Friday, January 9
* WINTER CRAFT & DESIGN FAIR, annual festive extravaganza with more than 80 stalls at ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre reopens to January 11.
* DEREK NEWELL. exhibition of work by Mid-Wales based professional photographer at LLANIDLOES Library. On display are wedding, family and individual portraits, baby and christening portraits, with examples in colour and black and white. Also view Derek's exciting sports photographs, on display until mid-January.
* MARTIN BLOCH & DAN LLYWELYN HALL, two new exhibitions in until March 7 at the Museum of Modern Art, Wales, in MACHYNLLETH.
* ORIEL DAVIES GALLERY, three new exhibitions at the NEWTOWN gallery can be seen until February 14. Comprises These Valued Landscapes, exploring the historic context of the representation of landscape through work by contemporary artists Emily Cole, Mark Edwards, Fraser Harrison, James Ireland, Idris Khan, Paul Scott and Katy Woods; Imperfect Transcriptions: The 24 Études of Frédéric Chopin, for Monique, by local Banwy Valley artist David Gepp; and Sea Breathing, by Anglesey artist Helen Grove-White.
Gallery curator Alex Boyd will lead an informal tour of These Valued Landscapes at 12.15pm next Tuesday January 14.
* BLUE BRIDGE ARTISTS, Kelsang Khonchog, Ann Jeeves and Lorry Boots group drawn together by their love of art and natural creativity exhibit until early February at the Theatr Hafren bar gallery, NEWTOWN.

Saturday, January 10
* SOUNDBITES, second of the new sessions at the Great Oak Cafe, LLANIDLOES opening with trio from Machynlleth called Popty Ping who will play songs of love, pizza, yoghurt and chips with close harmonies, guitar, sax melodeon, banjo and bass. Soundscapes and Landscapes will perform poetry and music with Penny Rimbaud, Jay Griffiths and Andy Warren; and the final semi-professional headline slot features 'young performer' - singer songwriter Kate Binningsley with a sound distinguished by her heartfelt and introspective vocals and her rhythmic and percussive guitar technique.
Last summer Kate enjoyed exposure and regular airplay on BBC Radio Wales from DJs Alan Thompson and Amy Wedge, and spent the summer touring festivals and gigs around Wales, including supporting Eliza Carthy and the Waterson/Carthy band at the Words and Music Festival in Cheshire in October.
The cafe was packed on the first Soundbites session, so if people want to be sure of a seat, they should get there for 7.30pm. If anyone wants more info, or wishes to perform, they should contact either Andy Warren on 01686-413316, or Glenn Ashbrooke, on 01686-688771.
* JOHN MILLS & COBLE SMIT, classical guitar duo include new work specially written for them by Mervyn Burtch at NEW RADNOR Community Hall from 7.30pm.

Sunday, January 11
* NEWTOWN MALE VOICE CHOIR, new members welcome at weekly practices at the United Reformed Church on Sundays at 7pm.
* SOUTHERN SOUND JAZZMEN, Lunchtime jazz session on the second Sunday of the month at the Raven Inn, WELSHPOOL, from 12.30pm. Jeff Matthews on clarinet with regulars Ken Binns on piano; Stan Williams on trumpet; Dave Margaroni on trombone; Matt Sanders on banjo/guitar, Stuart Tanner on double bass; and Len Davies on drums. With regular guests. Ideas for future promotions and sponsorship always welcome.

Monday, January 12
* 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
* NEWTOWN AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY, meetings on Mondays and Thursdays at 7.30pm at the Powys Theatre in Canal Road if you are over 16 and would like to take an active part in the new season which will continue with a comedy in February.
* OPEN MIC NIGHT, new singers and acoustic music welcome at The Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.
* WELSHPOOL CHORAL SOCIETY, weekly rehearsals resume at 7.30pm at the Methodist Church hall on Mondays. All singers are welcome. Practices for the Montgomeryshire Music Festival's performance of Mass in D Minor (Nelson Mass) and Insanae et vanae curae by Joseph Haydn with Hear My Prayer by Mendelssohn. For further information contact the conductor Beryl Jones on 01938 553638.

Tuesday, January 13
* BALLROOM DANCING, new 10 week course for absolute beginners starts at the Royal British Legion, Tremont Road, LLANDRINDOD WELLS from 7pm with no need to book. For further information phone 01597 829448.
* RHAYADER JAM, session at The Cornhill Inn every Tuesday from 8pm for musicians of all genres, ages and ability. Poetry and Stand-up comedy also welcome. Check with the pub first on 01597 810029.

Wednesday, January 14
* OPEN MIC, hosted by Paul Parker at the White Horse Inn, CLUN.
* ACOUSTIC SESSIONS, informal folk, blues and jazz every Wednesday from 8.30pm at the Red Lion, LLANIDLOES. Musicians welcome.
* LIVE JAZZ, informal music sessions with local musicians at the Dragon Hotel, MONTGOMERY, from 9pm on Wednesdays.
* TONY SKEGGS, regular at the Horseshoe Inn, RATLINGHOPE.

Thursday, January 15
* YOUTH THEATRE. weekly meetings for ages seven and over start from 3.45pm on Thursdays at the SpArC Theatre, BISHOPS CASTLE. Call 01588 630321 for details.
* CANTORION, weekly rehearsals on Thursdays from 8pm at the Powys Dance Centre, LLANDRINDOD WELLS, for the choir who welcome new members.
* SING YOUR HEART OUT, have fun singing harmonic music from around the world at weekly meetings on Thursdays at 7pm at MEIFOD Village Hall for the new natural voice group formed following a successful taster session held at Meifod in July. Led by Rosie McConnell from Machynlleth. All interested welcome no matter what age, ability or experience as there are no auditions needed. Further details from Kath on 01938 500459.
* NEWTOWN SILVER BAND, with their new CD Adventures in Brass, practices at the NEWTOWN Band Room every Thursday from 7.30pm with all welcome. Also Junior Band practices at 6.30pm every Thursday.
* SALSA DANCE LESSONS, free taster session for 10 week course, at 7.30pm at the Armoury Recreation Centre, WELSHPOOL.
* ALEXANDER KARPEYEV, virtuoso Russian pianist in third concert of Welshpool Music Club's 66th season at WELSHPOOL Methodist Church, performing works by Bach, Chopin, Schubert, Liszt, Debussy, and Stravinsky.

Friday, January 16
* MAISON DU CHIEN, traditional music session at The Workhouse, LLANFYLLIN.
* JOE LE TAXI, top UK Zydeco band (pictured left) play home-town gig at the Pheasant, WELSHPOOL, before headlining at Gloucester Cajun Festival the following weekend.

Saturday, January 17
* HANSEL & GRETEL, Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company bring seasonal treat to the SpArC Theatre, BISHOPS CASLE. Suitable for age six and over, this sparkling re-telling of the familiar tale of breadcrumbs and wicked witches still retains an occasional chilling moment but provides great family entertainment with a few surprises and a fair helping of seasonal fun.
* CAJUN/MARDI GRAS NIGHT, with the fabulous Whiskey River Boys featuring Maryland;s finest fiddle player Dan Cassidy, plus Aidan Sheehan and Martin Blake, at Revells Restaurant, WELSHPOOL.
* COLOUR SUNDAY, unplugged evening at the Raven Inn, WELSHPOOL with local band performing an acoustic set playing all their songs stripped down plus some new tracks and covers along with solo sets from Dai, Rob and Tom. Plus special guests.

Sunday, January 18
* A CAPPELLA CHOIR OF HAMLINE UNIVERSITY, from St Paul, Minnesota USA revisit KNIGHTON to perform in concert at St Edward's Church at 7.30pm. Hamline, a Methodist University, was founded in 1854 with the A Cappella Choir formed in 1929. Today this mixed student choir is one of the USA's premiere collegiate ensembles. This concert, the choir's third in Knighton under the directorship of Dr George Chu, will include unaccompanied works ranging from those by the 16th Century composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina to modern contemporary masters including Vaughan Williams, Bairstow, Walton, and others. When not studying, the choir travel extensively and have performed throughout Europe, South America, Canada, the Caribbean as well as the USA. They have also made many recordings.
* WILL KILLEEN, blues guitarist from 4pm with free admission at the Black Lion, LLANFAIR CAEREINION.