Friday, June 25
* ”A LANDSCAPE OF WALES, exhibition by internationally acclaimed photographer James Morris, at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre.
* MAESMAWR ART GALLERY, exhibition at the CAERSWS gallery featuring work by children’s book illustrator and printmaker Gini Wade of Llanidloes and her husband Dave and their three children, on to July 5. Call Cathy Knapp: 01686 688369/ 07970671819.
* ART FOR AMNESTY, annual exhibition on at KNIGHTON Library to July 3, with work by Steve Cass, head of Art at Ludlow College. Money raised goes to Amnesty International.
* NORTH POWYS YOUTH ORCHESTRA, concert at LLANFYLLIN High School, Works will include Capriccio Italien by Tchaikovsky, Overture to The Barber of Seville by Rossini and Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens, with soloist Sally Crosby. Last concert with present musical director Aidan Hassan.
* LUDLOW FRINGE FESTIVAL, at the Bull Hotel opens with The Bullfrogs tonight.
Also Bishops Castle ska band Fight the Bear on Sunday, June 27.
* WOOL & WILLOW FESTIVAL, sixth annual event extended this year to four weeks showcasing the best of products made by local wool and willow artists and craftspeople with many products for sale at the Minerva Arts Centre, LLANIDLOES, to July 3. Visit www.woolandwillowfestival.org for details.
* MUSEUM OF MODERN ART WALES, exhibitions at the MACHYNLLETH gallery feature works from New Zealand and Wales by painter and printmaker Robert Macdonald; and “Bird Song”, illustrations and related paintings from the book by Noelle Griffiths and Kim Atkinson; both end Saturday. “Orkney and Archaeology”, paintings by Welsh artist Mary Lloyd Jones, continue to July 8.
* HICKMAN & QUINN, Shrewsbury-based musicians James Hickman and Chris Quinn drawing from the rich traditions of British folk and American roots with new album “Times”, at the Lowfield Inn, MARTON.
* BLUES MOTEL, top Dutch blues band (pictured above) at The Exchange, NEWTOWN, with free admission.
Also at Brooklands Hotel, SHREWSBURY on Saturday June 26; and at the Six Bells, BISHOPS CASTLE on Sunday.
* ANNE JENVEY, photographic artist who has lived in Newtown for 16 years, with exhibition until the end of July at the Theatr Hafren bar gallery, NEWTOWN.
* CUSTARD COLLECTION, at the Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* OPEN WEEKEND, films, artworks, stories and live arts with Blue MacAskill and friends tonight and on Saturday and Sunday at her Newbridge-on-Wye studio. Contact 07986 557807.
* BUDDY GRECO & LESLIE ANDERS, open Jazz Weekend at the Lion Hotel, SHREWSBURY.
* OK BROTHER, acoustic guitar duo live at the Seven Stars, SHREWSBURY.
* THE WELLBURYS, at the High Street Wheatsheaf, SHREWSBURY.
* BARREL HOUSE BLUES BAND, at the Bull Inn, SHREWSBURY.
* CASTLE ARTISTS, summer exhibition at the Bear Steps Gallery, SHREWSBURY to July 3.
Saturday, June 26
* MID POWYS YOUTH CHOIR, celebrate their 10th anniversary with annual Celebrity Concert at St Mary’s Church, BUILTH WELLS, at 7.30 with Builth Male Voice Choir as their special guests.
Guest soloist will be bass baritone Meirion Wyn Jones from North Wales. singing programme to suit all tastes. Bethan Rees, official accompanist of the Girls Choir will be at the piano.
* ZOE LYONS, inaugural Miss Machismo comedy tour at Wyeside Arts Centre, BUILTH WELLS. After three years performing solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival, Zoe tours a new show with an hour of punchy comedy.
* JOHN KIRKPATRICK, BBC Folk Awards Musician of the Year 2010 at HOPE Village Hall near Minsterley.
* IFOR CERI FESTIVAL, the inspirational band Crasdant in concert at KERRY Church with traditional Welsh music researched to bring together works rescued by the former Kerry vicar.
Ifor Ceri was the name adopted by the Rev John Jenkins who also formed a literary group of bards and musicians at Kerry and this will be the subject of a talk at Kerry Village Hall at 2.30pm today by Dr Ffion Mair Jones of the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies.
Full details on www.iforceri.org.uk
* MIDSUMMER ARTS WEEKEND, composer and broadcaster Michael Berkeley opens the exhibition at the Everest Hall, LLANFAIR WATERDINE with eclectic mixed-media collection also open 10am to 5pm on Sunday.
Ends with Songs of Praise service with the Llanfair Singers from 6.30pm on Sunday at St Mary’s Church. Details from Barbara Ind on 01547 529047.
* DAFYDD IWAN, top Welsh singer in Noson Lawen with Trebor Lloyd Evans, Ysgol Theatr Maldwyn, Cor Llanwnog, and compere Dilwyn Morgan, at LLANIDLOES Community Centre. Organised by Powys Eisteddfod Llanidloes music committee. Call secretary Susan Jones on 01686 688657.
* ”OTHELLO”, Ludlow Festival Shakespeare production opens at LUDLOW Castle to July 10.
* COME & SING OPERA CHORUSES, Mid Wales Opera’s new musical director Nicholas Cleobury hosts a day at Theatr Hafren, NEWTOWN, to guide all comers through a performance from scratch of favourites like The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s “Nabucco”, with Welsh Bass Wyn Pencarreg. Workshops from 10am leading to performance at 5pm open to anyone who wants to hear the results of the day’s work. Suitable for singers of all standards. Details on 01686 625007 or on-line at www.theatrhafren.com or www.midwalesopera.co.uk.
* RE-ANIMATE, opening of new exhibition of contemporary animation by 39 artists from across the UK at the Oriel Davies Gallery, NEWTOWN at 7pm together with the presentation of prizes in the competition launched last December.
Visitors have to early August to chose their favourite for the People’s Choice Prize.
Also on to August 18 is Dawn Woolley’s “Interloper”, short digital video loop examining female stereotyping.
* ST PETER’S CHAMBER CHOIR, mixed York ensemble in concert at St Marys Church, PILLETH, including choral music from the 16th century together with part-songs and harmonised arrangements of more contemporary vocal music. For details call Juliet on 260060.
* BAND Y PENTRE, at Twmpath night at PONTROBERT Village Hall with proceeds to Ysgol Pontrobert. Call 01938 810626 or garynortheast@dolanog.net
* THEO THE MOUSE’S MUSICAL MADNESS, children’s show at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY at 2.30pm.
* KENNY BALL & HIS JAZZMEN, Jazz weekend continues at the Lion Hote, SHREWSBURY.
Sunday, June 27
* RHYMES & TELLS, free open session of stories, poems and prose at the Six Bells, BISHOPS CASTLE at 8pm.
* BLEND OF THE BORDERS, at the Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* SEVERN JESTERS, comedy night featuring Dan Atkinson and Colin Hoult, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* LOUISE SMITH, at the Coach and Horses, SHREWSBURY.
* HARLEQUIN, folky trio back at the Wheatsheaf, SHREWSBURY High Street from 2.30pm, with Dave Onions from 8.30pm.
Monday, June 28
* BUILTH WELLS MALE VOICE CHOIR meet every Monday at 7.30pm for practice in the Greyhound Hotel Builth Wells.
* ACOUSTIC NIGHTS, singers and songwriters welcome at the Golden Lion Hotel, LLANDYSILIO, every Monday and Wednesday.
* FFONIC, community world music band meets for sociable music making on Monday evenings at NEWTOWN. Call Steve for details on 01686 411366 or visit www.ffonic.co.uk
* BANDAMANIA, meetings of the popular folk community orchestra continue at PRESTEIGNE Assembly Rooms at 7.15pm on Mondays. New players are always welcome.
* OPEN MIC NIGHT at The Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* SHROPSHIRE ART SOCIETY, summer exhibition opens at St Mary’s Church, SHREWSBURY to July 17.
Tuesday, June 29
* NEARLY NEW, Knighton artist Dean Warburton’s new exhibition for Celf o Gwmpas at the Beaufort Gallery, LLANDRINDOD WELLS. The artist scours charity shops, salvage yards and skips in search of materials and reclaims them in his mixed media work. Gallery open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 4pm. Call 01597 822777.
* NEWTOWN MALE VOICE CHOIR, weekly practice on Tuesdays at the United Reformed Church at 7.30pm.
* BORDER FOLK COMMUNITY NIGHTS, musicians and singers welcome at weekly sessions from 9pm at The Grapes, NEWTOWN.
* RHAYADER JAM, session at The Cornhill Inn every Tuesday from 8pm. Call 01597 810029.
* RHAYADER & DISTRICT MALE VOICE CHOIR, rehearsals held from 8pm every Tuesday at the St John Ambulance Building.
* ”A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM”, adapted version of the Shakespeare classic staged at The Quarry, SHREWSBURY.
* REGINALD D. HUNTER, American comedian, with Australian comic Steve Hughes, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
Wednesday, June 30
* BUILTH WELLS & DISTRICT LADIES' CHOIR, rehearsals every Wednesday at 7.45pm at the Wesley Chapel, BUILTH WELLS. Details and bookings on 01982 552514.
* ACOUSTIC SESSIONS, informal folk, blues and jazz every Wednesday from 8.30pm now at the Elephant, LLANIDLOES.
* LIVE JAZZ, informal music sessions with local musicians at the Dragon Hotel, MONTGOMERY, from 9pm on Wednesdays.
* COR MERCHED MALDWYN, the Montgomeryshire ladies choir, weekly rehearsals on Wednesdays at NEWTOWN Evangelical Church at 7.30pm. All choir enquiries to Gay Roberts on 01686 630678.
* ALEX VALENTINE, with the lyrical talent of Paul Simon, playing in Sheep Music gig at The Dukes Arms, PRESTEIGNE.
* DAVID CELIA BAND, at the Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* LIVE AT THE HIVE, with MK Zero, The Knights, Babytwin and 1.5 Days, at The Hive, SHREWSBURY.
Thursday, June 1
* BRO HAFREN CHILDREN'S CHOIR, rehearsals held every Thursday from 4pm at Treowen School, NEWTOWN. Children aged seven to 11 years are welcome to go along and sing, conducted by Ann Evans. Ring 01686 627076.
Friday, July 2
* BAYOU SECO, live music at the SpArC Theatre, BISHOPS CASTLE.
* LLANFYLLIN MUSIC FESTIVAL, first of a series of concerts by the Allegri String Quartet at St Myllin’s Church, with world premiere of Matthew Taylor's Fado song cycle, a setting of translations of Portuguese poems made by Grey Gowrie, the established poet, former Arts Council chairman, and Festival patron. Acclaimed tenor James Gilchrist joins the Allegri for this piece and for Alec Roth's Seven Elements song cycle. The concert will also feature Mozart's String Quartet No.23 in F, K.590 ('Prussian, No.3'), and Schubert's Quartetsatz.
The next concert will be on Sunday, July 4, and will feature Purcell's Fantazias 1 and 10, Mendelssohn's String quartet no.2 and Tippett's String Quartet no 2. Details on www.llanfyllinfestival.org.uk
* LITTLE RUMBA, Presteigne band at the Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* FAMILY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, opening of weekend festival at the Living Willow Theatre near RHAYADER. Includes scenes from Shakespeare and other plays, workshops, Lord Lieutenant of Powys Shan Legge-Bourke will officially open the festival at 7pm; and performances will comprise local singer songwriter Ellethia, poetry from Tony Walton and Elinor Wyn Reynolds with students from Builth Wells High School; music from the Broken Willow Consort. Mid Wales Youth Theatre, and scenes from “Hamlet” with the Living Willow Community Company.
Saturday July 3 includes Puppets workshop with Patrick Cooper; performance of “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov by the Factory Theatre Company; a poetry workshop with Elinor Wyn Reynolds and Tony Walton; and Germaine Greer talking about her book “Shakespeare’s Wife”.
Sunday includes workshop with Powys Dance, performance by Silvertwigs children’s dance group and a puppet show with Patrick Cooper; and Factory Theatre Company performing “As You Like It”. Open over the weekend will be a Sacred Geometry exhibition of Shakespeare prints from the archives and Shakespeare’s Flowers. Contact www.livingwillowtheatre.co.uk, or 01597 811 487.
Saturday July 3
* THE HARE IN ART & CRAFT, exhibition by local and other artists and craftspeople bringing together images of the hare, in the church of Saint Melangell, LLANGYNOG, today and Sunday, July 4.
* CRIB SISWRN A RASEL, Ysgol Theatr Maldwyn Welsh language show based on the legend of Culhwch and Olwen with Culhwch facing three tasks to win the hand of the woman he loves, at Theatr Hafren, NEWTOWN, at 7.30pm.