From Sunday, August 8, Music in the Meadows is returning to the newly renovated Mill Meadows Bandstand.
Every Sunday for the next five weeks, there will be a two-hour performance of traditional bandstand music from 3pm to 5pm, with people invited to come and listen completely for free.
The full schedule is:
Sunday 8 August – Bedford Town Band
Sunday 15 August – May Blossom Vintage Songbird
Sunday 22 August – Bedford Town Band
Sunday 29 August – Milton Keynes Brass
Sunday 5 September – Fynnius Fogg
The renovation of the Bandstand was funded from the Government Towns Fund. This saw this beautiful feature of Bedford’s Embankment fully refurbished and redecorated. The final item to be completed was the replacement of two sections of railings by skilled craftspeople to match the originals. The refurbishment will ensure the bandstand is available to use for many years to come.
The Council was awarded £1m Accelerated Funding in September 2020. As well as the Mill Meadows Bandstand renovation, this funding is also delivering cycling improvements in the town such as the secure bike storage shelter near Harpur Squareand public realm enhancements to Silver Street Square.
More recently the Council was awarded £22.6m through the Town Deal with projects including regeneration of the Station Quarter and Midland Road, public realm improvements to St. Paul’s Square, and improvements to town centre junctions and local pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “I am really looking forward to opening the Bandstand on Sunday. It is great to see the Music in the Meadows event back to our riverside, it is always such an enjoyable event. Bring the family, pack a picnic and a blanket, and settle in for a great atmosphere.
“There is lots happening in Bedford this weekend, with the Bedford Flea at St Paul’s Square, Jamaican Independence celebrations, and the Harriers Triathlon. With life slowly returning to normal, Bedford is always a fantastic place to visit with lots going on.
“While it is great to see these steps back to normality, remember COVID-19 has not gone away. Remember, it’s always safer to meet up with people outdoors, and if you haven’t already please make sure you get both doses of your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.”
