I know that January is always a long month, but for some reason this year it felt absolutely never ending! We eased into the year, just opening that first week on the Tuesday evening (for league pool) and Saturday evening (for our panto). The panto was ridiculous! We opened the shutters 5 minutes before Doors at 8pm, and people were queuing back through the precinct to get in! Who knew the people of Leighton Buzzard loved a panto so much?! The bar was rammed and the night really was great fun, so we ended our first week back on a high. The following week, bar trade was (expectedly), a bit quiet, but we had a few teams down for our Big Fat Quiz of The Crow and that weekend we were busy with gigs from Audionasties & Kung Fu Cthulhu and then were absolutely chocka for the Fret Heads gig that Saturday night. The 3rd week in January is known in the trade as the Graveyard Zone, so we didn't have any high expectations! It was a bit quieter than usual, however we had great gigs on both Friday and Saturday night from That's What She Said & The Corsairs. Then last week, well... It took us a bit by surprise! We were really busy, be it for Tuesday & Wednesdays Bar Nights, Thursdays amazing drag cabaret from Now That's What I Call Drag, Friday nights gig with Dirty Deeds (AC/DC tribute), Saturdays BYO Vinyl, then great gig from Popscene and Sundays Ska From The Bar! Then last night we were jam-packed again at our Film Quiz! So really, we haven't got any complaints about January 2024, but having said that, I am still really glad it's (finally) over!
We have been busy booking up a fantastic schedule of events this year and there's still more we want to both introduce and continue with. We have come to the conclusion that more is more! So expect even more fantastic nights out on your doorstep throughout 2024.
Mondays we will continue to be closed!
Tuesdays we will continue to host league pool, so we will be open as a bar.
Wednesday's we will be continuing with our Blockbuster Film Club (1st Wednesday of each month), Big Fat Quiz of The Crow (2nd Wednesday of each month) and Castle Comedy Night (last Wednesday of each month). We will be making a few tweaks to the other events on Wednesdays, so watch this space for details!
Wednesday 7th Feb, 8pm...
The Wedding Singer.
Entry £5 (inc popcorn)
The 1st Wednesday of each month, we will be screening a classic blockbuster at the old Blockbusters (now The Crooked Crow Bar)!
With a fantastic sound system, quirky bar setting, boozy hot chocolates, beer, popcorn, and great film, our indoor/seated film nights are the best around!! Introduced by film critic, Van Connor.
Films will have an interval so you can grab a choc-ice or hot dog and top up your beers!
Indoor/seated. 18+
Wednesday 28th Feb: Castle Comedy
A classic mixed bill of comedy featuring TV names and rising stars.
PAUL TONKINSON - is a sensational live performer, Yorkshire man, marathon runner and former (double award-winning) Time Out Comedian of the Year. He has appeared on Michael Mcintyre's Comedy Roadshow, Comedy Central's The Comedy Store and The World Stands-up.
'Hilarious. No one makes me laugh like Paul Tonkinson. Go see him' -Michael McIntyre
ELLIOT STEEL - despite being in his twenties, is a veteran of the British comedy circuit. Starting at sixteen, he has wowed audiences and impressed critics. As seen on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle and Comedy Central at the Comedy Store.
The show will feature full support from top UK comedians and the host for the show is Paul Revill
We will be trialling a new event on Wednesday afternoons (starting 14th Feb)...
We have teamed up with Buzz Cinema to bring you a weekly Film Café!
Screening short, independent films 3-5pm, with great locally roasted coffee & wifi, we are hoping to create a fantastic work space/networking space/creative hub. So why not pop down and see!
It's free entry. 18+
Dogs welcome.
Outside food allowed (no outside drinks though please).
Thursdays will continue to be a mixed bag of bar nights and events, from Drag Cabaret, Immersive theatre, Blues nights, Jam nights, Gazza Records Presents gigs and more.
11th April (+ further dates TBA)
Do you love all things drag?! Well strut right up because “NOW! That’s What I Call…DRAG!” RETURNS to The Crooked Crow Bar!
Serving up a classic slice of British drag cabaret, expect electrifying lip synching, stunning live vocals, camp comedy, audience games and of course…CHAOS!
Hosted by UK drag stars Knuckle Sandwich and Will Power (with special guests TBA!), you'll be in for a camp night of drag entertainment you won't forget!
Fridays will continue to be live music nights. Not all gigs will be ticketed, as we don't want to limit what we can host, however, a mixture of bigger circuit bands, tribute bands, original bands and local bands have been scheduled for Fridays throughout the year. Saturdays will continue to have BYO Vinyl during the day and free entry, cover bands on Saturday nights. Details will be going up on our website soon.
FRIDAY BANDS 2024
B4 World Domination (3x original bands, last Fri of each month)
John Otway (Original/folk-punk)
Steve Winch & The Inception (original)
Audionasties (original)
Dirty Deeds (AC/DC Tribute)
Motorpace (Motorhead Tribute)
Nerdvana (Nirvana Tribute)
The Machine Rages On (RATM tribute + Cypress Hill & Beastie Boys tribute)
The Smiths UTD (Smiths Tribute)
Flint Fire (Prodigy Tribute)
System of a Down UK (SOAD Tribute)
Arctic Roll (Arctic Monkeys Tribute)
Wen Dayz (Green Day Tribute)
Seattle Thrift Store (Grunge)
Stonegarden (Grunge)
The Estimators (Ska)
The Inflatables (2Tone, Ska, Soul)
The Rooters (Classic Rock)
The Indie Scene (Britpop)
Mad Mods & Englishmen (60s Mod)
Talkin' Loud (Funk/Disco)
Saturday Bands 2024
Sundays we have a few plans for! We will be keeping both our monthly retro gaming, Power Up, (1st Sunday of each month) & our monthly Ska From The Bar (last Sunday of each month), but we will be adding some more, chilled events as well and even have plans for a few bank holiday Sunday gigs and festivals! We shall reveal all in the next couple of weeks!
So what have we got for you in the not too distant future?
Here are just a few dates for your diaries...
Friday 2nd Feb: John Otway is back for a solo show, sharing songs and utter chaos from his illustrious career.
Saturday 12-6pm: BYO Vinyl, no pre-booking needed and all genres welcome.
Saturday 3rd Feb, 9pm: Having blown us away last year at their CCB debut, D Tox are back, playing fantastic, dance-friendly rocked up pop!
Sunday 4th 12-4pm: Power Up, retro gaming on the big screen.
Wednesday 7th, 8pm: Blockbuster Film Club - The Wedding Singer
Friday 9th: SOLD OUT (but don't worry, The Indie Scene are back on 10th May for a free entry gig).
Saturday 9pm: The Polaroidz (alt 80s)
Wed 14th 3-5pm: Film Cafe
Wed 14th 8pm: The Big Fat Quiz Of The Crow
** Yep, we know it's Valentines Day, but we are choosing to celebrate the patron saint of Hallmark, by offering a sanctuary for people who don't want to feel awkward around those who should "get a room"! **
Fri 16th: Motorpace + Still Remains UK
Saturday 17th: High Point Players - if you managed to catch these guys last year, you'll know we aren't exaggerating when we tell you, this band is FANTASTIC!
Fri 23rd: B4WD is back! 3x original bands. Entry £3 otd
Sat 24th: The Beaullocks - classic, dance friendly, immense energy, punk!
Sun 25th 12-4pm: Ska From The Bar
Wed 28th: Castle Comedy Night
