We are now into the last week of November and the weekend saw Leighton Buzzard host its annual Christmas Festival, complete with fairground rides, market stalls, live music, fireworks & light switch on ceremony.
Being a person of a natural surly disposition, I made a considerable effort to get on board with the festive cheer: I donned my Christmas jumper and, once I'd finished moaning about how long it took me to drive to work (& wait for some ****head to move their car from our staff parking bay), had a little nosey at all the goings on in the town. I'm pleased to report that the high street was jam-packed with attendees, and it was really great to see it thrive.
Now, I know it doesn't make me a good person, (I am fully aware and accepting of that fact), but my Christmas cheer lasted a whole 5 minutes in the midst of a bustling, non-gig crowd! Whilst it is possible that crowds seem more tolerable at gigs because of the power of music, the shared experience, it's far more likely it's just due to my alcohol consumption levels! The bottom line is, whilst I don't dislike all people (I mean, I own a bar, I spend my life meeting people!), en masse, people can be bloody awful, particularly when you're stone-cold sober and struggling to tell the difference between youthful festive revellers and the cast of Lord of the Flies!
Luckily, once back in the safety of The Crow, music cranked to 11, we had an excellent view of the fireworks, and our usual gig-crowd soon started to trickle in, and as they all commented on how it was far too early for me to be wearing a Christmas jumper, it felt like everything was back to normal. In fact, I would go as far as to say, that by the end of the weekend I even felt a bit festive, so the town's annual shenanigans obviously did the trick!
The LB Xmas Festival workers weren't the only ones who were busy last week. We had a mammoth weekend with 2 fantastic classic vinyl DJ sets and 5 live bands! On Friday DJs Double Deckers played a blinder, Saturday we were treated to an awesome gig from Fret Heads, Sunday we had our last Pie & Mash Up session of 2022 with some brilliant tunes, then we hosted our 1st Crow mini festival: Motorfest for MacMillan, in memory of Paul (Silverback) Whiting. With 4 face-meltingly good sets from 4 great bands: Impetus, Into The Void, Still Remains & Motorpace, we raised £600 for Macmillan cancer support! A huge THANKYOU to everyone involved and to everyone who came down to support such a fantastic cause.
It has been a tough, yet totally awesome year here at The Crooked Crow Bar and we intend to crash into 2023 with a bang (and possibly whiplash, tinnitus and a raging hangover)!!!
We have an absolute corker of a line up for December and all of our events are listed up on our website and Facebook pages, so get the dates in your diaries so you don't miss out!!
TUESDAY 29th NOV: Football, England vs Wales, 7pm
We don't really do kickyball at The CCB, but as all league pool matches have been postponed tonight, and we have it on good authority that some of our customers rather like football, we thought as a one off, we'll put the match on our indoor big screen & through our in-house sound system! So come and join us if it's your thang! Over 16s only. Free entry.
WEDNESDAY 30th NOV, 7.30pm: CASTLE COMEDY NIGHT
A classic mixed bill of comedy featuring TV names and rising stars. Your host for the show is Paul Revill
MARCEL LUCONT - is a flâneur, raconteur, bon-viveur, and easily the greatest UK-based French comedian around. He is a regular on television. He has appeared on The John Bishop Show (BBC1), Live at the Electric (BBC3), Sky Atlantic’s Set List and starred on Russell Howards Good News! He has toured the world and won numerous awards, including the 2012 Amused Moose Award for the Best Comedy Show of the Edinburgh Fringe and the 2013 Fringe World Award for Best Comedy at the Perth Comedy Festival.
“Fresh, accessible and hilarious” - The Guardian
KEVIN DANIELS - Originally from Glasgow, he has spent his working life in the corporate world of low finance and recently decided to venture into the realms of stand-up comedy. Despite only starting to perform comedy in June of 2019, Kevin has already been nominated for Best Newcomer at the Midlands Comedy Awards and a finalist in numerous New Comedian Competitions. He's going to be a huge star!
“Kevin is probably one of the hottest properties on the Midlands circuit right now.” Doorstep Comedy
JASON STAMPE - delivers an outstanding blend of jokes and crowd interaction that will leave you feeling he must have planned the whole thing out. Rest assured, anything can, and will happen, and Jason will be there to make it funny. Few comedians can switch so effortlessly between riffing and their set like Jason Stampe so don’t miss your chance to see him!
THURSDAY 1st DEC, 8pm: FILM QUIZ
Back by popular demand, it is our quiz about everything FILM!
So, whether you're a DIE HARD movie buff, or just don't fancy staying HOME ALONE, grab THE USUAL SUSPECTS and POTTER down to THE CROW!
£1pp, max 6 per team. Over 18s.
(NB: Our usual monthly silly quiz will still be taking place WED 14th DEC)
FRIDAY 2nd DEC, 8.30pm: JAM 69
Fantastic live music from Jam69
Playing absolute classics from The Jam as well as brilliant, well-known songs from that era (punk/new wave/ska).
Dancing shoes are highly recommended!
Free entry
Indoor/standing gig
Over 18s only
SATURDAY 3rd DEC:
12-6pm: BYO VINYL
8.30pm: EL BRONSON
That's right! Just as we had finally, emotionally recovered from their last, awesome, Crooked Crow Bar gig, those super sexy, moshing Mexicans are back with their EPIC metal, rock & dance debauchery!!! Lock up your donkeys amigos, as El Bronson are back in town!
Free entry
Over 18s only
The Pie Nest will be landing this Saturday and Sunday 12-4pm, serving tasty pie and mash and Jamaican patties.
Plenty of gluten free and vegan options available from the main menu.
SUNDAY VIBES 12-4pm
Great beers / Crow Cocktails / Locally roasted Coffee
Hot Spiced Apple Juice / Boozy Hot Chocolate (vg/gf)
Pool/Darts/Board Games
Fantastic Tunes
Free Entry. Over 16s only. Dogs welcome.
