Sensational summer of events at Gregynog Hall

•13th-16th July, Welshpool Country Music Festival A weekend of fantastic live country music, organised by the Heulwen Trust as their main fundraising activity. Starts noon (13th). Weekend ticket including camping £60, day ticket £20, under-16s free.

Gregynog Hall near Newtown is planning a summer of sensational events, from a celebration of the centenary of the Gregynog Press (see Whats On In Brief, 8th July), an open day offering a rare opportunity to explore the Hall on July 9th and a Spanish feast with live music on July 21st, tickets jsut £20 including sangria. The hall’s Courtyard Café will be open seven days per week from July 3rd throughout the summer

Captivating at the castle

•15th July, Willowfest, Llanfair Caereinion, near Welshpool Eternal Sea, a duo who infuse ancient mantras with contemporary music, will be playing this gathering in the Welsh valleys. 7pm.

•15th-16th July, Fireman Sam Visits! Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, Raven Square Station, Welshpool Steam train rides, visiting vintage and emergency services vehicles and the chance to meet Sam himself! The fun starts at 10.15am. £15 (ages 3-15 £12, under-3s free).

Australian singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia performs on the lawn at Cardigan Castle on 21st July. Natalie was propelled into the limelight in 1997 with her debut album Left of the Middle and stole our hearts with her chart-topping hit ‘Torn’. The performer also won the third series of the UK’s The Masked Singer. The show starts at 7.30pm, and tickets are £35 from www.cardigancastle.com holidays. Parking costs just £2.50 and there are miles of waymarked trails to explore throughout the 750 acre estate.

Gregynog is a stunning haven for wildlife as well as a National Nature Reserve – why not come and explore this summer. To book for events or enquiries email enquiries@gregynog. org or call 01686 650224. You can find out more at www.gregynog.org

For the love of Laura Ashley

A 10-week exhibition at MOMA Machynlleth from 24th June-6th September has been organised by Heritage Hub 4 Mid Wales to help preserve the legacy of Laura Ashley, the Mid Walesbased visionary textile and fashion designer.

The exhibition will include a pixel portrait quilt of Laura Ashley, which was commissioned by the founder of the Heritage Hub, Ann Evans, who worked for Laura Ashley in the 1970s. It will also feature this Laura Ashley wedding dress, recovered from Witney Oxfam Shop and reunited with Sharon Wells, who worked on the dress. www.moma.cymru