Friday, March 5
* Y GOFALWR, Theatr Genedaethol Cymru’s new Welsh production of Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker, at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre tonight and Saturday, March 6.
l WOW WALES ONE WORLD FILM FESTIVAL, opens Wales-wide with the best of world cinema, with 12 Welsh premieres and two UK premieres. Venues include ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre, where on Friday, March 12, special guest Nicola Schumacher unveils WOW's collaboration with the development charity Practical Action.
For cinemas, films and dates, visit www.wowfilmfestival.com.
* GROWING IDEAS-ART ALLOTMENT, exhibition of art by Angela Martin and Heather Prescott on until end of month at the SpArC gallery, BISHOPS CASTLE.
* ALL WALES YFC DRAMA FINALS, tonight and Saturday, March 6, at Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON.
* BEATING BERLUSCONI! comedy at Wyeside Arts Centre, BUILTH WELLS based on a bizarre true story from the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul, when a Liverpool fan managed to somehow get in to the AC Milan VIP suite when Liverpool were 3-0 down. Helping himself to free bubbly and salmon, and then invited to sit down by a smirking, permatanned Don Corleone type, Mark Radley had no idea he was watching the match next to Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Climax of a play about love, friendship and the city of Liverpool, is a one-man performance by the Liverpool stand-up and actor Paul Duckworth who played Ringo in the movie Backbeat.
* STORMY MONDAY, plus Kate Bruntnell's Cool Jazz and traditional dancing with the Mid-Wales Reapers, at Bob the Vicar's Birthday Bash, at the Stag Inn, LLANIDLOES, with free admission.
* OK BROTHER, acoustic guitar duo live at Lowfield Inn, MARTON.
* THE JOY OF POLITICS, Black Sheep present an irreverent romp through the corridors of power, at Theatr Hafren, NEWTOWN.
* BROKEN WHITE LINES, at The Exchange, NEWTOWN from 9pm with free admission.
* AMANDA SKIPSEY, Rhayader artist’s collection of imaginative Welsh townscapes, at the Theatr Hafren bar gallery, NEWTOWN, to April 23.
* ORIEL DAVIES GALLERY, exhibitions at the NEWTOWN venue feature The Scenery is Very Wonderful. The Weather is Good by Stuart Whipps, and Afield and Louphole works by Simon Whitehead, part of a series of concurrent exhibitions and events exploring mankind’s relationship with place, landscape and environment.
The renamed ‘Test Bed’ space encouraging more experimental use of the gallery space now features On Wasted Energy by Adele Vye working in live action and documented performance end this Saturday. From Monday you can see Vye’s The Steel Work Series on to April 7.
Free informal lunchtime tour of exhibitions with curator Alex Boyd will be available on March 17.
* OSWESTRY YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL, 33rd annual event with competitions over four days at the Methodist Church and Christ Church, with Celebration Winners Concert on Sunday March 7.
* OLIVER, over 40 children from John Beddoes School, PRESTEIGNE, present the musical in The Ivor Hughes Centre at 7.30pm tonight and on Saturday, March 6. Tickets available from the school office or by calling 267259.
* RHAYADER MUSEUM & GALLERY, pictures of the Holy Wells of Wales, by south Wales photographer Phil Cope, on until April 12. For information visit: www.carad.org.uk
* THE COUNTERFEIT STONES, tribute band’s new Get Off My Chord tour date at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* FIGHT THE BEAR, Bishops Castle ska band at the Bull Inn, SHREWSBURY.
Saturday, March 6
* THE FAMILY, Rogue Theatre at SpArC theatre BISHOPS CASTLE with new play billed as ‘an evening of stories, dark secrets, music and intrigue’, with plot centred on an eccentric family living in an isolated mansion deep in the forest.
* MERCURY, one of the world’s most authentic tributes to Freddie Mercury and Queen, at Wyeside Arts Centre, BUILTH WELLS.
* COR MERCHED MALDWYN, the Montgomeryshire ladies’ choir perform songs from Oliver and other popular songs at GUILSFIELD Community Centre at 7.30pm. Also appearing will be Eisteddfod winners Fusion, presented by Guilsfield School PTA
* DUNVANT MALE CHOIR, with guest soloist 2005 National Eisteddfod winner Nerys Brown from Carno, at Theatr Hafren, NEWTOWN.
* ST DAVIDS DAY CONCERT, this year with Llanfair Caereinion Male Voice Choir with Mary Preece, at PRESTEIGNE Memorial Hall. Tickets £7.50 include soup, roll and a Welsh Cake available from Winnies or by calling 267164.
* VOICES DER SUR, four piece band from Edinburgh playing Latin American music at PRESTEIGNE Assembly Rooms.
* ARTS & CRAFTS FAYRE, monthly event at PRESTEIGNE Assembly Rooms from 9am. For further details call Rosamund on 260777.
* ONCE UPON A TIME, storytelling for all in the family workshop series at the CARAD Centre, RHAYADER, every Saturday from 10am to 1pm, continuing with making musical instruments on March 13; glitz and glamour jewellery making on March 20; and fun with clay on March 27.
Call 01597 810192 to book place.
* THE LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS, with the Shrewsbury Light Orchestra, in aid of Severn Hospice, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* CRISIS BLUES BAND, at the Anchor Inn, SHREWSBURY.
* STRING THING, stimulating mix of swing, blues and acoustic rock music performed North Country Magazine Best Young Performer award winner Sarah Smith and Tim Smith, who has toured as a professional musician for more than 20 years, appearing at Revells, WELSHPOOL.
Sunday, March 7
* POTTED PIRATES, CBBC presenters Dan and Jeff compress a mass of pirate tales into a spectacular children’s show at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre at 2.30pm.
* CARDIFF ARDWYN SINGERS, Music Club concert at 3pm at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre.
* KNIGHTON & RADNOR VALLEY YOUNG FARMER CLUBS DRAMA COMPETITION, local entries placed third and fourth in Wales, at KNIGHTON Community Centre.
The two clubs will also be doing their 'one plus' acts too.
* FOLK & ROOTS SESSION, join in, or just go along for the craic, at the Stag Inn, LLANIDLOES, from about 4.30pm.
* SETH LAKEMAN, return of the West Country folk star with new fourth album Hearts and Minds at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
* EDDIE GARTRY, at the Pinewood Tavern, WELSHPOOL.
Monday, March 8
* MARCHES COMMUNITY CHOIR, rehearsal every week at 7.30pm on Mondays at BISHOPS CASTLE Community College. Call the choir secretary Philippa Whitaker, on 01588 680312.
* BUILTH WELLS MALE VOICE CHOIR, every Monday at 7.30pm for practice in the Greyhound Hotel Builth Wells. New members welcome.
* THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, opening of new production of Richard O’Brien’s outrageous rock and roll sci-fi horror musical, at the New Theatre, CARDIFF to March 13.
* ACOUSTIC NIGHTS, singers and songwriters welcome at the Golden Lion Hotel, LLANDYSILIO, every Monday and Wednesday.
( SING YOUR HEART OUT, singing group meeting on Mondays at 7pm at MEIFOD Village Hall for all ages, abilities and experience, with Rosie McConnell a member of the Natural Voice Practitioners Network.
Further information from Kath on 01938 500459.
* 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, new singers and acoustic music welcome at The Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* MODERN JIVE CLASSES, weekly classes on Mondays at 7.45pm for beginners; 9pm for intermediates, and freestyle from 10.30pm at the Lion Hotel, SHREWSBURY. Call 078123 69702 for details.
Tuesday, March 9
* GIG, Earthfall Dance portray the story of a band and a high octane satirical rampage through the human condition, at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre.
* NEWTOWN MALE VOICE CHOIR, weekly practice on Tuesdays with new members welcome at 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 Johns Ambulance Building. New CD now on sale at £10 each. Working on annual concert on April 4 at Rhayader Leisure Centre.
Wednesday, March 10
* OPEN MIC NIGHT, with Jill and Mark, at the White Horse Inn, CLUN.
* GUILSFIELD SINGERS, weekly rehearsals at GUILSFIELD Old School at 7.30pm on Wednesdays, now rehearsing for their Easter Concert in Welshpool on March 27. More information from 01938 559612.
* ACOUSTIC SESSIONS, informal folk, blues and jazz every Wednesday from 8.30pm now at the Elephant, LLANIDLOES. Musicians welcome.
* LIVE JAZZ, informal music sessions with local musicians at the Dragon Hotel, MONTGOMERY, from 9pm on Wednesdays.
* OPEN MIC NIGHT, every Wednesday at Norton Manor Hotel, PRESTEIGNE. Call 01547520843 or email welshmusicevents@yahoo.co.uk
* TONY SKEGGS, regular musician at the Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* HARMONY SINGING CLUB, fortnightly meetings at the United Church New Street, WELSHPOOL at 7.30pm for all interested in singing.
Also fortnightly meetings at 7.30pm on Thursdays at the United Reform Church, NEWTOWN. Call Dee on 01654 700028 for more information.
* RACE HORSES, former Aberystwyth band with new concept EP Man in my Mind, live at WOLVERHAMPTON Little Civic.
Thursday, March 11
* ELECTRIC BLUES REACTION, at the Vaults, BISHOPS CASTLE, with free admission.
* RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY, performance includes Alston’s own Overdrive set to the pulsating music of Terry Riley, and the intimate and beautiful Light Flooding into Darkened Rooms accompanied by lute pieces from the 17th century master Denis Gaultier and contemporary works for mandolin, at Theatr Brycheiniog, BRECON.
* NEWTOWN SILVER BAND, with their latest CD Adventures in Brass and plans for concert at Theatr Hafren on April 17, practices are at the NEWTOWN Band Room every Thursday from 7.30pm with all welcome. Also Junior Band practices at 6.30pm every Thursday,
* JULIAN CLARY, Lord of the Mince tour date at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY.
Friday March 12
* BOLLYWOOD & CURRY, night at BISHOPS CASTLE Community College in aid of college funds.
* WHALEBONE, exciting acoustic music by the rootsy, funky Shropshire trio at LYDBURY NORTH Village Hall, with the unusual Celtic songstress Beck Sian.
* ALLAN TYN Y FAN, Wales’ best Celtic band of the 21st century teams up with the pre-eminient Celtic harpist Delyth Jenkins for concert at Theatr Hafren, NEWTOWN. Also at Wyeside, BUILTH WELLS, on March 2 , and at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre on April 10.
* THE FLOK, at The Exchange, NEWTOWN, with free admission.
* ANNIE JNR, Game productions Junior Theatre shows based on Little Orphan Annie, at Theatre Severn, SHREWSBURY tonight and at 2.30 and 7.30pm on Saturday March 13.
Saturday, March 13
* JIGSAW, mixed choir from Shrewsbury sing mix of show songs, popular songs and light sacred music at LLANYMYNECH Village Hall.
* MELLSTOCK BAND, folk heroes play at NEW RADNOR Community Hall.
* MEIA, new Welsh language musical show about problems faced by young people, by Linda Gittins, Derek Williams and Penri Roberts, performed by Ysgol Theatr Maldwyn at Theatr Hafren, NEWTOWN, tonight only.
* THE HOLLIES, the evergreen British pop band celebrate vast catalogue of hits, at WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall. County Times winners of tickets to the show were A. Hale of Sarn, and J. Williamson of Gungrog Hill, Welshpool.
* TO GET an item included in the What’s On listings email: barry.jones@countytimes.co.uk