Friday, March 23
* AGOR DRYSAU/OPENING DOORS, seventh annual Wales International Performing Arts Festival for Young Audiences with a variety of performers and events centred on ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre but going on throughout Wales until Saturday March 24.
* WALES ONE WORRLD WOW FILM FESTIVAL, opening night for the annual event based at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre to Thursday March 29, For details on films, dates and venues visit www.wowfilmfestival.com. Follow WOW Twitter @wowfilm or become a fan on the WOW Facebook Page.
* DAWN CHORUS, new exhibition by the Bristol-based artist Marcus Cioates who uses amateur singers to reproduce morning birdsong, at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre to May 12..
* VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, annual touring exhibition of winning entries in the world’s leading wildlife competition, on until April 14 at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre.
* THE BOX-SEASON SEVEN”, mini viewing room with films by several artists showing at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre until April 21.
* TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER”, exhibition on to end of month at the re-located High Street Gallery, BISHOPS CASTLE.
* LISTEN TO THE RHYTHM OF THE UNIVERSE, Bishops Castle Joan Baker’s exhibition at the BLEDDFA Centre, near Knighton, with talk and demonstration on April 19 at 2pm.
* REFLECTIONS & PERCEPTIONS, photographic images by Maguel Alikhsander, at the Theatr Brycheiniog gallery, BRECON until April 16.
* ERWOOD STATION CRAFT CENTRE & GALLERY, new season starts with “Unearthed Treasures” by retired artist Ronald Swanwick works plus hidden gems and forgotten works by Welsh artists since 1998 from Jon Hudson to Joy Seaton and Babbs Hook. Next exhibition is a Stained Glass show from March 30 with Caroley Bergman, Laura Allen and many more.
* SINGING FOR FUN, with Marion Rowlett from 10am at KNIGHTON Church Hall, all welcome.
* MUSICAL PORTRAITS, Mike Johnson’s exhibition of portraits of locally and nationally known musicians plus paintings of Radnorshire Hills scenes, at Aardvark Books, Brampton Bryan, near KNIGHTON to March 31.
* MUSEUM OF MODERN ART WALES, exhibitions at the MACHYNLLETH venue comprise “Disegno - Drawing by Sculptors”; “Cader idris” by Peter Bishop; and Recent Gifts to the Tabernacle Collection.
* MARK STEEL’S IN TOWN, touring version of the award winning Radio 4 comedy show featuring the writer and stand up comedian, at The Hafren, NEWTOWN. Lots of material based on local research.
* ORIEL DAVIES GALLERY, the “The Crystal World” exhibition by Pia Borg, and “Arm Around You” by Sibyl Montague, on show at the NEWTOWN venue. Borg’s exhibition premieres her new film alongside stop-motion and time-lapse photography with live-action choreography to rupture reality and explore the tension between the animate and the inanimate. The TestBed space also has Sean Vicary’s “Lament” exhibition using found objects, animation, poetry and music to explore the Wales/Shropshire borderland.
* INGRID CUSIDO, pianist in free lunchtimeconcert at St.Chad’s Church, SHREWSBURY.
* RUSSIAN SPECTACULAR, including the White Russian Central Band, soloists from The Bolshoi, and dancers from the Belorussian National Folk Dance Academy, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* ”CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE”, Shrewsbury Youth Theatre production of the Bertoldt Brecht classic, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY tonight and Saturday March 24.
* TIM HINGLEY, from Inspiral Carpets, at The Vaults, SHREWSBURY.
* TONY SKEGGS, the popular border musician back at the High Street Wheatsheaf, SHREWSBURY.
* BLUES BOY DAN, at the Frankwell Wheatsheaf, SHREWSBURY.
* THE CUSTARD CONNECTION, at the Old Post Office, SHREWSBURY.
* VICTORIAN BILLBOARDS, exhibition of archive theatre posters at Theatr Severn, SHREWSBURY, on show to April 7.
Saturday, March 24
* BLUES BOY DAN, at the Kings Head, BISHOPS CASTLE.
* ”MUSCLE”, comedy drama written by Greg Cullen presented by Shoch’n’Awe Performance Company. at Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON, with workshop with the cast befirehand at 5.30pm.
* WONDERMENTALIST, poems, stories and mad humour from Matt Harvey, at CHAPEL LAWN Village Hall.
* GREGYNOG YOUNG MUSICIAN 2012 COMPETITION, for instrumentalists under the age of 18 with evening concert for the chosen finalists competitng for the Peter Garbett-Edwards trophy and major prize money, at the Music Room, GREGYNOG HALL. Tickets available for concert and for optional two-course dinner, on 01686 650033.
* MACHYNLLETH MUSIC CLUB, season finale features the Piatti String Quartet, currently regarded as the outstanding young British quartet wiith a glittering international career before them, playing music by Bach, Mozart, Bartok and Debussy in the perfect acoustic of Y Tabernacl,MACHYNLLETH.
* ”I, ELIZABETH”, Rebecca Vaughan wrote and stars in this one-woman play about Queen Elizabeth I at Theatr Hafren, NEWTOWN.
* WILLOW GALLERY, openingof new Italian Connection exhibition at the OSWESTRY gallery until May 5.March 16.
* ED GAUDEN QUARTET, free lunchtime jazz at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* LEE NELSON, outrageous laddish comedy show at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* BC/DC, at The Bull Inn, SHREWSBURY.
* BOB STILL BLUES, at the High Street Wheatsheaf,.SHREWSBURY.
Sunday, March 25
* RHYMES & TELLS, poems and storytelling open session from 8pm at the Six Bells, BISHOPS CASTLE.
* JAZZ CONCERT, informal free evening concert event featuring saxophonist Alan Barnes and trumpeter Steve Waterman and young musicians attending the afternoon’s jazz workshops at CRAVEN ARMS School. Contact John Williams on 01743 790769.
* FUSION PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE, at St.Edward’s Church Hall, KNIGHTON.
* vOICES IN UNITY, new members welcome for the mixed choir in rehearsal for Easter concerts, on Sundays at 7.30pm at RHAYADER Baptist Chapel.
* POPS ORCHESTRA, concert of music from stage and screen at 2pm at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* OPEN ACOUSTIC NIGHT, now on Sundays at the Old Post Office, SHREWSBURY.
Monday, March 26
* ”FRONTMAN”, Gemma Paintin and James Stenhouse push themselves and their audiences further than ever as they take on the icons of rock and roll in Action Hero’s loud, half-cut replica of a comeback gig at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre.
* BRECON TOWN BAND, rehearsals on Monday evenings at The Studio, Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON. Anyone interested in joining can contact via the website ww.brecontownband.com or call Dave Jones on 07779 390954. Young people particularly welcome.
* ACOUSTIC NIGHTS, singers and songwriters welcome at the Golden Lion Hotel, LLANDYSILIO, every Monday and Wednesday.
* MONTGOMERYSHIRE COUNTY MUSIC FESTIVAL, rehearsal under conductor Beryl Jones at Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, NEWTOWN from 7.15pm. The choir will be rehearsing Haydn's Creation in preparation for the annual concert, which this year will take place at Theatr Hafren Newtown on Saturday May 12 at 7.30pm. Tickets available for the concert from Theatr Hafren. Enquiries to choir secretary Charles Gratrix on 01686 411028 e-mail cvgratrix@yahoo.co.uk or check County Festival website www.montfest.org. Next rehearsals April 16 and 28.
* NEW DYNAMIC, Mid Wales mixed youth choir started in January 2011 holds new members meeting every Monday from 7.30pm at NEWTOWN Evangelical Church. Welcomes new members aged 16 to 35. The small choir is booked for four weddings this year and have done a few concerts within the past few months.
* JAM AT THE RAD, musicians welcome from 7.30pm on Mondays at the Radnorshire Arms, PRESTEIGNE.
* FLAXENBY, folky trio at The Brudges, RATLINGHOPE.
* MODERN JIVE CLASSES, from 7.45pm every Monday at the Lion Hotel, SHREWSBURY.
Tuesday, March 27
* OPEN MIC NIGHT, with Pete Keeley, at the Kings Head, BISHOPS CASTLE.
* CATRIN FINCH & TOUMANI DIABATE, the Welsh harpist and the Akrican kora player, at Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON
* RHAYADER & DISTRICT MALE VOICE CHOIR, weekly rehearsals at the Old School, CWMDAUDDWR from 8pm every Tuesday, New members welcome.
Wednesday, March 28
* TALKING HEADS”, stage adaptation of Alan Bennett’s BAFTA award winning BBC series, Bold Productions present ‘Her Big Chance’, ‘A Chip in the Sugar’ and ‘Bed Among the Lentils’, at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre tonight, Thursday and Friday March 30.
* ACOUSTIC SESSIONS, informal folk, blues and jazz every Wednesday from 8.30pm at the Elephant, LLANIDLOES. Musicians welcome.
* COR LLANIDLOES, rehearsals at Trinity Chapel at 7.30pm on Wednesdays in preparation for the 2012 Powys Eisteddfod at Machynlleth. Previous members and new singers are welcome. Contact Bryn Davies on 01686 688136.
* COR MERCHES MALDWYN, Montgomeryshire Ladies Choir, hold rehearsals on Wednesdays at NEWTOWN Evangelical Church at 7.30pm. An exciting and varied programme is being arranged for 2012 and ladies who like to sing are invited to join this popular pastime in friendly relaxed company. All enquiries to Ruth Hamer Jones on 01686 621391.
* CONCERTO COMPETITION, young musicians in the final of the Shropshire Music Series contest, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* VELVET DUKES, welcome return of the jazzy border band with the official launch of their new EP “Ridin’” with meal available at the Raven Inn, WELSHPOOL tonight, followed by Mons On Tour dates at The Vaults, BISHOPS CASTLE, on Thursday; the White Horse, CLUN, on Friday; and The Exchange, NEWTOWN, on Saturday March 31.
Thursday, March 29
* “IOLANTHE”, Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta performed by the local Showtime Singers, at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre tonight,Friday and Saturday March 31, with a new creative team at the helm.
* BOOTHBY GRAFFOE & NICK PYNN, comedy songs at Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON.
* COR LLANWNOG MIXED CHOIR, rehearsals at CLATTER Community Centre on Thursdays at 7.30pm, currently preparing for an Easter performance of The Crucifixion by John Stainer,and The Easter Anthem, a new work by Sasha Johnson Manning. Contact the conductor Graham Marshman, on 01686 412442, or the secretary Wendy Wigley, on 01686 440704.
* HALF A SIXPENCE”, opening of Newtown Musicla Theatre Company’s production of the show based on the H.G. Welles book “Kipps”, at The Hafren, NEWTOWN tonight and Friday and at 2.30 and 7.30pmon Saturday March 31.
* BALLADEERS & CHANCERS, open session at The Dukes Arms, PRESTEIGNE. Call Steph on 01544 388015 to book a slot.
* ”EQUUS”, London Classic Theatre present the controversial Peter Shaffer play, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY tonight and on Friday and Saturday.
* JAZZ NIGHT, every Thursday at the Frank Bar, SHREWSBURY.
Friday, March 30
* THE ALBION BAND,veteran folk music and dance legend leads a new younger line up of the celebrated group with new CD “The Vice of the People”, playing live at ABERYSWYTH Arts Centre.
* BBC NATIONALORCHESTRA OF WALES, Family Favourites concert with soloist Sophie Evans, at Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON
Saturday, March 31
* ”I’M AN ARISTOCRAT, GET ME OUT OF HERE”, Gonzo Moose return with a swashbuckling comedy adventure inspired by the legend of the Scarlet Pimpernel, at the SpArC theatre, BISHOPS CASTLE.
* A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING, West End touring show based on the movie, at Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON. Also at The Hafren, NEWTOWN on Friday April 13.
* ”SHALL I CRUCIFY YOUR KING”, staged reading of Frank Hooley’s one act play with music featuring soloist Marion Rowlett, at 3pm at PRESTEIGNE Methodist Church.
* POETRY CAFE, Marches Poets event with poet and artist Rosie Flint, at the Judges Lodgings, PRESTEIGNE from 8pm.
* BRYN FON A’R BAND, Welsh rockers, with local musician Ella Morgan supporting, at the revamped Magic Lantern, TYWYN,
* GUILSFIELD SINGERS, with baritone Christopher Booth-Jones and soprano Sarah Garrett in fifth annual concert at St.Mary’s Church, WELSHPOOL. at 7,30pm including performances of Faure’s Requiem, the “Miserere”, solos and short choral pieces. In aid of Severn Hospice.
Sunday, April 1
* THE SOOTY SHOW, Izzy Wizzy Let's Get Busy with the nation's favourite magical teddy bear on stage at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre at 1pm and 4pm.
* ”THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY”, magical new show for children at 2.30pm at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* MIKE HARDING, Rochdale Cowboy folk legend with his brand of songs and humour live at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.