MONTGOMERY is hosting its first beer and music festival on Saturday, April 21, with the town’s finest food and drink on offer throughout the day.

With beers from award-winning Monty’s Brewery, Welsh and Shropshire breweries and some from even further afield, real ale aficionados will be in their element.

If your tipple is cider or you are passionate about perry – you’ve not been forgotten. There will be five traditional ciders and a sparkling perry from celebrated local business, Old Monty’s Cider, on tap too. And, talking of tapping, there’ll be plenty of music to keep those with dancing feet on their toes.

Starting at 2.30pm, the festival is taking place at four venues in the town centre: Monty’s Visitor Centre at the Cottage, The Dragon Hotel, The Crown Inn and Montgomery Town Hall.

The musical programme kicks off with Darryl McKenzie at 3pm at Monty’s Visitor Centre, followed by Ricky Smith at 5pm at the Dragon Hotel, then Steve Edwards at 7pm at the Crown Inn.

To round off the day, Shrewsbury band All Fired Up will play their energetic mix of pop, soul and rock ‘n roll at 9pm at the Town Hall. Tickets for the evening gig are £5 on the door. All other musical events throughout the festival are free.

Local food will be available throughout the day from the town’s traditional cafes and hotel. Fancy fish and chips? The Fish and Chip Bar will happily oblige. Monty’s Brewery will have hot dogs and Taste Montgomery producer, Morwen’s Meats, will be selling farm-produced, lamb and beef burgers at the Town Hall.

Event organiser Russ Honeyman, of Monty’s Brewery, said: “It should be a great day out for real ale and music enthusiasts. It’s going to be a fabulous festival. Forget the car – be there!”