⚡️We are very pleased to announce THE SKIDS and Spear Of Destiny will be warming up for their UK tour at Bedford Esquires.

Both headliners in their own right and selling out the venue in their own right at Esquires the band were last paired together in Bedford at the Corn Exchange in 2018 which saw over 700 people in attendance.

⚡️ABOUT THE SKIDS - PUNK BAND
THE SKIDS “Memories fade but some linger for a reason. The Skids was the definitive part of my early life. A brilliant adventure into the world of creativity and adulthood. I was a kid when I joined the band in 1977 - 16 years old. By the time the adventure had run aground I was a dazed and confused young man. We were fearless in the beginning, always trying new things and not afraid to be different in a musical world that was beginning to sound very derivative and safe. Contrary to the reports from people who were never near the centre of the band, Stuart Adamson and I got on very well - in fact for a long time we were very close. I enjoyed writing with him - he was generous and incredibly adaptable to my unmusical ideas.

The Skids were not just another punk band - we were creatively ambitious as well as being close to the core beliefs of our hard-won fans. But most importantly we loved playing live. Taking these memories and replanting them into 2017 has not been easy. How do you do it? How should it sound? Are we little more than a tribute band? These were the questions rattling around my head as I tried to find a way to celebrate the bands 40th anniversary last year. The answers ended up being very simple - Don’t over think it - Just do it. Enjoy every minute of it. Play the songs like it might be the last time. Give it everything. And then……. there’s the new stuff!!! The beginning of something new rather than the end of something old.

⚡️ALBUMS
Enter DESTINATION DUSSELDORF” Richard Jobson The Skids were at the heart of the punk scene in Scotland and took their music to London where they were signed by Virgin records. They made 4 albums and had numerous hit singles including Into the Valley, The Saints are Coming, Masquerade and Working for the Yankee Dollar. After the cover version of The Saints are Coming by U2 and Green Day the remaining band members reformed and played to large audiences all over the UK including iconic London venues such as The Albert Hall and The Roundhouse as well as Barrowlands in Glasgow. Their recently released album Destination Dusseldorf went to no.1 in the vinyl charts.

⚡️SPEAR OF DESTINY
Hard to believe we know but it is true, Kirk Brandon has now been leading SPEAR OF DESTINY for over 40 years. SPEAR OF DESTINY Formed in 1983 after the demise of Kirk Brandon’s post punk iconic rockers THEATRE OF HATE. (Brandon had also, before TOH, been the main man in every punk rockers favourite band of that era The Pack).

 The current line up of Spear is the longest serving to date and features Adrian Portas (New Model Army / Sex Gang Children), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy / The Cult / The Mission) and Phil Martini (Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind) on drums. During 2019 the line up was boasted by Saxophonist Clive Osborne. Long time Brandon collaborator Steve Allen-Jones completes the band line up on keyboards for 2022.

Post Pandemic has seen SOD play some fabulous club shows and festivals including sell out shows at the iconic 100 Club in London, Manchester Ritz and Glasgow Oran Mor. SOD's performances at Sign of the Times, Rebellion and Kubix festivals have heralded fantastic reviews “Festival Stealing Dream set” wrote The Northern Echo. Late 2024 will see Spear take to the road with long term friend Richard Jobson who will fronting a revitalised line up of the much loved Post Punk Heroes THE SKIDS.

🎟 TICKETS (Can be booked via the event link)
With Esquires being the smallest venue on the tour we would advise picking tickets up nice & early for this date. 

Tickets priced £27.50 are on sale now from Seetickets and will be available in person from Slide Record Shop and Esquires Bar (booking fee free) from Fri 2nd August.

DATES & TIMES
▪️Wednesday 6th Nov: 2.30pm & 7pm
▪️Thursday 7th Nov: 7pm
▪️Friday 8th Nov: 7pm
▪️Saturday 9th Nov: 2.30pm & 7pm
▪️Sunday 10th Nov: 1pm

🧑‍🎄 ABOUT
Buddy, a young orphan mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list, and his step-brother doesn't even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

🎵 FEATURED SONGS
Based on the cherished 2003 New Line Cinema hit, Elf features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (Disney's Aladdin On Broadway, The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).

♿️ ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
Stalls Row E, Circle Row A and Upper Circle Row A are all step-free, level-access rows, as well as both our Circle boxes. A detailed guide of the number of steps to seats in our auditorium is available on request. Please contact our Stage Door if you would like further information.

There are six wheelchair spaces available in the Stalls and four spaces in the Upper Circle which are also suitable for transferring. Both our Circle boxes are suitable for wheelchair access. Our auditorium seats are approximately 50cm wide with non-moving armrests. All seats in our Boxes are free-standing.

🚻 Accessible Toilets - There are separate, fully accessible, male and female facilities on the ground and first floors, and fully accessible facilities for both men and women on the third floor (by door 10). There is an emergency call-point in all accessible facilities, should you need to call for a member of staff. Baby changing facilities are located on the ground, first and third floors.

♿️🎟 WHEELCHAIR USER TICKETS, PLEASE CALL THE ACCESS BOOKING LINE:
☎️ 0333 009 5399

TICKETS
⭐️Wednesday from: £31
⭐️Thursday from: £30
⭐️Friday from: £31
⭐️Saturday from: £31
⭐️Sunday from: £15

🧸 Every Wednesday in term time. Stay and Play is a weekly group for parents/carers with young children. Located at Wilstead Evangelical Church.

💖 FREE!
It’s open to anyone and free to attend. Mums and other carers from Wilstead and the surrounding area come along for their children to play while they enjoy the company over a tea or coffee.

⭐️Role-play resources, such as dressing-up clothes and kitchen

WHAT ELSE DO WE DO?
We also run coffee mornings once or twice a term, and an annual summer picnic.

For more info, contact Hannah on:
☎️ 01234 589563

👶 Little Fishes at Christ Church in Bedford is FREE entry and runs on Wednesday's in term time.

AGES: Bumps - 2 years

EVENT DETAILS
We are running a programme called Refresh which inludes a thought for the day, singing time and a chance to refresh with a cuppa. Please invite any friends or neighbours with little movers.

📍WHERE TO FIND US
Denmark street entrance (meeting in downstairs in church)

🅿️ PARKING
We are opposite the Riverside Tennis Club on Goldington Road and we have a small car park behind the church halls in Dudley Street.