeler and Mike Daly discovered in their drunken epiphany that the Lost Highway of Reverend Hank Williams and the Highway to Hell of Bishop Bon Scott were indeed the identical stretch of tarmac, they were well and truly prepared to document this revelation in situ.
Luther: Luther Vandross Celebration Friday 18 October @ 7.30pm
Bedford Corn Exchange | Tickets: £26.50
The world’s premier show in celebration of ‘The Velvet Voice’. Experience all the hits from Luther Vandross’ amazing career, including many of the greatest dance anthems and love songs ever written. Ths show is fronted by international Luther Vandross tribute Harry Cambridge and his 10-piece band.
Lord Baker Soul & Ska Show
Friday 25 October @ 8.30pm
The Cellar Bar | Free entry
An incredible Soul and Ska show that will get you dancing from the first song. Lord Baker really knows how to entertain and you’re guaranteed an unmissable night.
I used to hate facial hair, but then it grew on me.
The Cellar Bar BEDFORD
FRIDAY
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FOOD & DRINK
Coffee and Cake at Not Another Jungle
Since opening in April, Not Another Jungle has - along with the town’s other aspirational independent traders - helped rewrite the retail rules in Bedford.
The shop front looks stunning, the plants spill onto the square and the welcome is warm and knowledgeable. Owner Tony is determined to draw customers from near and far into Bedfordluring them first with plants, and now with the added allure of top-notch coffee and cake. Using local suppliers, he’s creating a new ‘anti-corporate culture’ and creating much more than just a retail destination.
“The support from customers and other businesses has been incredible since opening and we are growing each month as more people find out about Not Another Jungle and what we do here,” Tony Le Britton told the Bedford Clanger
“Our experienced staff can help recommend the right plant for you and give you expert advice on how to care for it. We have the largest selection of plants of any houseplant shop in the UK from your first ever plant, easy care, pet safe and right up to rarer plants for die-hard collectors.”
Tony said that the new coffee offering has been the perfect addition to the shop. “People are visiting throughout the week
So if you haven’t already, we recommend you swing by Not Another Jungle next time you’re passing - you never know what you’ll find!
to get their fix of Yellow Bourbon coffee which is roasted in Northampton and has a real cult following. On a Saturday and Sunday we also have sweet treats by different indie bakers each week.”
Not Another Jungle in the town centre / Image: Tony Le Britton
Not Another Jungle’s coffee bar / Image: Tony Le Britton
HOMETOWN TOURIST
Community Portrait exhibition at the Higgins
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.
Opening at the end of September 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.
Over the last 18 months, local photographers have sought out Bedford residents to feature as subjects in these portraits who wouldn’t normally get the chance to be in front of the camera in a gallery setting. The results show a diverse array of faces and personalities including families from local schools and home-educator groups, babies, carers, College students, people celebrating at Ukrainian Day and members of local cultural groups.
A programme of workshops were hosted by Fujifilm at their state-of-the-art studio facilities in its London FUJIFILM House of Photography. Fujifilm UK have also provided the prints for the exhibition, bringing the photos to life using their photographic papers, enhancing the colours and details captured in each image.
As Fujifilm UK celebrates its 40th year in Bedford, we are proud to partner with Bedford Creative Arts on Community Portrait. With our heritage in photography, it’s been amazing to see how those involved with the project have chosen to capture their unique perspectives and stories, visually representing what being a Bedfordian means to them. We are incredibly passionate about our community here in Bedford and supporting the creativity within it; we are thrilled to have played a small part in bringing these stories to light through this inspiring exhibition.
Duncan Edgar,
Director of Corporate at Fujifilm UK
The exhibition also features an interactive Artificial Intelligence (AI) exhibit created by digital artists Fergus Laidlaw and Arnab Chakravarty which invites visitors to reflect on the possible future of photography in a world where AI has a growing impact.
Ami Aubrey, Programme Producer for BCA said: “We had over 1,000 images to choose from for this exhibition and had to make some really tough choices about which to include. We hope that visitors will be inspired to consider the role of the camera in capturing portraits – not just the mobile phone (as so many of us rely on today). It’s a reflection on photography’s value as an artform as we enter a future where anyone can take a photo but it is also open to manipulation through technology”.
The exhibition runs until 23 February 2025 in the Sir William Harpur Gallery at The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane, MK40 3XD
Why don’t pirates know the alphabet? Because they keep getting
Image: Catherine O’Donnell
NCT group / Image: Amina Pagliari
GREAT BEDFORDIAN
This month’s Great Bedfordian is Darrell Cannon, the founder of Ready Steady Roll (the board game cafe in Sharnbrook) and the creator of a new murder mystery game at the Higgins (read more about it on pages 4 and 5).
Darrell is the king of board games (although I did beat him at Dobble once - Ed) but what are his favourite places in and around Bedford?
We’re about to find out…
Name:
Darrell Cannon
Occupation:
Software developer and Game Creator including board/card games and my new giant murder mystery game where I am taking over The Higgins Bedford called Murder in the Museum!
I’m also the founder of Ready Steady Roll Board Game Cafe in Sharnbrook which I sold two years ago.
Born here or blow in?
I’ve been here for 14 years, originally from up north. The weather is amazing here.
Best breakfast in Bedford?
Roosters or a Bacon Bap from Sharnbrook Deli Cafe.
Best boozer?
The Sun in Felmersham or The Club in Sharnbrook.
Best coffee or cuppa?
The Mill Bromham or anywhere that sells Wooden
Best gig you’ve seen in Bedford?
Fatboy Slim when he came to Tofte Manor in Sharnbrook.
Ever read John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress? Nope.
Ever eaten a Bedfordshire Clanger?
No, but I’ve read it!
An off-the-beaten-track gem that everyone should know about?
I have to recommend Ready Steady Roll! It’s an awesome place to eat cake and play games and it’s literally hidden away in the Bedford countryside.
It’s awesome but I am a little biased...but even though I don’t run it anymore, I still go there regularly.
Best Bedfordian?
Has to be Erica Roffe - I’ve never met anyone as passionate about making Bedford Great!
Three words that best sum up Bedford? Independent, creative, underestimated.
Thank you! Summing up Bedford in three words is very hard.
Image: Darrell Cannon
Ready Steady Roll in Sharnbrook / Image: RSR/Facebook
Image: The Sun / Facebook
Hill Coffee.
