Bedford Esquires

**TONIGHT**

We have the wonderful sing-songwriter, Benjamin Francis Leftwich making his debut in Bedford, with support from Nadia Kadek. Tickets go off sale at 5pm, with remaining on the door. It's going to be a special one, check them out in the comments 👇

TONIGHT! Two gigs of the highest quality, both on the same evening! On the main stage, the welcome return of 6music faves, The Bug Club, while in Room 2, a band we've been trying to get to the venue for years, boasting FOUR bass players - Evil Blizzard!

Last remaining tickets for both online until 6pm, with remaining on the doors from 7.30pm. Supports for both at 8.15pm, headliners 9.15pm. Let's do this!

The funk is truly in the house this evening, with Smoove and Turrell on our main stage, making their debut at the venue! Still some tix left for this one, online until 6pm - remaining on the door. Support comes from the soulful Miller Collective, who'll keep you dancing before and after!

**NEW SHOW**

Very excited to have the hotter than hot, MAN/WOMAN/CHAINSAW coming to town next April as part of our 35th anniversary celebrations.

A precociously talented band from London, who recently celebrated their 100th gig. Since their debut at 16 years old and across three self-released singles,the band have proven themselves as one of the most exciting and unpredictable young acts in the capital, both joyous and raucous in equal measures. Last year’s “What Lucy Found There” was to be their breakthrough, securing attention for the band from the likes of The Quietus, NME, The Line Of Best Fit, So Young, BBC 6 Music and more.

This November the band truly come of age with their debut EP, “Eazy Peazy”, to land on the indie taste-maker label Fat Possum Records. Recorded with Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox at Echo Zoo studio in Eastbourne, the group present us with cinematic arrangements, mauled by moments of cacophony; the band’s Billy Ward says of their writing process,“we thrive on the thin line between pretty and noisy, often trying to jump between the two-it’s that chaos that excites us.”

You're going to be hearing and seeing a whole load from this band in the coming months - tickets are on sale right now from See, available locally next Wednesday!

**NEW SHOW**

No year would be complete at Esquires without a St Patricks Day visit from The Life of Riley on Monday 17th March.

Having formed in Bedford in 1991, The Life Of Riley are one of Bedford’s best loved bands and are still going strong after over 30 years! The band are a full throttle nod to Irish folk music and dance along shanties with dancing shoes compulsory!

Tickets priced just £10 are on sale now from Seetickets and local outlets, grab yours on the link below 👇

Tonight!

On the Main Stage this evening we have the god of hellfire himself, psyche rock legend The Crazy World of Arthur Brown who is performing at the venue for the very first time, whilst in Room 2 we have the genre bending Holy Youth Movement who are influenced by bands like Primal Scream and The Chemical Brothers and were so impressive at Ceremony Festival early this year.

Tickets still available for both events from Seetickets up until around 4pm and then there will be limited tickets on the door.

If that's not enough, Pete's quiz is still taking place in the bar at 8pm. £2 per person - arrive early to guarantee your spot!

**NEW SHOW**

We continue the daily 35th anniversary announcements for 2025, as we welcome back one of the finest live bands on the planet, James Taylor Quartet back to the venue!

One of the pioneers of the Acid Jazz scene, JTQ have taken their distinctive trademark howling Hammond sound to the masses for over 30 years; still famed for their upbeat, energetic live shows with no sign of slowing down.

The band’s relentlessly entertaining tunes take inspiration from the rare-groove style funk, and boogaloo funk of the 60s and 70s and the band is, without a doubt, one of the most important jazz-pop crossover outfits in British live musical history today.

Tickets are available from 10am, this Friday from See and local outlets.

*THIS FRIDAY*

Smoove & Turrell | Bedford Esquires + Miller Collective DJS

Smoove & Turrell, founded by working-class lads in post-millennium North East England, united through their passion for soul. Smoove recruited keyboardist Mike Porter for his ‘Smoove Live’ project after meeting in Newcastle’s music scene. They then discovered John Turrell’s sublime voice by chance and quickly bonded. The trio began performing gigs with various musicians and creating new material, recorded and produced by Smoove.

Their initial tracks received rapturous responses, leading them to form a live band with other like-minded Geordie musicians. Craig Charles championed them on radio, earning them Radio 2’s Record of the Week twice and a playlist on 6 Music.

Their sixth album, ‘Stratos Bleu’ (2020), hit Number 1 on the UK Dance Album Chart and made the Overall Top 40. They’ve performed live on Sky TV and BBC 6 Music, with multiple singles on Jazz FM.

Staying true to their roots, their mix of songs about working-class life, tributes to lost loved ones and floor fillers have built a friendly, loyal fanbase over the years.

Tickets from Slide Record Shop & Seetickets online 👇

**SHOW POSTPONED - VENUE SHUT NEXT FRIDAY**

Unfortunately, we will have a rare Friday off next weekend, as the only show in that evening, Jah Wobble has to be postponed due to a medical reasons. Please see a note from Jah Wobble below and hang onto your tickets, as they remain valid for the new date.

"Big apologies to all concerned in regards to the postponement of our show at Esquires Bedford on Thursday 15th November. Big thanks to the venue for being so understanding . I have been struggling with a back issue recently, and will now undergo a medical procedure that day"

Drum roll - we can finally announce the line up for Ceremony 4.5 on the 1st of February 2025, the ‘mini’ version of our new music alldayer, headlined last year by English Teacher.

We are delighted to welcome back Divorce as headliners for the event. Since appearing at Ceremony in 2023, the melodious Nottingham 4 piece have gone from strength to strength with the soaring twin vocals of Felix and Tiger and songs like ‘All My Freaks’, ‘Birds’ and ‘Checking Out’ confirming their status as one of best new bands out there. Divorce’s debut album ‘Drive to Goldenhammer’ is due to be released on the 7th of March 2025 and we can’t wait to hear it live on our main stage.

After trying to book them for years, we can also confirm that Heartworms will be bringing their industrial sonic barrage to Esquires. Signed to cult indie label Speedy Underground, Heartworms music has been described as 'defiant goth inspired post punk’ and we are unbelievably excited about their appearance at Ceremony.

Across the day you’ll also hear the ethereal beauty of TTSSFU, the hook-filled indie rock of kynsy___, the Gossip meets St Vincent stylings of congratulations, the disco inferno that is Vanity Fairy, Fontaines DC inspired noise from Cucamaras Band, the dark art-rock of ＭＹＮＫ and the lo-fi allure of newcomers Wonderbug.

With possibly one or two more acts still to be added, we are incredibly proud of the line up we have put together for you. Early bird tickets have already sold out but the remaining tickets are still available priced £22.50 from Seetickets and local outlets.

*THIS THURSDAY*

Holy Youth Movement make a welcome return to Esquires following their set at the Ceremony Festival earlier this year.

In case you missed them Holy Youth Movement (HYM) are a 5 piece band hailing from Bristol. Their sound is a heavy mix of Rock n Roll and Electronica fuelled by Dance Floor Rhythms, driving Bass and a huge wall of Synthesizers and Guitars, all topped off with soaring anthemic Vocals and melodies.

Produced by Jagz Kooner who has worked his magic with the likes of Oasis, Primal Scream, Kasabian, The Prodigy, Manic Street Preachers, Soulwax, The Whip and Kate Moss, as well as being in bands such as The Aloof, Sabres of Paradise.

Tickets online all week and from local outlets...👇

The Shade play the Sunday afternoon session at Esquires today
From 5p.m Free Admission
Hope to see some of you there 🎶

We're all ready for the Boombastic Daytime Disco! This one s*ld out a while ago, but we've had a couple of returns, available on thendoor from 2pm 🕺 💃

TONIGHT - the Dream machine are back at the venue! The band take their name from ‘Dream Machine’, an invention that recreates hallucinations similar to psychedelics without taking substances, with their music being portrayed as enigmatic, mysterious and very psychedelic. Support comes from WKTD.

Doors open 7.30pm, WKTD 8.10pm, The Dream Machine 9pm - tickets on the door.

**NEW SHOW**

We're super excited to announce a very intimate show with the living legend that is David 'Ram Jam' Rodigan on Friday 4th April, as part of our 35th anniversary year!

For over 35 years David Rodigan has been the top dog in the ganja-scented, bass heavy-atmosphere of Britain’s reggae dance-halls. The key to his success has been an unsinkable passion for reggae music, which first took a hold of him as a schoolboy when he heard ska music in the early ’60s.

He developed an obsession with the music of Jamaica that generated an encyclopaedic knowledge of the island’s every artist, every song and every rhythm track. His parties have gone down in folklore, as he takes you through a journey of the tiny island that shaped music like no other.

Tickets are going on sale this Sunday at 10am, to give as many people a chance to grab tickets and not having to worry about work. Available from See and local outlets.

*FINAL SHOUT FOR SKIDS / SPEAR*

Just 9 t*c*e*s left for the 1st date of THE SKIDS / SPEAR OF DESTINY UK tour next Weds 6th November right here at Bedford Esquires. Click the ticket link below if you want in 👇