BROAD SHEEP - December 2023/January 2024

BROAD sheep december 2023 january 2024

What’s On - Herefordshire & The Marches

A Decade of Delay

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BROAD I Contents Small Ads Sam’s page Heritage Art Art workshops Cinema Dance Food Music Music workshops Band directory Theatre Word Grass roots Comp therapies

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We take no responsibility for the veracity of the information herein

CAN’T bear to read the news bit of the newspaper at the moment, although I do have a quick scan of TV news in the evening hoping that someone’s forced a ceasefire into the madness of Gaza. Ukraine is apparently no longer big news even though the bombs and rockets continue to fall. Only good news is that today Cruella Suella got the boot.

Instead, I am wandering down memory lane on the John O Groats to Lands End electric bike ride we did ten years ago. On the first half of the journey, from Scotland to home, I was accompanied by John the fiddler and we attempted to play a gig every night along the way. The second half to Cornwall I began with my friend Will but he felt really ill on the first morning of the trip so we abandoned ship at Ewyas Harold. The next day, having already booked places to stay along the way, I set off from Chepstow, by myself, so truth be told I have never completed the whole trip.

Back in 2012 I promised myself I’d fill in the last bit in the next couple of weeks but things have drifted on and it’s only now that I finally got round to it! Started off in Ewyas Harold at exactly the same spot, outside the fish and chip shop, where I had bailed out eleven years before. A quick nip down the road to the excellent Angel Inn at Grosmont for an early lunch and then no time to look at the castle cos we are off into the lanes of Monmouthshire.

I like to stick to tiniest of C roads and this part of the world has them in spades so I wriggled my way South on lanes with a mohican of grass running down their middle and no company except an over active DHL van whose path I kept crossing and recrossing until the driver and I became quite good mates! I skirted round Raglan and the after another hour of tiny lanes I emerged near Shirenewton to be met with amazing panoramic views of the estuary and the mighty bridges to Bristol.

One of the things that struck me as I meandered through the lanes was that although we are rapidly losing pubs, libraries, and little shops and post offices they seem to be being replaced, in small communities, by repurposing telephone boxes and bus stops. Admittedly the phones don’t ring and the number 47 doesn’t stop but if you are in the market for a well preserved Jeffrey Archer or Stephen King or Robert Ludlum you are in luck. Somewhere South of Raglan I stopped in a bus shelter for a quick look at my OS map Email: info@broadsheep.com (which have just had a price hike to Website: www.broadsheep.com £13) a glug of orange juice and picked up a nearly new copy of Geraint Thomas’s book about the Tour de France - result. Last time I went to the Presteigne Library, where they can tell you if you have had a book before, I managed to pick out four books that I‘d already read so I am finding these new mini libraries a godsend. Of course I also use the 50p bookstand at Lisa’s 24hr shop although, out in all weathers, they are sometimes a bit wind blown, but the new charity shop The Warehouse on Presteigne Industrial Estate has some cracking books (look at these 4 fat beauties for only £2). Talking of books if you are a teenager looking for a novel about the causes of climate change check out local author Alan Oberman’s new book Ellie and Sapiens.

BROAD SHEEP, The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall Street, Hereford, HR4 9HP Tel: 07786 131159

However I digress, by the time I slipped into Chepstow I was wishing that I could keep going all the way to Cornwall and I was remembering how much I had enjoyed the whole end to end ride. So, anyone up for Amsterdam to Bucharest following the Rhine and the Danube?

Finally, although I would advise you not to touch GB News even with a sterilised barge pole you do have to select it to see one of the weirdest shows on telly. The Dinosaur Hour with John Cleese from 12th century Hedingham Castle in Essex.

Surrounded by nuns, old duffers in evening suits and a weird selection of live and dead animals John, in full grumpy old git mode, quizzes famous guests while cats and Pekineses occasionally hop onto the table to have a guzzle on John’s G&T. Cover pic: Miles Jupp, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury - 31 January

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small ads PERSONAL ASSISTANT AVAILABLE Versatile, friendly, well presented male assistant to help you to the utmost.

Excellent cook, holiday cottage cleaner, IT expert, basic gardener, confident driver with own car, secretarial skills, minor handyman, experience of personal care, fit and full of energy. £17/hr. Hours by agreement.

Call 01588 444502.

MALE 57 ATTRACTIVE looking for female partner. North Herefordshire. Like music, films, weekends away. 07909 972560.

APPLE MAC COMPUTER REPAIRS UPGRADES AND TUITION All Apple computers. On site service only. Any distance. Call or Email Lee on 07875 267790 mail@applemacmechanic.co.uk LOST FOR WORDS? Experienced magazine, newspaper and book editor, advertising copywriter, journalist, author and longstanding Broad Sheep contributor can edit, re-write, proof read, research or write from scratch, whatever you need word-wise.

Modest fees, quick turnaround.

Email: williams.mark1@gmail.com GUITAR SETUPS AND REPAIRS. Electric and Acoustic guitars. Based in Ludlow. Neck relief, action height, saddle radius, bridge adjustment, intonation, fretboard treatment, fret polish, pickup height, electrics service, electrical screening, cleaning etc. Friendly professional service, fast turnaround. Can collect.

Call 07770 321 904.

DESIGNATED DESKS FOR HIRE Looking for somewhere new to work from? Get your very own desk at WorkPlace at the Ludlow Mascall Centre, available on a monthly basis. Includes Wi-Fi, parking, tea and coffee, and printer access. Hot desks also available on a daily basis. Contact director@ludlowmascallcentre.co.uk or 01584 873882 for details.

BEEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS Introductory courses, talks on bees and beekeeping and one to one tuition.

For further details phone 07813 276308/01886 884752 or email woodruffbank@btinternet.com HAYSTACKS MUSIC, Backfold, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5EQ. Tel: 07527 298199. Hay’s Headline Making Independent Music Shop - only a one minute walk from the main car park. Hay’s destination shop packed with pre-loved machine cleaned and new vinyl records, CDs, Books and more.

NANNY-NOT-MUMMY Elizabeth Robinson Maternity nanny Herefordshire, Powys, Shropshire and Worcestershire/ Gloucestershire borders

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07721 059227 Lizzieamersham@hotmail.com

CHAIR REPAIRS: seats rushed & recaned. Also Danish cord & Habitat sheet cane seats. Paul Richards, 01544 209140. Email - paulrichardsft@gmail. com MUSIC SERVICES offered by experienced professional oboist. Small chamber groups for events, oboe lessons, beginner piano lessons. Contact Ruth Watson 07870 752325 or 01544 350559.

RETIRED PROFESSIONAL PAINTER AVAILABLE for local work. References available. £80.00 per day.

Try me. Roy 01547 520164.

PIANO LESSONS IN PRESTEIGNE. All ABRSM grades or simply for fun. Contact Mzia 07981752405, mziag@hotmail.co.uk JAZZ PIANO TUITION A specially created course for beginners through to intermediate level students.

Also coaching for Associated Board jazz exams.

Presteigne/Knighton, but happy to travel.

Simon Deeley, 07890 303681. simon.deeley@aol.com HANCOCK & MONKS MUSIC, 6 Broad Street, Hay-on-Wye. Tel: 01591 610555. Specialists in recorded and printed Classical Music for over 40 years.

Huge stock of secondhand CDs, sheet music, scores and books on music. Open daily 10.30am - 4.30pm.

Online catalogue at www.hancockandmonksmusic.co.uk FRUIT TREE PRUNING From one branch to an entire orchard. Tel: 01544 260656. apjervis@myphone.coop WANTED URGENTLY VINTAGE CLOTHING for male/ female, plus accessories including jewellery, shoes, etc.

Also wanted: quality curtains, lace and textiles, even damaged. Plus designer clothing including male/female... tweeds, evening dresses etc. Also unusual items including fans etc. Please telephone: Annie 07798 632247.

Teagowns and Textiles. annies.30@hotmail.com P/T OR OCCASIONAL WORK WANTED Cheerful, fit, educated, mature woman seeks employment. Clean driving licence, DBS checked. Anything considered from office/business support to house sitting including driving, gardening and dog walking. Phone Katy 01547 520328.

VIOLIN/VIOLA LESSONS All styles, all ages, beginners to advanced. Help with composition, theory, aural training. Accompaniment also offered. Ring Tony on 01544 321925 or visit his website: http://camelmusic.co.uk for a CV and more information.

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BROAD

BROAD

check out the website www.broadsheep.com Advertise in BROAD SHEEP and you will automatically appear in the online magazine as well.

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DEADLINE 15th OF THE PRECEDING MONTH

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To be included on the Food Bytes Directory, Band Directory or Complementary Therapy Directory, the cost is £45 for the whole year.

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Have Broad Sheep delivered to your door - only £27 for the year (covers p&p).

All cheques payable to ‘Broad Sheep’ Post details with cheque to: BROAD SHEEP, The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall Street, Hereford, HR4 9HP For more details phone Clare on 07786 131159 or email: info@broadsheep.com

sam’s page Job interview Hello? Is that workstinkers?

[Recorded message] Thank you for reaching out to workstinkers employment consultants. Any aggressive or inappropriate language will lead to termination of this call and subsequent prosecution. Full information regarding available work placements can be found on our website, www.totalbastards.com. To tell us how we have enhanced your life experience press one, two, three, four, five, six or seven. To speak to a representative of workstinkers, press eight and wait for half an hour.

[Half an hour passes, featuring a ten-bar J S Bach loop played on electric tinlids] crackle. Yeah?

Oh. Er... I wonder if you could help me....

Hello, hope you’re having a great day, this is your Workstinkers consultancy manager.

Not a very good day actually, and I think maybe someone less important than a manager would be better? The thing is, I don’t feel anyone believes in me any more, and I think a change of career might be good.

We are all managers here. Hope you’re having a great day You’ve already said that.

May I draw your attention to the warning in the phone response message, further challenge to which will lead to our sunsetting this session?

Oh. Wha. Well, I want a job, really.

Welcome to our incredible job service, getting your feedback is important as it allows us to continuously improve our customer experience Would you like to know about my job experience?

Today we have a special on Bat Officers. This is undemanding work assisting winged furbabies with residence issues to circumvent the oppression of human, er, oppressors who wish to participate in construction with a view to home development. The Bat Officer course lasts for a number of weeks costs £2999 and has special bolt-on extra qualifications in maintaining challenged personal hygiene, doomsaying and passive aggression.

Knowledge of the natural world is a disqualification, as is psychological location anywhere but on the spectrum ....

I quite like bats. But actually I am used to larger animals. ... as I was saying, do you mind, let me finish please, our other specials this week are Energy Performance Certificate inspection operatives, now known as Planet Health Managers. The normal course we offer is available at a very competitive £2000 but this week we are offering it at £999 Course? What?

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This is a qualification open to those who do not

have the special personal characteristics desirable in Bat Officers. After onboarding, candidates will be taken through subjects like double glazing, heat pumps, and how to award an Energy Performance Certificate based on these and other subjects without actually getting through the door of the residence under inspection – How can you assess for a certificate without going through the door? Going down the chimney? I could do that.

Experience has shown that the results of actual indoor inspections usually lay operatives open to triggering situations and threats to safety like a fist in the eye or being asked if they could come back another time because everyone is in the middle of tea. This could cause mental health issues in operatives. Now if you would open up our web page and fill in the form you will find there, credit card number first – I’m not very good at exams. How do I know I won’t be wasting my money?

I am happy to tell you that the fee for the five-day course, which all reviews agree is so fun, incorporates examiner’s emoluments and the price of the Government-approved hand-embroidered sustificate suitable for framing that will enable you to embark on denying people EPCs without delay – So it’s an automatic pass?

You know you’re worth it.

But surely these certificates were invented to have an actual bearing on whether people are using energy efficiently or not – What a weird idea. I need you once more to think about the remarks re aggression and triggering in the message you heard before I reached out to you.

Ah. Ho, ho, ho.

You are bullying me. I will be reporting this as a hate crime. I need you to give me your name and contact details – Certainly. Father Christmas, The North Pole. See you on Christmas Eve, if you’re good. And none of your plant-based mince pies, either.

Donner and Blitzen

heritage Red Community Assets

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N a few weeks time centenary celebrations should get underway to commemorate the ‘birth’ of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s iconic red public telephone box – aka K6 – possibly one of the best known pieces of industrial design still to be found on British high streets up and down the country. British Telecom (who inherited the Scott design from the GPO) estimate that around 7000 examples still survive.

It has always remained a mystery to me why so little public recognition survives for the Edwardian architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960). Living in the shadow of a grandfather who not only designed Midland Railways’ ornately Gothic Grand Hotel at St Pancras, but was responsible for large sections of Kensington’s Albert Memorial is something of a tough act to follow. But designing the capital’s two most impressive power stations, at Battersea and Millbank, both surviving (one a recently-completed apartment / shopping complex, the other the capital’s most visited art gallery) is no mean achievement. Over 10 million bricks went into the construction of these two heavyweights, with Scott tenaciously hanging on to a traditional form of construction when industrialisation was just around the corner. And how many other British architects have had one of their masterworks portrayed on the cover of a Pink Floyd album?

2024 is the centenary of Scott winning the Royal Fine Arts Council’s limited design competition for a robust modular external street cabinet for the burgeoning number of telephone lines which were going up. K2 (as the protype was known) was partly formed from precast concrete segments, but later refined – as K4 and later K6 – into the red-painted all steel glazed cabinet – which survives to this day. ‘Accessories’ such as stamp vending machines, vanity mirrors, ashtrays, an angled melamine bookcase and post boxes were added. K6, commemorating George V’s Silver Jubilee arrived in 1935.

And an attempt to modernise the box in the 1970s (looking like an upturned red glass-sided coffin) proved to be a disaster. Another small blip on the red box’s otherwise exemplary track record was in the 1960s – principally in the London boroughs of Camden and Westminster – when they were ‘high-jacked’ by gangs of fly posters to display lurid illustrated calling cards of ‘ladies of the night’. The two boroughs had teams of poster removers out at dawn each day, but by nightfall the cards were back again. The arrival of the mobile phone eventually ended the practice. In rural areas phone boxes were often preferred by courting couples to the local bus shelter – once the light bulb was removed.

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At its peak there were 100,000 boxes across the UK, all painted in cherry red to match the Royal Mail’s ‘house style’ for post boxes. They even travelled abroad, with patriotic red examples turning up in Antigua,

‘Death of a Phone Box’: Banksy’s take on the demise of Scott’s K6

Barbados, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Malta (Guernsey’s telecom company chose to paint theirs blue). An original plywood K4 prototype survives in the forecourt of London’s Royal Academy, whilst the ‘most photographed’ record is almost certainly held by the one on Parliament Square.

A Design Museum visitors’ poll in 2006 chose the red phone box as the oldest amongst 25 favourite design icons, which included the Spitfire, the Routemaster bus and Harry Beck’s London Underground route map, said to have been inspired by a wiring diagram. It seems hard to believe that there isn’t already a corner reserved for a K6 somewhere inside the new V&A East Museum Storehouse at Stratford’s Olympic Park, due to open in the Spring of 2025.

In Herefordshire and The Marches there are believed to be around 200 surviving red phone boxes, with examples in and around the city at High Town, Bridge Street and Burghill. Popular new uses for these cabinets, which no longer provide connection with British Telecom’s national phone network, is for their ‘adoption’ by local groups to provide free community services like book lending / exchange where no local library exists. Others now serve as defibrillator point, food banks, a mini art gallery and free mobile phone charging points. The ‘adoption’ process is slightly complicated, restricted to formally-constituted groups such as church and parish councils and registered charities. Further details about community adoptions are available from www.bt.com/adopt.

Nick Jones

NUTWOOD FANS Collection of 30 volumes of Rupert Annuals (1948-1977), many with covers or end papers by the legendary Alfred Bestall (covers also by Cubie. No Tourtels).

Conditions vary: most are ‘very fine’; a few have spine damage; some ‘dedication’ panels filled in; some price-clipped.

Best offer over £100 secures.

To view ring 01432 274800

GEORGINA FRANKLIN Jewellery Individual Contemporary Design Commissions undertaken

Please see website for studio opening times.

www.georginafranklin.co.uk

The Forum, 18 Market Square, Tenbury Wells, Worcs. WR15 8EA

Phone 01584 810085

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art POWYS Open Studios, Far Hall, Dolau, near Llandrindod Wells LD1 5TW 01597 851 181 2 & 3 Dec h.Art, Venue 97 JULIENNE BRAHAM, JASON BRAHAM, SIMON HULBERT paintings and pottery. Refreshments with donations to Crisis at Christmas.

Open 10am - 5pm.

Shop 2, Radnor Buildings, Hereford St, Presteigne LD8 2AT 2 - 16 Dec Artist and Makers Christmas Market. Paintings, ceramics, prints etc. Seconds, bargains and lots more!

Open Tues, Sat 10am-4pm.

Studer Fine Art - The Gallery, 4 High Street, Presteigne. www.studerfineart.com Dec & Jan Christmas and New year brings a host of new work with a focus on limited editions from some of the UK’s finest print artists including CLIVE HICKS-JENKINS (The Gawain suite) ANGELA HARDING, MARK HEARLD, JONNY HANNAH, ED KLUZ, JOHN BROADLEY. DANIEL BOYLE, PAUL YOUNG AND LIZ DONALDSON ceramics. LAURA ROWLATT AND ALISHA DAVIDSON - willow baskets and decorative forms. TANIA MOSSE - sculpture.Open through Christmas and new year. For Jan, check website.

Open Tues-Sat, 10.30am-4pm, or by appointment.

Chatwood, Celf gan Osian Gwent ((Art by osian Gwent), No. 6 Long Bridge Street, Llanidloes SY18 6EE 0800 999 1953 www.osiangwent.com Exclusive and original paintings by Welsh contemporary artist OSIAN GWENT. Luxury works of fine art, paintings and limited edition fine art giclee prints. Open Wed 10am-2pm, Thurs 11am-5pm, Fri & Sat 11am-3pm.

Tower House Gallery, 29 High Street, Knighton LD7 1AT 01547 529530 Gallery, shop, cafe. Open Tues-Sat 10am-4.30pm.

The Globe, Hay-on-Wye 01497 8721762 17 Dec Christmas Fayre. 11am.

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Hay Castle, Oxford Road, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5DG 01497 820079 Until 7 Jan ‘Dark Skies’. JUDY GOLDHILL - photographs.

10am-4.30pm.

Wyeside, Builth Wells 01982 552555 Until 17 Dec ‘Dare To Dream’.

KNIGHTON PAINTING & SKETCHING GROUP. Open theatre times.

Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown 01686 625041 Until 25 Feb ‘Artes Mundi 10’ CAROLINA CAYCEDO. Significant solo presentation of new and existing work from one of the world’s most important international contemporary artists. Open Tues-Sun 11am-4pm.

Radnorshire Museum, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells LD1 5DL 01597 824513 Geology, Archaeology, Natural History, Social History and Fine Art. The museum houses an art gallery with a programme of varied and exciting exhibitions and events.

Open Wed-Sat 10am-4pm.

Memorial Square, Halls, Hay Castle and Beyond. Hay-on-Wye 07989 980601 www.haymarkets.co.uk 9 Dec Hay-on-Wye Christmas Fayre.

100+ traders bring Christmas to the streets of Hay and Hay Castle with festive gifts, street food, mulled wine, carols, treasure hunt, reindeer and more! Open 10am-4pm.

The Table & The Chair, 43 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye 01497 822802 www.thetablehay.com Until 23 Dec JACK HILTON. Open Thurs-Sat 10am-3pm.

Closed Jan & Feb. The Hay Makers, St John’s Place, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5BN 01497 820556 Until Jan Christmas exhibition.

ROGER HARRIS - prints.

GINNY LE BAILEY - jewellery.

JANE LITTLEFIELD - stained glass.

ROWAN MacGREGOR - metal sculpture. RICHARD WILSON ceramics. Plus a wide selection of unique and affordable gifts available by members of the Hay Makers cooperative. Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Hafren Theatre, Llanidloes Rd, Newtown SY 16 4HW 01686 948100 4 Dec - 26 Jan Hafren Open Art Competition. Open theatre times.

Minerva Arts Centre, High Street, Llanidloes 01686 413467 Until 23 Dec Christmas Craft Fair.

Pottery, glass, wood, felt, knits, willow, pyrography, sewing, cards, toys, clothing, accessories, art and more.

Open daily 10.30am-4.30pm.

Court Cupboard Gallery, New Court Farm, Llantillio Pertholey, Abergavenny NP7 8AU 01873 852011 ROSIE FAREY & MANDY COATS - baskets. SUSAN GALLAGHER paintings. Open 11am-4pm.

Lion Street Gallery, 6 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5AA 01497 822900 Showcasing some of the very best artists from Wales and the Borders.

Open 10.30am-5pm daily except Tues, Sun 11.30am-4pm.

Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, Near Newtown 01686 688369 Until 17 Dec Winter Open exhibition. Ceramics, prints, paintings, enamels, jewellery, sculpture, textiles and cards. Cafe. Thurs-Sun 11am-4pm.

Found Gallery, 1 Bulwark, Brecon LD3 7LB 07736 062849 www.foundgallery.co.uk Until 23 Dec ‘The Festive Show’.

PHILIP ROSS & ALEX HIRTZEL artists. PAUL CROMPTON photographs. JENNIE JACKSON textiles. KYRA MIHAILOVIC jewellery. RUTH PACKHAM - artisan maker. EMMA BEVAN - feltwork.

FAYE LAVERY-GRIFFITHS woodturner. (Closed Jan/Feb, reopening in March).Open Tues-Sat 10am-4.30pm.

The Workhouse Studio, Presteigne Industrial Estate 01544 267864 Rare antique carpets and kilims.

Plus locally made pottery, art materials, textiles, haberdashery, jewellery, cards and gifts. Cafe.

Open Wed-Sat 10am-4pm.

Cheese & Butter Market, Hay-on-Wye 07866 843538 Every Fri & Sat Flea & Vintage Market.

Vintage clothing, bric a brac, antiques and jewellery. Open 9am-5pm.

Knighton Fine Art, 2 Broad Street, Knighton 01547 528052 www.knightonfineart.co.uk knightonfineart@btinternet.com Dec & Jan Christmas cards, calendars, hand-carved spoons, wooden coasters and pot stands, Traidcraft, Lightstyle and Meri-Meri decorations etc. Gifts for all ages, plus our usual wide range of craft and paintings. Sale: Many paintings discounted in January. The Gallery will close after Christmas until Wed 17 Jan. Wed-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm.

Bernie Gurr, Presteigne Makers Market

Jenny Chippindale, The Hay Makers, Hay-on-Wye

Jeanette Faulkener-Clarke, Apple Store Gallery, Hereford Carolina Caycedo, Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown

Mappa Marches exhibition, The Courtyard, Hereford

Daniel Boyle, Studer Fine Art, Presteigne

The Art Shop, Cross Street, Abergavenny NP7 5EH 01873 852690 Until 27 Jan ‘Long Winter Show’.

A winter gathering of paintings, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, ceramics and jewellery. LISA HARDY - new paintings. ANDREA McLEAN - oil pastel drawings. Tues-Sat 9.30-5pm.

Museum of Modern Art, Tabernacle, Heol Penrallt, Machynlleth SY20 8AJ 01654 703355 info@moma.machynlleth.org.uk Until 27 Jan ‘Tir’. GUTO MORGAN. Until 27 Jan DAVID WARE - Welsh landscapes.

Until 3 Feb Sculpture Trail Part 2.

Until 3 Feb Young Welsh Artists 2023.

Until 3 Feb The Tabernacle Collection: Abstract Works.

Wed-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm.

The Old School, Whitton, near Knighton 01547 560936 Museum of Welsh Textiles. A fine collection of Welsh costume, textiles.

With a selection of antique textiles and blankets for sale, alongside changing exhibitions of art and antiques. Open by appointment, please phone to book.

Pavilion Mid Wales, Llandrindod Wells LD1 5EY 01597 258118 9 Dec Artisan Market. Arts, crafts, homemade local produce. 10am-3pm.

Knighton Museum, 1 Broad Street, Knighton Run by volunteers and reflects social history of the area. The majority of the exhibits have been either donated or lent by local people and reflect the varied history of this border town from the drovers to the flannel weavers; from trade to agriculture. Wed-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Celf O Gwmpas, Centre Celf, Tremont Road, Llandrindod Wells LD1 5EB 01597 822777 Until 14 Dec Annual exhibition by LLANDRINDOD WELLS ART GROUP. Tues-Thurs 10-4pm, Sat 9.30-12pm.

Rhayader Museum & Gallery, CARAD, East Street, Rhayader LD6 5ER 01597 810561 www.carad.org.uk Look out for new activities and sign up for the free information newsletter online. Open Tues-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-12pm.

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The Hymns, Kinnerton LD8 2RA www.radnorshireartists.com Until 3 Dec RADNORSHIRE ARTISTS. Selling exhibition with over 22 artists. Paintings in oil, watercolour and acrylic, pencil/charcoal, silverwork, jewellery, sculpture, ceramics and prints. Open until 4pm.

Courtyard Antiques, London House, High Street, Presteigne LD8 2BA 07974 356128 outside normal hours.

Antique pottery, country furniture and art. Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm.

HEREFORDSHIRE Bocam Gallery, Space 10, Bastion Mews, Union St, Hereford HR1 2BT 07929 206707 www.bocamgallery.com Modern contemporary, pop, street art, prints. Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-4.30pm.

Leominster Town Centre 9 Dec Leominster Victorian Christmas Market. The festive extravaganza returns with family fun, sustenance Morris, stupendous stalls and free parking.

Walenty Pytel Gallery & Studio Tour, near Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7SB 01531 634102 walentypytelgallery@ gmail.com www.walentypytel.com You will receive a printed guide to all of Walenty’s outdoor sculptures in Herefordshire to visit at your leisure.

Bronze and original steel sculptures can be purchased in the gallery as well as signed limited edition prints, cards and his book Walenty Pytel Life/ Art/Sculpture. By appointment only.

Groups welcome.

Wobage Makers Gallery Upton Bishop, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7QP 01989 720495 www.wobage.co.uk Handmade at Wobage workshops.

BEN CASSON - furniture and kitchenwood. LYNN HODGSON - wood carving and kitchenwood.

PATIA DAVIS - slip decorated earthenware and porcelain. JEREMY STEWARD - wood-fired salt-glazed stoneware and porcelain. PETRA STEWARD - wood-fired salt-glazed stoneware and collagraph prints.

CLYDE JEFFERSON - willow basketry. CLAIR HODGSON - gold, silver and semi-precious stone earrings. Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm.

Old Stable Gallery, Leominster Tourist Information Centre, Corn Square, Leominster 01568 616460 Dec Village Art Club. 9.30am-4pm.

Oxenham Art, Broad Street, Leominster HR6 8BT 01568 611898 Dec/Jan EVE POLLARD - glass jewellery. JILL PARGETER - textiles.

SUE BROWN - printmaking. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm.

The Forum, 18 Market Square, Tenbury Wells WR15 8EA 01584 810085 www.georginafranklin.co.uk GEORGINA FRANKLIN - jewellery.

Individual contemporary design.

Commissions undertaken.

South Chapel, All Saints Church, Hereford 01432 370414 4 - 9 Dec CRAFTY LADIES. 10am-3pm.

Until 16 Dec Sale of Christmas cards.

Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm.

Mappa Mundi & Chained Library, Hereford Cathedral 01432 374200 Until 30 Dec ‘Laden with Fruit’.

Celebrating the bounty of fruit at Hereford Cathedral. Featuring new artwork by JEANETTE McCULLOCH & BookArtClub inspired by botanical illustrations in the Cathedral’s collections.

8 Dec Seasonal Selections. A range of items from the Chained Library and All Saints Library telling the story of the Advent season, in the Reading Room, 4.30pm, £15.

16 Dec Hereford Cathedral Christmas Fair. 40 stalls selling a range of festive gifts, featuring CRAFTY LADIES. Open 9.30am-4pm.

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Admission charges apply.

Made in the Marches Gallery, 12 Church Street, Kington HR5 3AZ 07531 820195 www.madeinthemarches.com Dec ‘Farewell Exhibition’. The Kington based artisan co-operative, would like to say “Thank you!” to all our friends and visitors for their support over the last seven years.

Our final exhibition, includes ceramics, paintings, prints, clothing & jewellery, sculpture, stone, wood, ironwork and basketry, cards and gifts.

Curated by Tessa Gavin, features creations from RACHAEL BLAKEWAY, SARAH FISHER, ANNA LONSDALE, PATRICIA MacCURRACH, JUDE PIPER, KATIE WELSH AND LEA WILLIAMS, alongside work by our cooperative members: NICKI CORNISH, REBECCA FINNEY, JO FLETCHER, NANCY FROST, FREYA GAMBLE-MAPES, TESSA GAVIN, JANE KEAY, CELIA KIBBLEWHITE, SUE LEAVETT, CLARE LESTER, CLAIR MURPHY & HELEN SMITH. Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 4pm, and Christmas Eve 11am-3pm No. 1 Station Approach, Hereford Until 30 April 2024 MATTHEW CORNFORD & JOHN BECK. The 170th anniversary of Hereford College of Arts, a Meadow Arts and Hereford College of Arts commission.

Weavers Gallery, Church Lane, Ledbury 07881 926661 5 - 16 Dec ‘Designed for Christmas’. Seven local makers present hand-crafted gifts.

Open 10am-4pm, closed Sun. Then closed until spring.

Greenstage Gallery, Bromtrees Hall, Stoke Lacy, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4HZ 01885 490839 info@greenstagegallery.co.uk www.greenstage gallery.co.uk Dec & Jan Open by appointment.

Original and contemporary art.

Made In Ross, The Upstairs Gallery, Market House, Ross-on-Wye HR9 5NX 01989 769398 www.madeinross.co.uk Made in Ross. A co-operative of local art and craft makers. 10am-4pm.

The Courtyard Theatre, Hereford 01432 340555 2 Dec - 7 Jan ROSE TINTED RAGS. Textiles, haberdashery, fine art photography and painting.

12 Jan - 17 Feb Mappa Marches exhibition. Three artists and an aerial film-maker to celebrate the rural landscape in Herefordshire.

HELEN ARTHUR - painter/ printmaker. SHELLIE BYATT decorated and cut papers.

ADRIENNE CRADDOCK - paintings/ prints. NICK CRADDOCK - aerial film.

Open theatre times.

Cup Ceramics, 10, Foley Trading Estate, Hereford 07548 629525 1 - 3 Dec Winter Market. Have a go on the wheel, plus gifts to buy.

Gallery 54, 54 High Street, Ross-on-Wye 01989 567917 Dec Gallery artists featuring STUART ELLIS, ZOE TAYLOR, JOHN MAXWELL STEELE, LEYLA MURR, JO JENKINS, DI SHORLESON, RACHEL SUDWORTH. Jan ANNICA NEUMULLER - new work. Open Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm.

Old Chapel Gallery, East Street, Pembridge HR6 9HB 01544 388842 ww.oldchapelgallery.co.uk Until New Year ‘Winter Curiosities’. TAMSIN ABBOTT stained glass. JEMIMA JAMESON - painted wood. JUSTINE ALLISON - porcelain. JO VERITY decoupage. LILLY ERIC - stained glass. SAFFRON GUY & DUNCAN WHITE - ceramics. KELDA SPROSTON - art. REBECCA LEWIS - jewellery. RACHEL WRIGHT textile art. COLIN SEE-PAYTON woodcuts. RACHEL BAILEY jewellery.

Throughout the year ‘Splendour in the Grass’. A changing collection of unique sculptures for your outdoor space in a variety of media including forged iron, carved stone, stone resin, iron resin, bronze resin, glass and ceramics. Open Wed-Sat 11am-4.30pm, Sun 12-4pm.

Oxenham Gallery, The Coachhouse, 19a Church St, Hereford HR1 2LR Dec & Jan A collection of contemporary and traditional art work from around the British Isles. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm.

Apple Store Gallery, Unit 1, Rockfield Road, Hereford HR1 2UA 01432 263937 www.applestoregallery.com Until 17 Dec ‘Christmas Delights’.

24 Jan - 16 Mar ‘Rockfield Arts’.

Open Wed-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat 10am-1pm. Also open on 2/3 Dec 10am-3pm as part of h.Art Christmas event.

SHROPSHIRE SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630321 Dec & Jan KEITH WHIDDON photographs, preview 5 Dec, 6pm.

Open Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Sat & Sun 9am-12pm.

The Gateway Gallery, Chester Street, Shrewsbury SY1 1NB gatewaygallery@gmail.com Until 21 Dec ‘Hidden’. GRACE CURRIE - paintings, drawings, photographs and ceramics.

Open Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Thurs until 8pm during term time.

Mrs Jones Art Shop & Gallery, 118 Longden Coleham, Shrewsbury SY3 7DU 01743 245134 www.mrsjonesgallery.co.uk 2 - 24 Dec ‘The Turning of the Sun’.

LINDA DWARDS - paintings with gold leaf to light the winter solstice.

Open Wed-Sat 10.30am-4pm.

The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury 01743 234970 Until 5 Dec ‘Lines of Thought’.

LUKE CRUMPT. 13 Dec - 13 Feb Wellbeing Projects Showcase. Drawings, paintings, ceramics, digital art, animation, music video and poetry demonstrate how we use inspiring, inclusive and creative experiences to transform lives.

Tues-Fri 10am-4.30pm.

Bishop’s Castle Town Hall 01588 630023 www.bishopscastletownhall.co.uk Until 16 Dec CASTLE ARTISTS. Open 10am-4pm.

2 Dec Christmas Lights Antiques and Flea Market, 9am-4pm.

18 Dec - 4 Jan NICK KNOWLES. 6 Jan Antiques & Flea Market, 9am-1pm.

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The Willow Gallery, 56 Willow Street, Oswestry SY11 1AD 01691 657575 Until 24 Dec BORDERLAND VISUAL ARTS winter collection and CHESHIRE ARTISTS NETWORK. Open 10am-4pm, closed Sun & Mon. Ogilvie Vaile Conservation, Unit 9, Lower Buckton Barns, between Leintwardine and Brampton Bryan SY7 0JU 07780 616067 www.ogilvievaile.com Specialising in the conservation and restoration of fine art.

Smithy Studio, Brampton Bryan SY7 ODH 07811 042478 Rustic homewares, fine art and craft.

Local makers. Turned wood, slipware, lavender products, textiles, cards and gifts. Open Thurs-Sat 11am-4pm.

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, The Music Hall, Market Square, Shrewsbury SY1 1LG 01743 258881 Until 17 Dec ‘Ashes Under Uricon’.

1 - 23 Dec Meet Father Christmas, £15 child, £5 adult.

9, 10, 16 & 17 Dec ‘A Christmas Carol’ Tours. Guided tour around Shrewsbury. Open 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

The Bridges, Ratlinghope SY5 0ST 01588 650260 7 Dec Christmas Fair. Crafts, food, storytelling and carols. 3.30pm-8pm.

Downstairs Gallery, Ludlow Library, 7-9 Parkway Lane, Ludlow SY8 2PG 01743 250510 Until 4 Jan ‘Affordable and Accessible Art Show’. LUDLOW ART SOCIETY. All works anonymous until point of sale and all priced £60. Proceeds to Ludlow LIbrary and Ludlow Food Bank. www.ludlowartsociety.gov.uk Open Mon 9.30am-6pm, Tues, Wed & Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm.

Brampton Bryan, near Bucknell 2 & 3 Dec Christmas Art Trail.

Open studios. Featuring KM Beauty, Brocante Living, Melissa Hunt Jewellery, Isatu Hyde, Alice Draws The Line and Aardvark Books.

Open 10am-4pm.

Aardvark Books, The Bookery, Manor Farm, Brampton Bryan, near Bucknell SY7 0DH 01547 530744 www.ardvark-books.com 3 Dec Aardvark Christmas Fair. Over 20 brilliant stalls with vintage, crafts and Christmas essentials! Live music from The Dutch Lewis Trio. Hot food and free mulled wine. 10am-3pm.

Nina & Co, 10 Church St, Ludlow SY8 2JH 01584 877792 Dec DAVID HENRY - paintings.

Plus decorative antiques and vintage.

Open 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

The Artists’ Gallery, Ludlow Farm (formerly Ludlow Food Centre), Bromfield, Ludlow SY8 2JR 07974 652866 www.theartistsgalleryludlow.co.uk Instagram @galleryrunbyartists Facebook The Artists’ Gallery Dec & Jan Visiting artists include NICK MARSH - ceramic vessels and sculptures. ROSANNA TASKER illustrated prints, cards and calendars.Artists include SHELLY PERKINS - wildlife artist.

PRISCILLA HANN - bronze sculpture. DANIELLE FLOWERS contemporary jewellery. KIM DAVIS - wood turning. PAUL BURTON sculpture. JAN JAY - textile designs and screen prints. PIP JONES watercolours. SARAH BILLINGHAM - pottery. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Art & Craft Workshops

Single, dated listings are free.

Ongoing workshops, £40 per year.

GINN’S CREATE WORKSHOPS Discover your creative potential at my workshops covering art, textiles and sewing techniques, catering for the experienced and inexperienced.

Dates to suit you. 01432 760961.

TEXTILE WORKSHOPS WITH ANGIE HUGHES Zoom and face to face creative workshops including machine and hand embroidery, print and mixed media techniques. Based in Ledbury.

07533 362900. Email angie@angiehughes.com KNIGHTON PAINTING & SKETCHING GROUP We meet Monday daytime at the Civic Centre, Knighton (near the Clock Tower) during spring and autumn terms. We have weekly topics with friendly tuition. All abilities, beginners welcome. Learn at your own pace.

Discover new skills and increase your confidence. Own choice of art materials. Contact local artist tutor: Audrey Bradley: 01544 350369.

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ALEX ALLPRESS POTTERY STUDIO - POTTERY EXPERIENCES & LESSONS Church Street, Builth Wells, LD2 3BS. Open 7 days a week. Bespoke family days. Throwing workshops and courses. Children’s parties, corporate festivities, hen dos, Hand-building, gift sales and vouchers available. From £40pp - tasters - half day or full day.

Call for details: 07443 875016. email alexallpressceramics@gmail.co.uk, www.alexallpress.co.uk

MOORE HALL STUDIO - BOBBY BRITNELL Inspirational art and textile related courses delivered throughout the year by highly qualified tutors. Some courses are online and others face to face. Refer to www. bobbybritnell.co.uk for further information and details of all courses. Contact Bobby Britnell on 01547 510664 or email at bobby@bobbybritnell.co.uk STONE CARVING WORKSHOPS Monthly in Llangarron HR9 6PH. Glenn Morris, sculpture, leads an informal, friendly group. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience. Full tuition, safety equipment and tools provided. Stone available if required.

Copious refreshemnts guaranteed. 01989 770776.

Frances@artsinthemarches.co.uk RECYCLED GLASS FUSING Learn to cut, prepare, fire and fuse recycled glass. Create light-catchers, tea light stands or pictures. Half day workshop £30 per person. Includes all materials and homemade refreshments. Workshops arranged to suit you, and / or your friends up to maximum 5 people. frances@artsinthemarches.co.uk BASKETMAKING USING RUSH Presteigne. Courses available throughout the year covering many techniques. Small groups and all levels taught. All materials and equipment included. For more information see Rusmorebaskets.com or contact Clair at rushmorebaskets@gmail.com 07713 514902.

JAPANESE FLORAL ART Workshops in Ikebana, courses, lessons and demonstrations by Teacher and 3rd Master Noella Plasman-Jones.Visit www.discovering-ikebana.com and scroll down on the ‘Booking Form’ for dates. NEW for 2024: Residential Ikebana Introductory Course contact: discovering.ikebana@gmail.com or leave a message on 07379 499984.

VICKI NORMAN COURSES 24 - 27 Jan - Online Mastering Colour Intensive Workshop via Zoom. 9 - 11 Feb - Unlock Your Creative Expression online via Zoom. www.vickinormanstudio.com December & January EASTNOR POTTERY INTRO TO THE POTTERS WHEEL CLASS: £49 per person. Perfect indoor activity for individuals, couples and small groups. 1.5 hr sessions take place on specific dates through the Winter months. POTTERS WHEEL COURSES: 9 Dec, 6, 13, 17, 27 & 28 Jan. Weekend: £280. Day: £150 per person. Spend the day or weekend relaxing and creating pots on the potter’s wheel. Eastnor Pottery, Home Farm, Eastnor, near Ledbury. Please book online, www.eastnorpottery.co.uk Email admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk or telephone 01531 633886.

CREATIVE BREAKS Learn a new skill and explore your creativity with experienced tutors, all based in beautiful countryside with outstanding views and local produce. We offer a wide range of courses throughout the year:- Basketmaking, Upholstery, Felting, Rag Rug Making, Sculpture, Stone Carving, Dichroic Glass, Plant Dyeing, Natural Dyes, Herbal Medicine, Suminagashi, Rush Basketry, Creating a Sketchbook, Jewellery, Glass Fusing, Hand Bloc Printing, Sewing, Stained Glass, Weaving, Linocutting, Painting and Drawing, Japanese Woodblock, Printmaking, Weaving Wire, Woodcarving and Pottery. For full details visit www.creativebreaks.co.uk Make it yourself - take it home - treasure it - or give it with pride!

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Fri 1 December LEDBURY FLOWER CLUB With Andrew Lloyd, guest demonstrator. Raffle winners will take his creations home. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.30pm, £10, 01531 670037 (includes festive drink).

Sat 2 December CHRISTMAS WILLOW WEAVING Garden Room, Netherwood Estate, Stoke Bliss, near Tenbury Wells, morning course 10am-1pm, afternoon course 2.30pm-5.30pm, £60 includes all materials, tools and homemade mince pies, mulled wine, teas/coffees, 07718 986104.

Sun 3 December CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING Unleash your inner artist with an array of festive materials, all included plus a glass of Prosecco. 10 spaces per session (2 hour session). Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, 10.30am & 1.30pm, £45, 01497 820079.

Sun 3 December & Sat 20 January RAG RUG DAY WORKSHOP Learn progging and plaiting/braiding for recycling textiles with Jenni Stuart-Anderson. Leysters & Middleton Parish Hall, Leysters (near crossroads on A4112). 10am-4pm, £70 includes beverages and hessian, info/bookings 01568 750229, email jenni.ragrugs@freeuk.com Thurs 14 December WREATH MAKING To include mulled wine and mince pies. The Bridges, Ratlinghope, SY5 0ST, 01588 650260.

Thurs 14 December ABERGAVENNY FLOWER ARRANGERS Floral demonstration by Lorena Dyer. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7pm, £15, 01873 850805.

December THE HIVE WORKSHOPS 9 Dec - Pom Pom Wreath Workshop for ages 12-18, 10am-12.30pm, £5. Every Tues - Life Drawing for all ages, 7-9pm, £8. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 01743 234970.

January APPLE STORE GALLERY WORKSHOPS 22 Jan - Woodcut and Chine Colle with Jess Bugler, 10am-4pm, £60. 23 Jan - Using Acrylics with Allison Neal, 10am-4pm, £60. Apple Store Gallery, Unit 1, Rockfield Rd, Hereford, 01432 263937, www.applestoregallery.com January CUP CERAMICS WORKSHOPS 6 Jan - Pottery Taster Session, 10am-12.30pm. 28 Jan Intensive Pottery Session, includes throwing on the wheel, handbuilding and lunch, 10am-4pm. Cup Ceramics, Unit 10, Foley Trading Estate, Hereford, 07548 629525.

December and January MID WALES ARTS CENTRE 27 Jan - Photoshop workshop, 10am-4pm, free.

Wed - Weekly Art Talks, 2-4pm, free. Thurs - After School Pottery for children 7-11 years, 5-6.30pm, £7. Thurs Pottery & Ceramic Sculpture Club for all ages and abilities, 2-4pm & 7-9pm, £10. Fri - Pottery & Ceramic Sculpture Club, 11am-1pm & 1-3pm, £10. 1st Sat of each month Family Pottery, 2-4pm, £10, children £8. 2nd Sat of each month - Life Drawing, 10am-1pm, £20/£14. Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, Newtown, 01686 688369.

December LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS 21 Dec - Anne’s Art Club for ages 6-11 year olds, 10am.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 01584 878141.

December HEREFORD CATHEDRAL 11 Dec - 8 Jan - Find The Angel Trail. Collect your free trail from the Welcome Desk, and collect a sticker once you’ve collected your worksheet. 20 Dec - Christmas Lego Club, 3.30-4.30pm. 4 Jan - Messy Church - craft activities for all the family 12-3pm. Mondays term time - Toddler Group, craft activities and prayer; suitable 1-3 years, 9.30am, free. Hereford Cathedral, 01432 374225.

December & January SHROPSHIRE HILLS DISCOVERY CENTRE 9 Dec - Breakfast with Santa. Enjoy the elf-led crafts and entertainment and take a present home from Santa. £15 children, £9 adults, booking essential. 22 Dec - Winter Crafts for ages 4-11 years, drop in 11am-3pm, £4.50.

21, 27, 29 Dec & 2 Jan - A Discovery Winter Children’s Club for ages 5-11 years. Collect natural materials to use in winter crafts, 9am-1pm, £10 per day, booking essential.

Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 01588 676060.

December, January & February ORIEL DAVIES GALLERY WORKSHOPS Until 2 Dec - Kind to the Mind. Saturday afternoon Art Club for ages 7-11 year olds, £5 per workshop or £22.50 for block of five. We all need something to look forward

to in the winter months, so we have organised three creative workshops with three brilliant makers.

Sat 27 Jan - ‘Creating Jewellery from Found Plastic’ with Bronwen Gwillim. 10 Feb - ‘Concertina Bookmaking’ with Jane Hunter. 24 Feb - ‘Make Your Own Indigo Dyed Scarf’ with Jeanette and Ellie Orrell. Please book online www.orieldavies.org Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, 01686 625041.

December SIDNEY NOLAN TRUST Sat 2 Dec - ABET, a new contemporary art group for creative beginners through to practicing artists and creatives. Ages 25+. The Rodd, 10am-2pm, sliding scale of £20+ including refreshments and materials. Mondays (term time) MAKE, weekly art club for 10-14 year olds.

Youth Centre, Presteigne, 3.30-5pm. Sidney Nolan Trust, The Rodd, Presteigne. To book, 01544 260149, www.sidneynolantrust.org

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cinema Theatr Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf, Brecon 01874 611622

ANATOMY OF A FALL (15)

CONQUEST, BROMYARD 15 Dec TAR (15) 5 Jan CHEVALIER (12) 19 Jan OPENHEIMER Conquest Theatre, Bromyard.

01885 488575

COURTYARD, HEREFORD Until 7 Dec SALTBURN (ctbc) Until 3 Dec THE LESSON (15) The Courtyard Theatre, Edgar St, Hereford 01432 340555

Early copydates and delayed cinema scheduling mean that this month’s reviews are of films whose screenings are uncertain and I must also declare an interest in the first one as it’s distributed by my sister’s company, Picturehouse Entertainment. That said, ANATOMY OF A FALL was the Palme d’Or winner at this year’s Cannes and it’s a marvelously engaging dissertation on trust, and the fickleness of the written word.

French writer/director Justine Triet (SYBIL, AGE OF PANIC) is a gifted interpreter of the interplay between behaviour and language and her central character, Sandra (Sandra Hüller, TONI ERDMANN) is a famous novelist whose literature student’s interview prefaces the unexpected death of her irritating, ex-writer husband. What follows is complicated by the discovery of Samuel’s corpse by their blind son, Daniel, and Sandra’s developing character which is both more terrifying and wittily amusing than initially assumed and asks the question: does love require a leap of faith?

All reviews by Mark Williams

ABERGAVENNY FILM SOC.

ASSEMBLY ROOMS, LUDLOW

13 Dec POLITE SOCIETY 13 Dec DING DONG 3 Jan 1976 17 Jan THE ROAD DANCE 17 Jan DELOPING 31 Jan BROKER 14 Feb THE BEASTS Melville Centre, Pen y Pound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD. Check for times. A limited number of seats available for non-members aged 18+ www.abergavennyfilmsociety.com

31 Jan BLOW UP (1966) (15) Nina & Co Vintage Film Night, 7.30pm.

Assembly Rooms, Mill St, Ludlow, 01584 878141

ALBERT HALL, LLANDRINDOD

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1 Dec THE SANTA CLAUSE 12 Dec MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL 18 Dec HOME ALONE (PG) 22 Dec HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (PG) 23 Dec JINGLE ALL THE WAY (PG) 23 Dec IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE The Albert Hall, Ithon Rd, Llandrindod Wells 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

BOOTH’S BOOKSHOP, H-O-W

15 Dec MAESTRO (15) Richard Booth’s Bookshop, Hay-on-Wye. 01497 822010

BRECON FILM SOCIETY 4 Dec THE ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER (PG) 8 Jan ANOTHER ROUND (12) 5 Feb THE RED SHOES (U) 7.30pm, Brecon Coliseum Cinema, Wheat St, Brecon. 01874 620642

THEATRE BRYCHEINIOG 8 & 9 Dec THE SNOWMAN The classic animated film, accompanied by The Welsh Film Orchestra and narrated by Mark Llewelyn Evans.

21 Dec MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET 22 Dec ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

2 Dec THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN (12) Withington Parish Room 01743 709236 2 Dec A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) Ballingham Old School Hall 07967 017759 2 Dec THE FATHER (12A) Leominster Community Centre 01568 616411 3 Dec BOITE NOIRE (12) Malvern Cinema 01684 892277 4 Dec MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (PG) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911 4 Dec MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (U) Welshpool Assembly Room 01938 552043 5 Dec BOOK CLUB - THE NEXT CHAPTER (12A) Lydbury North VH 01588 680302 5 Dec BLIND AMBITION (12A) All Stretton VH 07812 583113 6 Dec BARBIE (12) Cardington VH 01694 771295 7 Dec BELLE (12A) Brilley VH 01544 327227 7 Dec A STREET CAT NAMED BOB (12A) Lindridge Parish Hall 01584 881615 8 Dec LUNANA - A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM (PG) Colwall VH 07891 668124 8 Dec MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (PG) Clungunford VH 01588 660159 8 Dec A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) Knighton Community Centre 07964 023841

8 Dec THE GREATEST SHOWMAN SING-A-LONG (PG) Great Witley VH 01299 896412 8 Dec WRITTEN ON THE WIND (PG) Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125 9 Dec WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (12A) Yarpole Parish Hall 01568 780250 9 Dec MAIGRET (2023) (15) Cawley Hall, Eye 01568 615836 9 Dec CINEMA PARADISO (15) Bettws-y-Crwyn Parish Hall 01588 640233 9 Dec A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) Ombersley Memorial VH 01905 620350 9 Dec INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (12A) Priest Weston VH 07773 026441 11 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) (U) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911 11 Dec MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (PG) All Stretton VH 07812 583113 12 Dec THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS (PG) Garway Hall 01600 750465 12 Dec BABETTES FEAST (U) St Mary’s Church Hall, Ross on Wye 07789 778048 12 Dec A BUNCH OF AMATEURS (2008) (15) Ashford Carbonell VH 01584 831574 13 Dec A WALK IN THE WOODS (15) Perton Civic Centre 01902 745971 13 Dec ALLELUJAH (12A) Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125 14 Dec THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS (PG) Gorsley VH 01989 750649 14 Dec A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) Much Birch Community Hall 01981 540097 14 Dec A BUNCH OF AMATEURS (2022) (U) Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton 07508 072206 14 Dec THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY (12A) Pencombe and Little Cowarne Parish Hall palcphac@gmail.com 15 Dec DOWNTON ABBEY - A NEW ERA (PG) Marton VH 01743 792790 15 Dec TAR (15) Conquest Theatre, Bromyard 01885 488575 15 Dec PADDINGTON (PG) Bosbury Parish Hall 01531 640333 15 Dec RYE LANE (12A) All Stretton VH 07812 583113 15 Dec MISSION IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING PART ONE (12A) Stoke Prior VH 07850 030821 15 Dec EMENTAL (PG) Norbury VH 07929 366745 16 Dec A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) Upton upon Severn Memorial Hall 01684 592273

NAPOLEON (15)

By my count there have been ten Napoleon biopics, most memorably Abel Gance’s silent, 330 minute magnum opus of 1927, but Ridley Scott – himself no slouch in the masterpiece department (BLADE RUNNER, PROMETHEUS) – delivers the coup de grace. Here, Joaquin Phoenix, also no slouch playing intense if brutal characters (YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, THE JOKER) convincingly portrays the complex French warmonger as not just a coldly determined strategist, but also a fanatical leader and a sensitive lover. As far as the latter in concerned, his conquest is Vanessa Kirby (THE CROWN’s Princess Margaret) as the inimitable Princess Josephine with whom sparks certainly do fly. But as well as grippingly and coherently charting Napoleon’s rise, the breathtaking scale and detail of the battle scenes are alone worth the price of admission for which regular Scott cinematographer, Dariusz Wolksi (THE MARTIAN, PROMETHEUS) takes much credit… along with a cast of thousands!

16 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) (U) Bayston Hill Memorial Hall 07843 413653 16 Dec THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN (PG) Lindridge Parish Hall 01584 881615 17 Dec PUSS IN BOOTS - THE LAST WISH (PG) Aldford VH 07896 486894 19 Dec THE DARJEELING LTD (15) Acton Scott VH 01694 781260 19 Dec ROALD DAHLS MATILDA THE MUSICAL (PG) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630321 20 Dec BARBIE (12) Myddle VH 07706 450075 21 Dec INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (12A) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630321 21 Dec INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (12A) Diddlebury VH 07375 326381 22 Dec GOLDEN YEARS - GRAND THEFT OAP (12A) Knighton Community Centre 07964 023841 29 Dec BARBIE (12) Leintwardine Community Centre 07572 442903 29 Dec THE RED SHOES (U) Leintwardine Community Centre 07572 442903

30 Dec MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (PG) Everest Hall, Llanfair Waterdine 01547 528842 4 Jan SAVE THE CINEMA (12) Lindridge Parish Hall 01584 881615 4 Jan THE OLD OAK (15) Brilley VH 01544 327227 8 Jan ALLELUJAH (12A) The Edge Arts Centre, Miuch Wenlock 01952 728911 11 Jan THE QUIET GIRL (12A) Leintwardine Community Centre 07572 442903 11 Jan OPPENHEIMER (12) Diddlebury VH 07375 326381 13 Jan MY SAILOR, MY LOVE (12) Cawley Hall, Eye 01568 615836 14 Jan FANFAN LA TULIPE (1952) (12) Studio One, Malvern Theatres 01684 892277 15 Jan ASTEROID CITY (12A) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911 17 Jan INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (12A) Myddle VH 07706 450075 18 Jan INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (12A) Gorsley VH 01989 750649

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MARKET THEATRE, LEDBURY 8 Dec WRITTEN ON THE WIND (PG) 13 Dec ALLELUJAH (12) Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125

STOP MAKING SENSE (PG)

MONTGOMERY MOVIE CLUB 14 Dec MAD ABOUT THE BOY (12A) 11 Jan A HAUNTING IN VENICE (12) 25 Jan DALILAND (15) Dragon Hotel, Montgomery, 8pm, 01686 668442 OLD MARKET HALL,

OLD MARKET HALL, SHREWS.

Just edging it over THE LAST WALTZ and MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN as the greatest rock concert film ever, the late Jonathan Demme’s 1983 record of Talking Heads performance at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre was always for me the most joyous, infectious and accomplished. And now fully restored for its 40th anniversary, its soundtrack re-mastered in glorious Dolby Atmos that view is reinforced. So even if you’re too young to remember the Heads in their art-rock-inspired, commercially successful heyday, you will marvel not just at the inventiveness of singer/guitarist David Byrne’s songwriting and stagecraft, but also the way director Demme (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) teases expectations and tension out of his cinema audience in the way the film is lit, designed and paced. Plus the band, especially peerless bassist Tina Wymouth and her drummer boyfriend, Chris Frantz, just look so happy and energised by a performance enhanced by several wonderful guest musicians.

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18 Jan WINTER’S BONE (15) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911 18 Jan WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (15) Norbury VH 07929 366745 19 Jan A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) Marton VH 01743 792790 19 Jan THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY (12A) Clungunford VH 01588 660159 19 Jan WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (15) Bosbury Prish Hall 01531 640333 20 Jan WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (12A) Upton upon Severn Memorial Hall 01684 592273 20 Jan OPPENHEIMER (12) Lindridge Parish Hall 01584 881615 22 Jan MY SAILOR, MY LOVE (12) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911 23 Dec THE WAR BELOW (12A) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630321 25 Jan ALLELUJAH (12A) Grimley Peace Hall, Sinton Green 01905 641572

25 Jan MY SAILOR, MY LOVE (12) Much Birch Community Hall 01981 540097 26 Jan THE BAKER (12) Longden VH 07539 545846 29 Jan A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE 4 Dec MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (2022) (PG) 11 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) (U) 8 Jan ALLELUJAH (12A) 15 Jan ASTEROID CITY (12A) 18 Jan WINTER’S BONE (15) 22 Jan MY SAILOR, MY LOVE (12) 29 Jan A MAN CALLED OTTO (15) The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

THE HAFREN, NEWTOWN 20 Dec THE FAMILY MAN (12) The Hafren, Newtown, 01686 948100

1 - 7 Dec SALTBURN (15) 1 - 7 Dec THE GREAT ESCAPER 8 - 14 Dec NAPOLEON (15) 9 Dec PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (UKRANIAN) (PG) 10 - 24 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (U) 10 Dec PASSAGES (18) 16 Dec THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (PG) 15 - 22 Dec NOBODY HAS TO KNOW (12A) 15 - 30 Dec WISH (U) 23 - 31 Dec WONKA (PG) Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281

PRESTEIGNE SCREEN 1 Dec RETURN TO SEOUL (15) 15 Dec SQUARING THE CIRCLE (15) 5 Jan FILM TBC 19 Jan FILM TBC www.presteignescreen.org.uk Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 8pm.

SAVOY, MONMOUTH 1, 2 - 7 Dec THE MIRACLE CLUB (12A) 22 - 28 Dec & 5 - 11 Jan WONKA (PG) Savoy Theatre, Church St, Monmouth 01600 772467

SHREWSBURY FILM SOCIETY 1 Dec ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER (15) 15 Dec SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (U) 3 Jan THE PIANO (15) 12 Jan THE QUIET GIRL (12) 31 Jan CHUNGKING EXPRESS (15) 9 Feb BERGMAN ISLAND (15) Shrewsbury Film Society. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 01743 234970

SPARC, BISHOP’S CASTLE 19 Dec MATILDA THE MUSICAL (PG) 21 Dec INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (12A) 11 Jan SAVAGE WATER (12A) Documentary 21 Jan THE LITTLE MERMAID (PG) Swimming pool fundraiser 23 Jan THE WAR BELOW (12A) SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 01588 638038

WYESIDE, BUILTH WELLS 1 Dec NAPOLEON (15) 10, 12 - 14 Dec THE MARVELS (12A) 16 Dec MYSTERY SCREENING (U) Wyeside, Builth Wells 01982 552555

LIVE EVENTS ON SCREEN 2 Dec ROMEO & JULIET National Theatre. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 281281.

2 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2023 MAASTRICHT CONCERT: WHITE CHRISTMAS The Courtyard, Hereford, 2.30pm, 01432 340555. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 1pm, 01600 772467.

3 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2023 MAASTRICHT CONCERT: WHITE CHRISTMAS Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 5pm, 01600 772467. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 3pm, 01743 281281.

4 Dec MARIA CALLAS: PARIS 1958 Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 772467.

7 Dec KLIMT AND THE KISS Exhibition on Screen. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 772467.

8 Dec ROMEO & JULIET National Theatre. Montgomery Town Hall, 7.30pm, 01686 668442.

9 Dec SKYLIGHT National Theatre. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 281281.

10 Dec FLORENCIA EN EL AMAZONAS New York Met Opera. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 5.55pm, 01885 488575.

12 Dec THE NUTCRACKER The Royal Ballet. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.15pm, 01432 340555.

Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.15pm, 01600 719401. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.15pm, 01584 878141.

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.15pm, 01885 488575.

16 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2023 MAASTRICHT CONCERT: WHITE CHRISTMAS Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555.

17 Dec THE NUTCRACKER The Royal Ballet. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 2pm, 01588 630321.

Market Theatre, Ledbury, 2pm, 07967 517125. The Hafren, Newtown, 2pm 01686 948100. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555. Booth’s Bookshop Cinema, Hay-on-Wye, 2pm, 01497 822010.

22 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2023 MAASTRICHT CONCERT: Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575.

30 Dec MARIA CALLAS: PARIS 1958 Old Market Theatre, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281.

31 Dec BERLINER PHILHARMONIKER New Years Eve concert.

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 4pm, 01885 488575. Old Market Theatre, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281.

31 Dec ANDRE RIEU’S 2023 MAASTRICHT CONCERT: WHITE CHRISTMAS Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555.

6 Jan NABUCCO New York Met Opera. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 5.55pm, 01885 488575. The Courtyard, Hereford, 5.55pm, 01432 340555.

19 Jan SKYLIGHT National Theatre. Montgomery Town Hall, 7.30pm, 01686 668442.

24 Jan RUSALKA Royal Opera House. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 6.45pm, 01600 719401.

The Hafren, Newtown, 6.45pm, 01686 948100. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 6.45pm, 01584 878141.

The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 6.45pm, 01584 811442. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 6.45pm, 01885 488575.

25 Jan DEAR ENGLAND National Theatre. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 7pm, 01588 630321.

Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7pm, 01600 719401. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7pm, 01952 728911.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, 01584 878141. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 281281.

26 Jan DEAR ENGLAND National Theatre. The Hafren, Newtown, 7pm, 01686 948100.

27 Jan CARMEN New York Met Opera. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 5.55pm, 01885 488575. The Courtyard, Hereford, 5.55pm, 01432 340555.

28 Jan RUSLAKA The Royal Opera House. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 2pm, 01588 630321. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555.

29 Jan DEAR ENGLAND National Theatre. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.15pm, 01432 340555.

31 Jan RUSALKA Royal Opera House (encore).

The Courtyard, Hereford, 6.45pm, 01432 340555.

7 Feb MANON Royal Ballet. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.15pm, 01600 719401.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.15pm, 01584 878141. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7.15pm, 01584 811442.

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.15pm, 01885 488575.

WORKSHOPS

Every Tuesday YOUTH CAFE Young people (8-16) can meet and share creative activites including music, drama and films. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 01743 234970.

MONTGOMERY TOWN HALL NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE SCREENINGS ROMEO & JULIET - 8th December, 7.30pm

SKYLIGHT - 19th January, 7.30pm

live

www.ticketsource.co.uk/montgomery-movie-club 01686 668442

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dance Giovanni Pernice

GROOVE DANCE CLASSES in Kington & Winforton.

Simple moves, danced in your own unique way. So much fun! No experience necessary. All fitness levels welcome.

First class FREE! Also seated classes available in Kington and Dance for Parkinson’s class in Leominster. www.groovewithelly.co.uk SHIMMY CENTRAL WITH ALANYA Open Level Adult Belly Dance Classes. Bodenham Parish Hall, HR1 3LB. 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month, 1-3pm. Pay-as-you-go please book by the previous Wednesday. For full information visit http://alanyadance.uk or call Abbie on 07962 161081, alanyadancer@gmail.com

Dance Performance Sat 9 December THE WIZARD OF OZ BALLET THEATRE UK. Follow the yellow brick road and discover the all the wonders of Oz. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 3pm, 01600 719401.

Fri 15 - Sun 17 December THE NUTCRACKER BRECON FESTIVAL BALLET’s enchanting production of the most famous Christmas ballet. With Tchaikovsky’s famous music played live by the Brecon Festival Ballet Orchestra and over 85 dancers on stage. Theatr Brycheinog, Brecon, 7.30pm, plus matinee Sat & Sun 2.30pm, tickets from £23.50, 01874 611622.

Fri 12 Janyary WASSAIL & CEILIDH Wassail 7pm, ceilidh 8pm, (no experience necessary).

Monkland Village Hall, Monkland, near Leominster, £10 including supper, cash bar, 01568 720510.

Mon 15 January TOE TAPPER! MELODY DANCE COMPANY perform their latest works, showcasing MDC Dancers with age ranging from 5-16 years. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7pm, 01432 340555.

Fri 26 & Sat 27 January GIOVANNI PERNICE The Strictly Come Dancing champion Giovanni will be joined by a world class cast of professional dancers and West End performers. For ages 8+. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £48.50-£43, VIP £120, 01743 281281.

Dance Workshops

Single, dated listings are free. Year round entries £40.

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SILVER SWANS ADULT BALLET CLASSES designed for older learners. PAYG. Tuesdays, 1.30pm, The Larruperz Centre, Ross-On-Wye. Wednesdays, 10am, 2Faced Dance Centre for Movement, Hereford.

Thursdays 12.30pm, One Vision School of Arts, Leominster. Thursdays, 2.30pm, The Regal, Tenbury Wells. Tel Ruth: 07854793960 Email: silverswanshereford@gmail.com Web: creativefitness.org.uk

LEARN 2 JIVE 50’S SWING STYLE CLASSES Mon - Bartestree Village Hall, Hereford, 7.30pm. Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton, 7.30pm.

Tues - Pembridge Village Hall, 7.30pm. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm. Claines Parish Hall, Worcester, 7.30pm.

Wed - Burford Village Hall, Tenbury Wells, 7.30pm.

Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Malvern, 7.30pm. Holmer Church Parish Centre, Hereford. Thurs - Ledbury Dance Studio, Bye Street, 7.30pm. Abberley Village Hall, 7.30pm. Penybont Community Centre, 7.30pm. Sun - Eardisley Village Hall, 6.30pm. For more information please e-mail info@ coolmovesdance.co.uk Matt or Sarah on 01989 750354. www.coolmovesdance.co.uk Coolmoves Dance & Fitness for adults.

COURTYARD, HEREFORD CLASSES Adult Classes. Mon - Contemporary Dance with LG Dance, 6.30pm. www.lauragale.co.uk. Tues - Street Jazz with LG Dance, 7.15pm. www.lauragale.co.uk Wed - Adult Irish Dance, 8pm. ludwigtheatrearts.com. Thurs - Silver Swans Adult Ballet, 1.30pm & 2.30pm. www.starlightcompany.co.uk Thurs - Adult Performance Class with LG Dance, 8pm., www.laruagale.co.uk Fri - Chance to Dance, 10.15pm. Junior Classes with LG Dance. Mon - Junior Contemporary, 4.30pm. Mon - Senior Contemporary, 5.30pm. Tues - Junior Street Jazz, 5.15pm. Tues - Senior Street Jazz, 6.15pm. Thurs - Mini Musicals, 5.30pm.

Thurs - Junior Musical Theatre, 5.30pm. Thurs Senior Musical Theatre, 6.40pm. www.lauragale.co.uk Wed Irish Dance with Ludwig Theatre Arts, Beginners (6+) 6pm, advanced 7pm. Fri - Dancing Tots for ages 2-4, 11.30am.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Fortnightly Saturdays CHORUS LINE Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 07943 417561.

2nd & 4th Sunday BLACK MOUNTAIN BALFOLK Come, play music and dance to French Breton and European tunes. Beginners welcome as well as seasoned dancers/musicians. Hay on Wye Parish Hall 4pm-6pm.

Facebook Black Mountain Balfolk. 07952 998320.

Tuesdays FOXWHELP MORRIS Why not try Morris dancing? We practice every Tues evening at 7.30pm in Moccas Village Hall from Sept to May. Mainly dances from the Cotswolds, but also some from the Welsh Borders. All sexes welcome, and ability to dance not necessary! Beginners welcome.

Contact Paul 01497 821003 or Jed 07549 096291.

Tuesdays, Thursdays - Saturdays MID WALES DANCE ACADEMY Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 07943 417561.

Tuesdays SOLO LATINO DANCE Parish Hall, Hay-on-Wye, 7-8.30pm. Mely 07837 160505.

Wednesdays BIG FISH LITTLE FISH FOR MUMS & TOTS! Dance Centre, Llandrindod Wells, 2-3pm, £3 drop in, for tots aged 8 months+, 01597 824370.

Thursdays WILD WEST SALSA Left Bank Village, Bridge St, Hereford, 7.45pm, £6, students £5, social dance only £4, 01432 357753.

Thursdays JENNY PIPES MORRIS is a lively well established female Morris side looking for new dancers to join us, all abilities welcome including beginners. If you are a musician (male or female) looking to play for Morris dancing, then please join us and have some fun! We dance Cotswold and Border Morris, practising on Thursday evenings at 7.30 at Stoke Prior Village Hall, Leominster, HR6 0LG. Contact Helen 07821 411236 or Rose 07815169566.

Fridays ROSS FOLK DANCE CLUB Bridstow Village Hall, Ross-on-Wye, 8 - 10 pm. Dancing a mixture of English and American folk dances, Playford and contra styles.

No partner or experience needed, all welcome.

Contact Helen 01531 826087 or Cecilia 07747754214.

Website: rossfdc.org.uk Email: info@rossfdc.org.uk Fortnightly Sunday HIGHFLYERS YOUTH DANCE COMPANY For ages 11-18 with disabilities or additional needs and their siblings. All welcome. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 2-4pm, 01743 234970 or email Rachel youthsidance@gmail.com

25

food Wildwood, Hereford

M

R PERNICKETY and his Lovely Companion stood in a paved pedestrian way in Hereford’s Old Market shopping desert while a brisk westerly scattered leaves and debris in the space between clusters of empty restaurants. Mr P was trying to remember what was here before this unsatisfactory retail precinct was conceived, or even a gleam in the eyes of a gang of self-interested property developers. He recalled the steamy, damp clothing, fried bacon fug of the old market café, John Wood Tyres where he bought innumerable tyres to replace those that had been popped by feckless farmers’ thorn hedge trimmings, the music shop where he bought his guitar strings, the auction halls, where he could buy a brace of undressed pheasant for 50p, and the sale ring, where gatherings of shifty-eyed, not always entirely truthful dealers bought and sold horses of sullen demeanour and dubious quality – absorbing to observe for Mr P, but Tattersall’s at Newmarket it was not.

Mr P dragged himself back from this wallow in cosy nostalgia and tried to make up his mind which of the empty restaurants he and the LC should visit on behalf of his loyal readers. Most of the adjacent eating places were branches of national chains of bland, soulless places run by accountants with a hard focus on bottom lines. These number crunchers had evidently forgotten that the function of a restaurant is to provide its punters with a complete, rounded experience, not just a package of loud, unrestful music, hard seats to stop them hanging around too long and staff ordering them to ‘ENJOY’ food from a menu of comestible clichés. The only place really worth considering was the truly marvellous Beefy Boys burger place, an enterprise started and brilliantly operated by a quartet of imaginative, hard-working local boys. Mr Pernickety has gushed enthusiastically about the deliciousness and extravagance of their burgers in past editions of the Woolly Organ, as a result of which they were so successful that they cleverly expanded themselves into the featureless, forgettable and ultimately failed Frankie and Benny’s beastly diner next door.

Mr P, ever gallant, deferred to his long-suffering Lovely Companion over the choice of which of the dreary restaurants she would least mind trying. She picked one called Wildwood, although Mr P recalled that he’d already unfavourably reviewed the Ludlow version of the same chain, which had sadly replaced the charming old De Grays’ Tea rooms. Shortly after Mr P had visited Ludlow Wildwood, it gave up and stole off into the night.

26

It didn’t matter that they hadn’t booked. Inside the restaurant they were confronted with a sea of empty tables.

This wasn’t surprising; on the face of it, there seemed no good reason why anyone would want to come into this dull, anonymous-looking place. Mr P noted that at least they were greeted with genuine friendliness. However although there were dozens of empty larger tables, they were shown to a tiny table for two. Mr P, wearing a lovely

warm tweed coat could find nowhere to put it; there were no coat hooks or hat stands visible, but a waitress quickly came over and offered to stow it somewhere. Service throughout was quick and polite, thanks, Mr P suggests, to Hereford’s large eastern European population.

The LC wasn’t too hungry and didn’t want a starter, while Mr P chose Arancini, a serving of just three 2” balls of mushroom risotto with barely noticeable mozzarella cheese in the middle, rolled in breadcrumbs and fried (at £7.50 it could be called accountant’s delight.) The LC tried one too and agreed with Mr P that there wasn’t much flavour going on.

For a main course she had Mushroom Raviolacci, a little used term for square ravioli, filled with Riserva cheese, walnut bits, mushroom sauce and rocket. Once again, not packing much of a gastronomic punch and, at £14.95, another bean-counter’s beano.

Mr P’s main course, Chicken Romana (£15.25), wasn’t too bad: a fillet of slightly dried out and chewy chicken breast, with a sliver of prosciutto in a white wine and herb sauce, served with enjoyable ‘Tuscan’ potatoes, but lacking what the Shropshire Star might term ‘Wow’ factor. It was helped by a glass of the house red wine, a well-balanced Tempranillo Garnacha at £5.80 for 175ml.

As a pudding, Mr P and the LC both enjoy Tiramisu when it’s well-made, which in this case, unexpectedly, it was.

After a decent cup of coffee, Mr P and the LC didn’t feel it necessary to give their compliments to the chef, Signor Microwave, and left feeling no more than adequately fed, and could think of no reason ever to return to Wildwood while there are other, independent Italian restaurants in Hereford, with real chefs.

Mr Pernickety

EVENTS

December THE COURTYARD EVENTS 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 & 23 Dec - Bottomless Festive Small Plates, 7pm. 6, 13 & 21 Dec - Classic Christmas Lunch.

7, 14 & 22 Dec - All-Out Christmas Dining, 7.30pm.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Sat 2 December KINGTON FOODS FROM THE BORDERS Celebrate the very best of Artisan producers from the Marches. 100 top class exhibitors, live music with Little Rumba, Mice in a Matchbox, Streetsax, local choirs.

Kington, 9.30am-3.30pm, free entry, free parking and park/ ride.

Fri 8 December DEBORAH ROSE AT BILL’S KITCHEN International singer/songwriter from Wales. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £25 music and meal, £10 just music, 01584 878141/meals 01584 877956.

December & January HEREFORD BEER HOUSE 17 Dec - Herefordshire Beer Tasting, 4pm. 18 - 31 Dec - Extended opening hours.. 11 Jan - Hereford Amateur Brewers, 6.30pm, free entry. Hereford Beer House, 65 West St, Hereford, www.herefordbeerhouse.co.uk December & January FOLK CAFE AT BILL’S KITCHEN 18 Dec - Rapsquillion. 22 Jan - Common Jack. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £25 music and meal, £10 just music, 01584 878141/meals 01584 877956.

December, January & February JAZZ CAFE AT BILL’S KITCHEN 4 Dec, 8 Jan & 5 Feb. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, £25 music and meal, £10 just music, 01584 878141/meals 01584 877956.

Sat 30 December NEW YEAR’S FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD Bring the children to celebrate the New Year and explore food. Ages 4-11 years. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, 11am-12.30pm, £7.50, booking essential, 01588 676060.

Every Saturday LUDLOW COUNTRY MARKET 9am-12pm at The Womens Centre, Ludlow. Local produce, handicrafts, plants & veg, cut flowers, cards.

First Saturday of every month (except August) FARMER’S MARKET Produce, craft, gifts, kitchen cafe open. Eaton Bishop Village Hall, 10am-12pm.

First Saturday of every month HELLENS PRODUCE MARKET Local products and enjoy a breakfast.

Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 9.30-11.30am, 01531 660504, www.hellensmanor.com First Saturday of every month PRESTEIGNE LOCAL FOOD MARKET Memorial Hall Presteigne, 9am-1pm.

The best collection of artisan food producers in the area.

2nd and 4th Saturday of every month KNIGHTON COMMUNITY MARKET Knighton Community Centre, 9.30am-12.30pm, 07751 221487.

2nd Saturday of every month BRECON FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET Brecon Indoor Market Hall, 9.30am - 4pm. 07926 196714.

2nd Saturday of every month LEOMINSTER FARMER’S MARKET Corn Square, 9am-1pm, 01568 797427.

Third Saturday of every month PRODUCE MARKET Hightown Community Rooms, Vicarage Rd. Clun, 10.00am - 12.00pm. 01547 520332.

3rd Saturday of every month FARMER’S MARKET Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 9am-1pm, 01588 630023.

1st Thursday EVENING FARMER’S MARKET The Barn, Ledbury, 6-8pm. www.ledburyfoodgroup.org Every Thursday MONTGOMERY TOWN MARKET Regular stalls on the lower floor. First Thurs of the month, using both floors with community cafe. Open 9am-3pm, www.montgomery-wales.co.uk/market 07790 100462.

Every Thursday HAY MARKET DAY Local produce, meat and fish, hot food, artisan bread, cakes, crafts, vintage, plants. Memorial Square and Clock Tower, Hay-on-Wye, 9am-2.30pm, www.haymarkets.co.uk Every 2nd & 4th Thursday LUDLOW LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET Castle Square, 9am-2pm, 01584 872043.

Every Friday KINGTON PRODUCE/CRAFTS MARKET Market Hall, Kington, 9am-1pm, 07867 483135.

Every Friday & Saturday from 5pm STEAK NIGHTS Floodgates Restaurant & Bar, Left Bank Village, Hereford, www.theleftbankvillage.co.uk First Friday of the month BOOKCLUB DINNERS Meet to discuss a different book and share a meal inspired by the story. Pot & Page, New St, Ledbury, 7pm, please book, www.potandpage.co.uk

FOOD BYTES

Why not advertise? Only £40 per year.

AARDVARK BOOKS LTD, THE BOOKERY, MANOR FARM, BRAMPTON BRYAN, BUCKNELL 01547 530888 Cafe serving refreshments, cakes etc.

Tuesday - Sunday 10am-4pm and Bank Holiday Mondays.

THE GREEN BEAN CAFE, WEOBLEY 01544 318865 Good, locally sourced, homemade food. Soups, all day light lunches, cakes and scones. Set in the heart of Weobley. Free wifi. Tues-Sat 9.30am-3pm. With The Green Bean Shop/Deli under the same roof.

THE ORGASMIC CIDER COMPANY, GREAT PARTON, EARDISLEY, HEREFORDSHIRE, HR3 6NX 01544 327244 or 07773 037448 Craft cider and perry off licence and gift shop with local products. Open Friday and Saturday 12 to 5pm. Group tours available.

RHOS MARKET GARDEN, KNIGHTON 01547 528315 Growers & providers of organic veg, fruit & flowers. Eco cleaning products & refills. Large range of groceries & wholefoods. The Old Garage Shop Knighton LD7 1EN. Wed. - Fri. 9 - 4, Sat. 10 - 2. Free parking.

Organic veg boxes delivered to collection points in Presteigne, Knighton and Beguildy. rhosorganic@outlook.com www.rhosorganic.co.uk THE WORKHOUSE CAFE, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PRESTEIGNE 01544 267864 Cafe, gallery, light lunches, good coffee, homemade cakes. Wed-Sat 10am - 4pm.

YE OLDE TAVERN, KINGTON 01544 231417 Food served Wed-Fri 5pm-9pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-8pm. Thursday Steak Night, 8oz Rump and a drink, £12.50.

Why not advertise your eating establishment?

IT’S ONLY £40 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR Just post the wording you require (around 40 words), together with a cheque payable to ‘Broad Sheep’ and post to: The Lodge, Westhide, Hereford, HR1 3RQ

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pale

DECEMBER Fri 1 December 80’S NIGHT LIVE AT CHRISTMAS Ludlow Brewery, Railway Shed, Station Drive, Ludlow, 8pm, 01584 873291.

COCKNEY REJECTS Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 8pm.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS Acclaimed musicians GreenMatthews present a festive romp through 600 years of Christmas music and tales.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

OPEN MIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

MISTLETOE EVE An evening of entertainment inspired by mistletoe, blending songs, dynamic dances and a heartwarming play, all woven together with the rythmic charm of rhymes. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442.

CALLING CARD Americana, R&B. The Golden Cross, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

SPARC CHRISTMAS PRIZE BINGO Lucky Squares, Raffle, prizes, refreshments. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 7pm, Eyes Down 8pm, £12 for 10 games, 6 cards per game, 01588 630321.

A Brief History of Christmas

YOURYTHMICS Tribute to Annie Lennox and The Eurythmics. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm, £26, 01874 611622.

FITKINWALL Composer/pianist Graham Fitkin and harpist Ruth Wall. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £16, 01584 878141.

LEDBURY LATE NIGHT CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Featuring brass band, Morris dancers, mulled cider, roasted chestnuts, carol singers, music and more. Ledbury, until 8pm.

MASSAOKE CHRISTMAS LIVE Christmas sing-a-long. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

THE TIME BANDITS Christmas party. The Left Bank, Bridge St, Hereford, www.theleftbankvillage. co.uk BUILTH MALE VOICE CHOIR Concert with Holly Richards (soprano). Dolau Community Hall, LD1 5TW, 7.30pm, £10 on the door or online, www.WeGotTickets.com or 01597 851427.

Sat 2 December ADVENT TAIZE SERVICE Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 6.30pm.

GATED ESTATES With support from Boatbar to Hamurg and Eaten by Lions. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, 01497 821762.

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MARTIN CARTHY A special evening of song and conversation with Jon Wilks.

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £22, 01873 850805.

Fitkinwall

SKITTLES ROLL UP Christmas jumpers to be worn, £5 per pair, winner takes the money.

Vaga, Hereford, 7.30pm.

CHRISTMAS SPARKLE ORGAN CONCERT Advent and Christmas favourites given

by Peter Dyke. Hereford Cathedral, 1.15pm, free with retiring collection.

HEREFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ‘Countdown to Christmas Family Christmas concert’.

St Peter’s Church, Hereford, 3pm, 01684 540870.

CLASSICAL CONCERT Featuring Schubert Mass in C and works by Salieri, Beethoven and Liszt.

St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 01584 878141.

THE FABULOUS BORDELLOS Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury.

BUDAPEST CAFE ORCHESTRA Led by jazz violinist Christian Garrick, they bring you gypsy and folk flavoured music in their own fresh and surprising way. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 3pm & 7.30pm, £20, students £12, 07967 517125.

FESTIVE FAMILY RAVE Full of bubbles, balloons and favourite tunes. Suitable for all ages.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 11am & 2pm, 01432 340555.

HAFREN AND LLANIDLOES COMMUNITY CHOIR Featuring Maldwyn String Orchestra, artist Erin Hughes, Credu Young Carers and inspired by artist Carolina Caycedo. The Hafren, Newtown, 2.30pm, £6, children £3, 01686 948100.

THE MADHOUSE Classic covers and awesome originals - plus a bit of Christmas! Llanerch Inn, Llandrindod Wells, 9.30pm.

RATOON + SUBTERRANIA & TELL MOTHER The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, 01597 811226.

CLUN VALLEY JAZZ Featuring Stuart Goodhew Trio with Stuart Goodhew, piano, James Batten, drums and James Owston, double bass. Tribute to Bill Evans. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 07768 504322, www.clunvalleyjazz@gmail.com THE WEST END AT CHRISTMAS Stars from the West End celebrate 10 years of the ‘West End at Christmas’. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

KINGTON FOOD FESTIVAL Featuring live music from Little Rumba, Mice in a Matchbox, Streetsax and local choirs. Plus the best of artisan producers from the Marches.

Kington, 9.30am-3.30pm, free event, free parking.

ENCORE YOUTH MUSIC Autumn concert. Featuring Herefordshire Youth Concert Band and Herefordshire Youth Orchestra. Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross Rd, Hereford, 7.30pm, £8 on the door.

HAY CASTLE CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE Featuring Maritimum Wind.

Contemporary Christmas music and carols with words, mulled wine, mince pies. Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, £12, children £5, 01497 820079.

PHIL BATES ELO part 2. West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 8pm, 07974 725374.

SONS OF TOWN HALL Beautiful storytelling through song.

The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 7.45pm, from £15, 01743 234970.

JAM FACTORY TAKEOVER House and techno beats. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 9pm.

MATT CASTREE Guitarist and guest female vocalist.

Oak Inn, Staplow, 7pm, serving festive menu from 6-8.15pm, 01531 640954.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT Featuring The Border Belles and the Forest of Dean Male Voice Choir.

St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye, 7.30pm, £10, under 12s free to include refreshments.

TENBURY TOWN BAND Christmas charity concert. The Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442.

BLUZEBOX The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

Sun 3 December BEANS ON TOAST Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury.

DAVE & RICH The Crown Inn, Oakengates, 3pm.

KATIE WEST BAND With Osian Morris. a magical story, live music (Welsh blues/bluegrass) and live art. The Art Shed, Mid Wales Arts, Caersws, 3pm, £10/£5, 01686 688369.

HAY SHANTYMEN Rollocking good shanties from the East coast of Wales. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 6pm, £10, 07929 110737, www.hayshantymen.co.uk or at Flow, Hay-on-Wye. DUTCH LEWIS TRIO Aardvark Christmas Fair, with over 20 stalls selling vintage, crafts and Christmas essentials, hot food and free mulled wine. Aardvark Books, Brampton Bryan, 10am-3pm, 01547 530744.

ADVENT CAROL SERVICE Hereford Cathedral, 3.30pm.

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS The Forest of Dean Folk Club.

The Orepool Inn, Sling, 8pm, £8.

JASON ALLAN UK’s TikTok busker. The Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 966606.

Mon 4 December CIDER CITY JAZZMEN The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford.

JAZZ CAFE IN BILL’S KITCHEN Featuring James Hunt.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, 01584 878141.

BRIMFIELD FOLK CLUB Brimfield Village Hall, 7.30pm, 07909 290942. Bring drink/glasses.

MUSIC IN NEW RADNOR Featuring The Mellstock Band.

‘Christmas in Mellstock’. With their unique combination of instrumental music, singing and the spoken word, built around the descriptions of Christmas festivities from the works of Thomas Hardy and more. New Radnor Community Hall, New Radnor, 7.30pm, £15, under 14s £3, 01544 350746.

Hunter Muskett, Folk in the Foyer

BLACK MOUNTAIN BALFOLK Yule Tide Bal. With special guest duo, Anna Pack and Ravi Sawney plus friends. The Parish Hall, Hay-on-Wye, 6pm. Andrea Degen 6pm. £12/£10, 07952 998320.

Mon 4 December OPEN MIC The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, 01597 811226.

Tues 5 December TALON Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 01873 850805.

Wed 6 December EX CATHEDRA CONSORT By candlelight. Rupert Jeffcoat, Nicholas Wearne, organ. Hereford Cathedral, 7.30pm, £35-£15, www.excathedra.co.uk TELFORD ACOUSTIC CLUB The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

OPEN MIC Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm.

HAY MUSIC Featuring The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, 6.30pm, £20, under 25s £10, www.haymusic.org CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Leominster Priory, 10am-4pm. Trees decorated by local communities.

BRECON FOLK AND MORE CLUB The Muse, Old Museum, Brecon, 7.30pm, www.themusebrecon.com OPEN MUSIC EVENT With mic provided. Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 8.30pm.

TALON The Best of the Eagles. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 01873 850805.

Thurs 7 December LEDBURY COMMUNITY BRASS BAND Seasonal favourites with sing along carols. Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 7pm, £10, 01531 670623.

Fri 8 December

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FUNERALCARE + IDLE NOISE Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

FOLK IN THE FOYER Featuring Hunter Muskett, acoustic/ electric 2-piece playing distinctive orignal sons in a folky, bluesy sometimes Americana vein. With support from Holly Elsdon. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 8pm, £10, 01885 488575.

NOOKIE Funk and soul tunes, with support from Mercury Trip. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 9pm.

OPEN MIC Hundred House Inn, Purslow, 8pm, hosted by Mark Richards. Please pre-book your slot markianrichards@ hotmail.com USHTI BABA + SUPPORT The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, 01597 811226.

MID WALES R&B CLUB Featuring The Achievers (acoustic set) with Greg Brice. The Muse, Brecon, 0786 6000 596, www.midwalesrandb. club DEBORAH ROSE AT BILL’S KITCHEN International singer/songwriter from Wales. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £25 music and meal, £10 just music, 01584 878141/meals 01584 877956.

Sat 9 December GLYNNEATH MALE VOICE CHOIR A tribute to Ruth Madoc.

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575.

BONGO’S BINGO Christmas party. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 01743 966606.

THE FEZ West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 8pm, 07974 725374.

CHURCHFITTERS Christmas concert. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 8pm, £16, 01588 630023.

ROCK & RUIN The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

PAUL ‘ANIMAL’ RICHIE & MARY ROBBS Miners Arms, Priest Weston, 7pm, free, 07714 250391.

ROSS PENYARD SINGERS ‘Tidings of Comfort and Joy’. St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye, 7pm, £12, students free. Fundraiser for Ross Cancer Support Group.

HAY COMMUNITY CHOIR Presents Handel’s Messiah and featuring Clyro Church in Wales School Voices accompanied by Rejouissance led by Simon Jones and conducted by Fiona Evans. St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, £10 from Hay Deli.

CHARLIE’S BIG NIGHT OUT MC Charlie Ward. Other acts include Mike Reed, Tiago, Gwyn, Gordon, Petunia among others. The Muse, Glamorgan St, Brecon, 7.30pm, £20, 07838 250749.

VALLEY UPRISING Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

ROSS PENYARD SINGERS ‘Tidings of Comfort and Joy’. A mix of classical and modern music. St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye, 7pm, £12, children free.

HEREFORD CHORAL SOCIETY ‘Handel’s Messiah’ by candlelight.

Featuring Lauren Lodge-Campbell (soprano), Martha McLorinan (mezzo), Ruairi Bowen (tenor), Felix Kemp (bass/ baritone), Geraint Bowen and Marches Baroque. Hereford Cathedral, 7.30pm, from £10, herefordchoralsociety.org SHROPSHIRE BLUES CLUB Featuring The Liam Ward Band with support from Blue Moon. Ludlow Brewery, Station Rd, Ludlow, 8pm, £12 in advance, £15 on the door, 07710 409004.

WILL KILLEEEN Known for his slide guitar skills and unique blend of Celtic roots and American country and blues.

Hereford Beer House, West St, Hereford, 7.30pm, free.

LITTLE HEREFORD VOICES Christmas concert, hamper raffle.

Little Hereford Parish Hall, 7.30pm, £8 includes refreshments, 01584 711415 or on the door.

BROMYARD CHORAL SOCIETY Britten Ceremony of Carols and Haydn Little Organ Mass. Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 7.30pm, £12, 01432 820813.

LUDLOW MALE VOICE CHOIR A Christmas concert featuring male voice choir favourites, carols and Christmas songs, sing along, with Jane Hughes piano solo. Wigmore Village Hall, 7.30pm, £10, children £5 includes light supper. Tickets from Wigmore shop or 01568 770239. A fundraiser for Leinthall Starkes church conservation.

LEOMINSTER VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET Fabulous family fun, stalls, Sustenance Morris! Free parking. Leominster.

COR LLANWNOG & THE WESLEY SINGERS ‘Centuries of Christmas Music’. The Hanging Gardens, Llanidloes, 7pm.

CHRISTMAS WITH ELVIS Abergavenny’s Elvis aka Keith Davies and his own ‘Memphis Mafia’. All proceeds to charity. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 01873 850805.

Sun 10 December THE LUDLOW JAZZ COLLECTIVE The Cliffe, Dinham, near Ludlow, 12.30-3pm, 01584 872063.

JASON AND THE ASTRONAUTS The Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm.

CHRISTMAS OPEN MIC SUNDAY Ludlow Brewery, The Railway Shed, Station Drive, Ludlow, 4.30pm, 01584 873291.

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS Aidan and Martin. The Grape Vaults, Broad St, Leominster, 3pm.

MARC DAVIES BAND Richmond Place Club, Edgar St, Hereford, 3.15pm.

ZSOFIA FORIS A& NOEMI CSOKE Programme includes Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 3pm, £18-£8, 01873 850805.

Tues 12 December LONDON HANDEL PLAYERS ‘A Baroque Christmas’. Programme includes Handel, Bach, Praetorius, Frescobaldi, Charpentier, Corelli, Vivaldi and Heinichen. Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 7.30pm, £20, students free, 01531 660504, www.hellensmanor.com

MUSIC QUIZ Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm, £2.

BRECON JAZZ Featuring Tomorrow’s New Quartet.

Keys, alto sax, bass and drums.

The Muse, Brecon, 8pm, £12, £14 on the door, info@breconjazzclub.org www.breconjazz.org

Wed 13 December NICK AND JANE The poptastic duo perform Christmas songs and hits of the 60s and 70s in the open air for Hereford Bid. Hereford Town Centre, 4.30pm-5.30pm.

OPEN MIC NIGHT Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm.

MARCHES CHOIR Big Christmas Sing. A festive evening of Christmas music and carols with audience participation. St John’s Church, Bishop’s Castle, 7pm, £8, children/students free, tickets www. ticketsource.co.uk or on the door.

ABF THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT With school choirs and bands.

Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, tickets from The Courtyard, 01432 340555.

Thurs 14 December JAM ON TOAST Jam session. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm.

TALGARTH MALE VOICE CHOIR A choir, carols and a curry! The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, £15 includes entry and curry. Raising money for SSAFFA, the Armed Forces charity. www.ssafa.org.uk/carolsandcurry2023

Fri 15 December CARNIVAL OF CAROLS Performed by the Carnival Band, an eclectic folk and early music band.

Expect shawms, bagpipes, guitar and double bass laced with good humour and rapport. Playing English folk, cool jazz and Latin beats. Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton, 7.30pm, £12, under 18s £6, 01694 720132.

BONGO’S BINGO Christmas party. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

BC ALLSKAS Album launch concert. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 8pm, £10, 01588 630023.

OPEN MIC Hosted by Mark Richards. The Rose & Crown, Ludlow, 8pm, please pre-book your slot markianrichards@hotmail.com THOMAS ATLAS Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

OPEN MIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

THE BEST OF GILBERT & SULLIVAN Wyeside fundraiser. Featuring Russell Painter (tenor), Laura Harrison (soprano), Gill Haslam (alto), Alan Durman (baritone) and Jenni Axtell (accompanist). Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, £18/£16, under 16s £10, 01982 552555.

Sat 16 December THE ELECTRIK LIVE ORCHESTRA A tribute to Jeff Lynne & ELO. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

DOM PIPKIN AND THE IKOS One of Europe’s most authentic and spirited blues and jazz piano players.

His world-travelled band The Ikos have taken New Orleans funk and blues and created from it their own unique sound and songs. The Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 8pm, £15, under 25s £10 (limited tickets) from The Workhouse Gallery, Presteigne or online at WeGotTickets.com ATTENTION SPAN The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

GLOBE CHRISTMAS PARTY With live music and DJ. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

EDDY GARTRY’S BIG MAGIC DANCE BAND Annual Christmas dance night.

Welshpool Town Hall, £10 tickets in advance from ticketsource.com or £12 on the door.

BONGO’S BINGO Christmas party. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 01743 966606.

SWING FROM PARIS Described as ‘the finest gypsy jazz in the Cotswolds’. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, £15, 01885 488575.

THE (FULL) MADHOUSE CHRISTMAS SHOW! Classic covers and awesome originals plus a bit of Christmas.

Wobbly Brewery, Hereford, HR4 9QJ, 8.30pm, martinchapple1@gmail.com THE WEEKENDERS Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

CANTORION LLANDRINDOD Christmas Charity Concert. Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells, 6pm, followed by seasonal nibbles and drinks. Entry fee is store cupboard item (going to Llandrindod Food Bank) and a retiring collection will be in aid of Helping our Homeless Wales.

THE ROVING CROWS West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 8pm, 07974 725374.

JIVE TALKIN’ Perform The Bee Gees. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

LEDBURY COMMUNITY BRASS BAND Christmas concert. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 3pm, £10, students £4, 07967 517125.

Sun 17 December PRESTEIGNE POP CHOIR Christmas concert. Presteigne Assembly Rooms, 3pm. Mince pies and mulled wine, everyone welcome, donations.

TUNE & STEPPING SESSION Monkland Arms, Monkland, near Leominster, 01568 720510.

AFTERNOON JAZZ Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 4-6pm.

NICK AND JANE The poptastic duo perform Christmas songs and hits of the 60s and 70s in the open air for Hereford Bid. Hereford Town Centre, 11am-12pm.

GABBA GABBA HEY! Christmas special. Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 2pm.

IMMATURE RAVERS Christmas family rave in the cellars.

Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 1pm, 01743 966606.

BOSBURY CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL With carols and mince pies. An array of Christmas trees decorated by different groups from the village. (continues until 6 Jan). Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 3pm.

THE LEGENDS OF MOTOWN Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 01743 966606.

THE (SHORT) MADHOUSE CHRISTMAS SHOW! High Town, Hereford, 11am-12pm.

NINE LESSONS & CAROL SERVICE By candlelight. Leominster Priory, followed by refreshments, 6pm.

MUSIC BINGO Christmas jumpers to be worn.

Vaga, Hereford, 7.30pm.

THE LUDLOW JAZZ COLLECTIVE The Cliffe, Dinham, near Ludlow, 12.30-3pm, 01584 872063.

ROSS CHORAL SOCIETY Perform Durufle Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria. St Mary’s Church, Ross-onWye, 7.30pm, £15 adults, students £5 from River Music or on the door.

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HAY MADRIGALS CONSORT OF VOICES & INSTRUMENTS Programme includes Perti, Buztehude, Schutz, Telemann including some medieval carols. St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, 3.30pm followed by seasonal refreshments, £10 on the door, children free, www.haymadrigals. org

Mon 18 December OPEN MIC The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, 01597 811226.

Swing From Paris

Mon 18 December FOLK CAFE AT BILL’S KITCHEN Featuring Rapsquillion. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £25 music and meal, £10 just music, 01584 878141/ meals 01584 877956.

Tues 19 December BROMYARD SYMPHONIC WIND BAND Christmas concert, with guest vocalist Melanie Page. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.45pm, £10, 01885 488575.

MIDWINTER CONCERT With Whitton Voices led by Sue Harris.

Featuring Benji and George Kirkpatrick plus special guests Fleur de Lys. St Michael’s Church, Discoed, near Presteigne, 7pm, £10 children free, 01547 550158 or email sumarieharris@btinternet.com Proceeds to Refugee Council.

COR LLANWNOG & THE WESLEY SINGERS ‘Centuries of Christmas Music’. Trinity Church, Shortbridge St, Llanidloes, 7pm.

MONTHLY OPEN MIC FOR YOUNG PERFORMERS Hosted by Dunk Burns. Turn up and play or support a friend. Drum kit and PA, amps and guitars available. The Underground (side gate Public Hall), Bishop’s Castle, 6.30pm, free.

Wed 20 December THE ALBERT HALL ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SINGALONG Family fun, with live entertainment. The Albert Hall, Ithon Rd, Llandrindod Wells, 6.30pm, £4, £2 children, 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk OPEN MIC NIGHT Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm.

AMERICANA SESSION Monkland Arms, Monkland, near Leominster, 01568 720510.

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS Aidan and Martin (acoustic). Nori’s Cafe Christmas Dinner Party, West St, Leominster, 8pm, £25 with meal.

Booking essential, 01584 831386 or email noriscafe@yahoo.com RICHARD DURRANT Candlelit Christmas concert. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm, £20, 01874 611622.

Thurs 21 December PERFECTLY GEORGE MICHAEL Featuring Rob Lamberti. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

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CLUN ACOUSTIC FOLK SESSION The Sun Inn, Clun, 8pm.

ROLLING STONES NIGHT The Dukes Arms, Presteigne, 8pm, £5.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS SERVICE Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 6.30pm, mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.

Fri 22 December WAYWARD MYSTIC Faith Brackenbury (violin/viola/vocals) and Tony Bianco (drums). Spiritual jazz combines with sacred music of St Hildegard von Bingen. St Nicholas’ Church, Montgomery, 7pm, donations only, shared with St Nicholas’, 07855 495509.

OPEN MIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

PAUL PARKER Supper available but booking essential.

The Bridges, Ratlinghope, 8pm, 01588 650260.

SONIC BOOM Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury.

STRING BOX Oak Inn, Staplow, 6.30pm, serving festive menu from 6-8.15pm, 01531 640954.

BUSK UNTIL DAWN & FRIENDS Christmas gig. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford.

SHOWADDYWADDY 50th anniversary UK tour.

Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, ticket by application from website, www.herefordcathedral.org ED SHEERAN NIGHT Featuring Dave Busby. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 8pm, 01743 966606.

THE LUDLOW JAZZ COLLECTIVE Local quartet plays well-known standards, Latin and blues. Free entry, cocktails, light bites or book a table.

The Cliffe, Dinham, near Ludlow, 6.30-9.30pm, 01584 872063.

RE-TAKE THAT Tribute band. The Hafren, Newtown, 8pm, 01686 948100.

Sat 23 December CHRISTMAS PRINCESS PARTY Live sing-alongs and games with Ariel and Belle. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 11.30am, 01743 966606.

LEE OWEN Oak Inn, Staplow, 6.30pm, serving festive menu from 6-8.15pm, 01531 640954.

THE DUCHESS OF MARS The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, 01497 821762.

DJ SRIRACHA Party classics. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford.

THE JOHN CUBBIN BAND The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

DIRTY ROCKIN’ SCOUNDRELS Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

FLASH Queen tribute. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, ticket by application from website, www.herefordcathedral.org

Sun 24 December CHRISTMAS CAROLS In the bar. Oak Inn, Staplow, 8pm, serving festive menu from 6-8.15pm, 01531 640954.

HONEY B MCKENNA Nudisco & House Christmas eve party.

Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 9pm.

HEREFORD CATHEDRAL SERVICES Holy Communion 8pm. Eucharist 10am. Morning Prayer 11.30am.

Christingle Nativity Service, 2pm.

Choral Evensong 5.30pm. Midnight Mass 11pm. Hereford Cathedral.

Wed 27 December OPEN MIC NIGHT Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm.

QUIZ NIGHT The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

DNB CHRISTMAS CRACKER Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

Thurs 28 December ABSOLUTE BOWIE BAND Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

JAM ON TOAST Jam session. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm.

FREE TWIXMAS HEREFORDSHIRE PARTY Oak Inn, Staplow, 7pm, serving festive menu from 6-8.15pm, 01531 640954.

OPEN MIC NIGHT OF THE YEAR Hosted by Clare Bennett & Dan Jones.

The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

REVOLUTION Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

QUIZ Every team gets a free homemade pizza, raffle and more. The Balance Inn, Luston, 8pm, £2, with all proceeds going to charity, 01568 616801.

Little Rumba 2 Dec, 12 Jan & 4 Feb

JANUARY Mon 1 January CIDER CITY JAZZMEN The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford.

BRIMFIELD FOLK CLUB Brimfield Village Hall, 7.30pm, 07909 290942. Bring drink/glasses.

OPEN MIC The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, 01597 811226.

Fri 5 January NATALIE BLACK And her band. An evening of Adele.

Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

Sat 6 January Fri 29 December

Sun 31 December

STAYIN’ ALIVE Bee Gees tribute. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

MADHOUSE BAND New Year’s Eve Party. Classic covers and awesome originals plus a bit of festive music. The Rising Sun Inn, Moseley Green, Forest of Dean, 9.30pm, martinchapple1@gmail.com

FAMOUS MONSTERS Misfits tribute band. Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

THE ENDINGS The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

JAKE OF DIAMONDS & CO Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford.

70S DISCO NIGHT Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

HOME OF THE FREE Presteigne residents Alex Valentine and Dave Luke, delivering original songs and classy interpretations in the country-folk genre. With support from Jessica Rising. The Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 8pm, £12, under 25s £8 (limited tickets) from The Workhouse Gallery, Presteigne or online at WeGotTickets.com

Sat 30 December ERASURED Tribute band. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

SKABURST Albert’s Shed, Barker St, Shrewsbury, 9pm.

DJ LOFTY Classic Hop Hop. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 9pm.

THE SOUL STRUTTERS Corn Exchange, 8 High St, Ross-on-Wye, 8pm, tickets from £9.99, 01989 763174.

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THE JAM FACTORY’S NEW YEARS EVE HOUSE PARTY Hosted by Honey B McKenna. Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford.

FREE LIVE DISCO & CASINO Oak Inn, Staplow, 7pm, serving traditional pub grub menu from 6.30-8.30pm, 01531 640954.

HOT CLIMATE Ludlow Brewery, The Railway Shed, Station Drive, Ludlow, 8pm, £20, 01584 873291.

BONGO’S BINGO NYE PARTY Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 966606.

HUSH HUSH MASQUERADE NEW YEARS EVE PARTY The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, 01497 821762.

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY Featuring Junction 7. Corn Exchange, 8 High St, Ross-on-Wye, tickets from £30, includes finger buffet 01989 763174.

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 8pm, 07974 725374.

NEW YEARS EVE EXTRAVAGANZA Party and firework display. Five floors of festive fun. The Left Bank, Bridge St, Hereford, www.theleftbankvillage. co.uk

MAKE-A WISH MUSIC FESTIVAL In aid of Make-a-Wish charity.

Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 3.30pm, 01743 966606.

AFTERNOON MUSIC Short concert played on the Father Willis organ. Hereford Cathedral, 3.15pm.

Sun 7 January EPIPHANY CAROL SERVICE Sung by Hereford Cathedral Voluntary Choir. Hereford Cathedral, 3.30pm.

EPIPHANY CAROL SERVICE Followed by refreshments.

Leominster Priory, 6pm.

Mon 8 January JAZZ CAFE AT BILL’S KITCHEN Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, £25 music and meal, £10 just music, 01584 878141/meals 01584 877956.

Wed 10 January WEDNESDAY CONCERT SERIES Featuring Michael Collins, clarinet/ piano and Michael McHale.

Programme includes Brahms and Debussy. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 01584 878141.

THE BROTHER GILLESPIE Brothers Gillespie make music that is animated by lyrical song writing, fine fingerstyle guitar playing and multi-instrumental musicanship.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

WELSH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA Programme includes Josef Strauss, Schubert, Brahms, Delibes, Suppe, Dvorak, Richard Strauss, Lanner, Johann Strauss II and Stolz.

The Hafren, Newtown, 7pm, £20/£18, under 16s £5, 01686 948100.

Fri 12 January FOLK IN THE FOYER Featuring Little Rumba with a unique blend of styles, from Eastern European, South American as well as jazz and blues. With support from The AfterKnights. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 8pm, £10, 01885 488575.

OPEN MIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

WASSAIL & CEILIDH Wassail at 7pm (dress appropriately), ceilidh 8pm (no experience necessary). Monkland Village Hall, £10 including supper, cash bar, 01568 720510 or 07787 154308.

THE SUPERSKAS Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 01743 966606.

OPEN MIC Hundred House Inn, Purslow, 8pm, hosted by Mark Richards. Please pre-book your slot markianrichards@ hotmail.com

YOURTHMICS Stacy Green lends her unique talent to celebrate the music of Annie Lennox and The Eurythmics. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU Robbie Williams tribute. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

SUPERSONIC QUEEN Tribute band. The Albert Hall, Ithon Rd, Llandrindod Wells, 7.30pm, £18/£15, 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

Sun 14 January THE LUDLOW JAZZ COLLECTIVE The Cliffe, Dinham, near Ludlow, 12.30-3pm, 01584 872063.

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS Aidan and Martin. The Bell Inn, Redbrook, near Monmouth, 4pm, free.

RHYTHM MACHINE (Downsize - Rockin’ Blues Trio).

Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 4pm.

ESCAPE ROOM It is 1890... You have been accused of embezzling money from the Vicars Choral funds and have been shut in the Old Chapel until the police arrive.

You have one hour to crack the code and escape! Hereford Cathedral.

Suitable for groups of upto six people, £60. Booking essential, www.herefordcathedral.org

TREDEGA BAND The Hafren, Newtown, 3pm, £15, under 18s £8.50, 01686 948100.

WILL BARNES QUARTET ‘Source of the Severn’. Featuring live visuals from Erin Hughes. A musical and visual exploration of the landscape of Maldwyn and the Marches.

Stop Cafe, Shrewsbury, www.willbarnesmusic.co.uk

YUZHANG LI Piano recital. Programme includes Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Ravel.

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £18-£8, 01873 850805.

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA ORCHESTRA ‘A Viennese Celebration’.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7pm, £29, 01874 611622.

Sat 13 January WILL BARNES QUARTET ‘Source of the Severn’. Featuring live visuals from Erin Hughes. A musical and visual exploration of the landscape of Maldwyn and the Marches.

The Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 8pm, £15, under 25s £10 (limited tickets) from The Workhouse Gallery, Presteigne or online at WeGotTickets. com THER ERAS PARTY Taylor Swift tribute. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 01743 966606.

LIVE MUSIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

Mon 15 January OPEN MIC The Lost Arc, Rhayader, 7.30pm, 01597 811226.

Tues 16 January

Wed 17 January AMERICANA SESSION Monkland Arms, Monkland, near Leominster, 01568 720510.

HAY MUSIC Three events over three days in celebration of Gyorgy Ligeti’s centenary. There will be screenings of two films; 2001 - A Space Odyssey and All Clocks are Clouds - (Richard Booth’s Bookshop Cinema and The Globe), featuring Ligeti’s music and discussion between two people who knew him well. St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm. Full details www.haymusic.org ESCAPE ROOM It is 1890... You have been accused of embezzling money from the Vicars Choral funds and have been shut in the Old Chapel until the police arrive.

You have one hour to crack the code and escape! Hereford Cathedral.

Suitable for groups of upto six people, £60. Booking essential, www.herefordcathedral.org

Thurs 18 January HAY MUSIC Three events over three days in celebration of Gyorgy Ligeti’s centenary. There will be screenings of two films (Richard Booth’s Bookshop Cinema and The Globe), featuring Ligeti’s music and discussion between two people who knew him well. St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm.

Full details www.haymusic.org ESCAPE ROOM It is 1890... You have been accused of embezzling money from the Vicars Choral funds and have been shut in the Old Chapel until the police arrive.

You have one hour to crack the code and escape! Hereford Cathedral.

Suitable for groups of upto six people, £60. Booking essential, www.herefordcathedral.org

Fri 19 January SARABETH TUCEK A special show with her UK band.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 8pm, £16, 01584 878141.

ELO AGAIN Tribute. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

HAY MUSIC Three events over three days in celebration of Gyorgy Ligeti’s centenary. Featuring The Ligeti Quartet. In addition there will be screenings of two films (Richard Booth’s Bookshop Cinema and The Globe), featuring Ligeti’s music and discussion between two people who knew him well. St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm. Full details www.haymusic.org LARGE PLANTS Psych folk rock. The Victory, Hereford, 7.30pm, £10.

OPEN MIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

OPEN MIC Hosted by Mark Richards. The Rose & Crown, Ludlow, 8pm, please pre-book your slot markianrichards@ hotmail.com 80’S MANIA Multi-Tribute concert featuring 28 chart topping pop icons.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

ABBA FOREVER One of the UK’s leading international tribute shows. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, £27, 01873 850805.

Sat 20 January RIVER SONGS An immersive and interactive family-friendly concert. The first half features artworks and liquid light effects to complement the choir’s water-themed programme. Featuring Hafren and Llanidloes Massed Choirs, artist Erin Hughes, Credu Young Carers and inspired by artist Carolina Caycedo.

Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, 2pm, 01686 625041.

UPBEAT BEATLES Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6pm, 01743 966606.

FEEL THE MUSIC The film Orchestra will perform an exciting concert of film and TV music.

Will include large screen projections and effects. Proceeds donated to Hope House Children’s Hospices. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £25, 01743 281281.

PUNK NIGHT With The Skuts and support from Psychedelic Jam. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

CLUN VALLEY JAZZ Featuring Scandinavia’s awardwinning Oddgeir Berg Trio. SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 8pm, £23, to book text 07768 504322 or email clunvalleyjazz@gmail.com

Sun 21 January TUNE & STEPPING SESSION Monkland Arms, Monkland, near Leominster, 01568 720510.

Mon 22 January FOLK IN BILL’S KITCHEN Featuring Common Jack. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £25 music and meal, £10 just music, 01584 878141/ meals 01584 877956.

Wed 24 January DAVE LUKE & JOHN HYMAS Christmas curry. Nori’s Cafe, Leominster, £25 includes meal, please book in advance, 01584 831386 or email noriscafe@yahoo.com TOMMY EMMANUEL A viruoso guitarist, best know for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and use of percussive effects on the guitar. With special guest and Grammy-winning guitarist and singer Molly Tuttle. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £44.50-£37, 01743 281281.

Thurs 25 January OPEN MIC NIGHT Hosted by Clare Bennett & Dan Jones.

The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

VAMPIRES ROCK Over 20 of the greatest classic rock anthems of all time. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £33.50, 01743 281281.

CLUN ACOUSTIC FOLK SESSION The Sun Inn, Clun, 8pm.

QUIZ Every team gets a free homemade pizza, raffle and more. The Balance Inn, Luston, 8pm, £2, with all proceeds going to charity, 01568 616801.

Fri 26 January THE STORY OF GUITAR HEROES Prepare to be blown away by guitar riffs of the last 50 years. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7.30pm, 01584 811442.

MARTYN JOSEPH For one man and a guitar he creates a performance with huge far-reaching sound that is energetic, compelling and compassionate. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £22, 01743 281281.

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE & FALL OUT BOY NIGHT Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 6.30pm, 01743 966606.

OPEN MIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

ESCAPE ROOM It is 1890... You have been accused of embezzling money from the Vicars Choral funds and have been shut in the Old Chapel until the police arrive. You have one hour to crack the code and escape! Hereford Cathedral. Suitable for groups of upto six people, £60.

Booking essential, www.herefordcathedral.org THE LUDLOW JAZZ COLLECTIVE Local quartet plays well-known standards, Latin and blues. Free entry, cocktails, light bites or book a table.

The Cliffe, Dinham, near Ludlow, 6.30-9.30pm, 01584 872063.

KICKBACK Featuring Pig Daze and Judas Johnson. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 8pm, 01584 878141.

Sat 27 January COMPLETELY CHER Tribute act. The Left Bank, Bridge St, Hereford, www.theleftbankvillage.co.uk CLAUDE BOURBON Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 8pm, £1, 01588 630023.

BONGO’S BINGO Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 01743 966606.

LIVE MUSIC The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

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MOZART BIRTHDAY CONCERT Instrumental, choral, solo and organ music. Holy Trinity Church, Bosbury, 7pm, 01531 670634. In aid of Bosbury Church.

Sat 27 January CHRISTMAS ORATORIO Hereford Cathedral Choir, together with Marches Baroque and an international lineup of soloists. Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, tickets from 01432 374210 or www.herefordcathedral. org THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Featuring the very best classic rock anthems from legends past and present. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

Sun 28 January MALVERN DELTA BLUES BAND Oak Inn, Staplow, 6.30pm, serving traditional pub grub from 6-7.30pm, 01531 640954.

QUIZ NIGHT The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

CALLING PLANET EARTH This New Romantic Symphony will take you on a journey through the electrifying 80s. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, £27.50, 01743 281281.

Mon 29 January CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Thunders through legendary performances from Led Zeppelin to Fleetwood Mac.Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £47.50-£32.50, 01743 281281.

Tues 30 January CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £47.50-£32.50, 01743 281281.

FEBRUARY Thurs 1 February

MADDIE MORRIS Ludlow Distillery, Ludlow Farm Shop, Bromfield, Ludlow, 8pm, £10, www.shirefolk.co.uk

Fri 2 February CELTIC SESSION Monkland Arms, Monkland, near Leominster, 01568 720510.

MADDIE MORRIS The Jam Factory, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 8pm, free, but book via www.shirefolk.co.uk

Sat 3 February FLAT WORLD West Malvern Social Club, 145 West Malvern Rd, Malvern, 8pm, 07974 725374.

MARTIN KEMP 80s DJ set. Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 4pm, 01743 966606.

MADDIE MORRIS Violets Tea Room, Waterloo House, Bridgnorth, 8pm, £10, www.shirefolk.co.uk THE ELVIS YEARS Led by West End lead Mario Kombou. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £28, 01743 281281.

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SENTIENT BEINGS QUARTET TOUR Powerful free improvised music. John O’Gallagher, saxophone; Tony Bianco, drums; Faith Brackenbury, violin; John Pope, bass. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 8pm, £12, 01588 630023.

Sun 4 February SOMETHING ABOUT GEORGE The musical biopic tribute to George Harrison.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, £28, 01743 281281.

VELVET VIOLIN CABARET Presents Little Rumba; a unique blend of tango, klezmer, jazz and blues. La Gringa Negra; romantic songs from Cuba, bossa novas from Rio and rancheras from Mexico.

The Quiz? John and Dave back with another chocoholic, mish mash. Which famous pop star’s work will they be trashing this time? Plus DJ Andre Voiture Rouge. The Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 7pm, first band 8pm, bar/ snacks, £12 .The Workhouse or www.midborderarts.com LEWIS CAPALDI TRIBUTE SHOW Buttermarket, Howard St, Shrewsbury, 5pm, 01743 966606.

DAVE KELLY AND PAUL JONES The Blues Band may be no more, but two of their number are still on the road and providing top class musical entertainment. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, £25, 01600 772467.

Music Workshops

Sun 3 December TAIKO TASTER SESSION With Taiko Mynydd Du. For adults. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 10.30am, 01874 611622.

Sat 16 December & Sat 13 January COFFEE SESSIONS FOR FIDDLE PLAYERS Fiddles in harmony. Coffee sessions blend sociable ensemble playing, together with expert guidance on style, technique and musicality from tutor Kitty Greenwood. Meet in the cafe at 10.20am, workshop: 11am to 12.45pm. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, £18 per session. Includes pdf sheet music.

Email kitty:folkfiddleteacher@gmail.com www.kittygreenwoodmusic.com Sunday 28 January SHROPSHIRE HARMONY QUIRE A monthly session for singers and instrumentalists exploring the lively music of the church gallery choirs that flourished from 1750 to 1850. Led by Andy Watts. We welcome visitors and new members (first session free). Music and recordings available in advance on-line. Lydbury North Village Hall, SY7 8AU, 2pm-5pm. Enquiries: trevorchalkley@gmail.com.

First Sunday of the month SING FOR THE SEASONS Relaxed, friendly, ‘natural voice’ harmony with Sarah Rowe.

Learn and sing glorious songs from around the world. All experience levels welcome, no auditions or performances.

Putley Parish Hall, 6.30-8.30pm. £7.50, refreshments included, cash/card on door. BOOKING REQUIRED Email singfortheseasons@btinternet.com Mondays, term time only THE MERE SINGERS An open-access mixed voice, adult choir singing original and traditional acapella songs. No need to read music.

The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, details email Mary Keith maryskeith@aol.com Mondays CRAVEN ARMS MALE VOICE CHOIR All ages welcome singing a broad repertoire of traditional and modern songs. Practice at The Craven Arms Community Centre, 7.30pm. Martin on 01694 722500.

Mondays, term time only LIVE WIRE MUSIC MONDAYS An opportunity to play songs with other musicians who are just starting out. Explore creating your own musical parts all the way from a riff to a whole song. Rehearse covers.

Ages 11-21. Close House, Hereford, 4-6pm.

Email lisa@encore-enterprises.com

Mondays ALIVE & KICKIN’ CHOIR Old Muse, Glamorgan St, Brecon, 7-9pm, £5, tanyawalkermusic@hotmail.com Monday BRECON TOWN BAND REHEARSALS Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7pm, 07779 390954.

Monday BANDAMANIA Bright and breezy traditional and original music.Assembly Rooms, Presteigne. Mondays at 7.30pm, Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Monday (from Sept) GARRICK SINGERS For over 55s, no prior experience of singing. The Courtyard, Hereford, 2-3.30pm, £5 per session, lisa@encore-enterprises.com.

Tuesday DOLAU MIXTURES Mixed choir. Dolau Community Hall, Llandrindod Wells, 8pm, 01597 851427.

Tuesday LUNCHTIME UPLIFT SINGING SESSIONS Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 12pm, 07723 016837.

Tuesdays SAMBA BRECON Sue on 07792 165481 or Gill on 01497 821631. 7-9pm, VH, near Brecon.

Tuesday LEOMINSTER COMMUNITY CHOIR Liv is leading us in learning uplifting songs. World music, jazz, folk, all in the mix. Come and have an inspiring sing 7.00 - 8.30 at Leominster Community Centre ffi 01568 369074 or email: lccatlcc@myphone.coop Tuesdays term time only LIVEWIRE SESSIONS The Castle Green Pavilion, 5:30 - 7:30pm. A drop-in for anybody interested in music. Whether you’ve never picked up an instrument before or classically trained or not. Explore different song/lyric writing methods, a take on covers, music production, rap, development & recording. Ages 11-21.

Information email lisa@encore-enterprises.com Tuesday WHITTON VOICES Mixed community choir.

Traditional, world and original songs. Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 7.30pm. Call Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Wednesday LUDLOW LARKS COMMUNITY CHOIR Led by Polly Bolton. Songs from around the world.

Ludlow Women’s Centre, 7.30pm-9pm. 01584 823604 or info@oak-barn.co.uk or www.jollypages.co.uk/larks Wednesday ROCKSPRING COMMUNITY CHOIR Rockspring Community Centre, Ludlow. 01584 529053.

Wednesdays (online session only) SINGING FOR LUNG HEALTH GROUP Specifically for people who suffer from progressive lung diseases, these sessions help you breathe better, reduce stress and have fun. Online session only.

11am, email lisa@encore-enterprises.com for information.

Wednesdays CASTLE VOICES Community choir, songs from around the globe. Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle, 7pm. Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Thursday EDGE CHAMBER CHOIR Auditioned chamber choir led by Ros Crouch. Friends Meeting House, Ludlow, 7.30-9.30pm. 01584 841053 or ros.crouch@gmail.com

Thursday CLUN SINGERS Informal community choir, traditional and original songs taught by ear. 10am in High Town Hall, Clun. Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Thursday (Term time) MUSIC TOTS LUDLOW Music activities for children aged 0-4 years. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 9.30am-10.15am for 0-2 year olds.

10.45am-11.30am for 2-4 year olds. 07531 120951.

Thursday BELLA A CAPPELLA All-female 4-part close harmony singing group. Oscars, Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.15-9.45pm, email aimoevo@hotmail.co.uk Thursday CANTORION LLANDRINDOD A non auditioned mixed voice choir early and classical music. Rehearsals currently in Holy Trinity Church, Llandrindod Wells.

7.30pm-9.15pm. www.cantorion-llandrindod.org 01597 810601 Thursday PRESTEIGNE POP CHOIR Contact John Hymas for details: 07969 440183, john@johnhymas.com First Thursdays BLACK HILL TUNE CLUB 2pm at the Crown Inn Longtown. Free. 01432 263495.

Every Friday WELLSPRINGS Song-writing course, open to anyone over 18 who would like to improve their mental wellbeing. For more information email lisa@encore-enterprises.com Friday LITTLE HEREFORD VOICES COMMUNITY CHOIR We are a non-audition choir formed 12 years ago with 25+ mixed voices. Rehearsing at Little Hereford Village Hall, 7.30pm- 9.15pm. Subscriptions £3.50 per session paid termly, first trial session free. Broad repertoire (usually 3 & 4 parts) – all welcome. Info: term dates etc: lhvoices.wix.com/home Facebook: @LittleHerefordVoices Friday BUZZY BEATS! A fun morning for the under 5s.

The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 10.30am-11.30am, £7, 01743 234970.

Friday CRAVEN ARMS SAMBA CIRCLE Craven Arms Community Centre.10.30am - 11.15am.

Regularly during term time with some holiday sessions. Join our friendly group to learn traditional djembe rhythms from Africa and samba rhythms from Brazil - Adults £5 (children accompanying their parents can join in with holiday sessions - £1, second child free). Enquiries carol@mkgriffs.plus.com Friday FAMILY MUSIC MAKERS For parents and toddlers 12.30-2pm, £4 per adult and child pair, under 1s free.

Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Sessions Back next month

www.TheMarketTheatre.com Visit Ledbury’s purpose built, intimate theatre with comfortable seats, bar and a warm welcome, for a great programme of original drama, music, cinema and live screenings - see listings for what’s on

www.tents4elements.co.uk

Harry@tents4elements.co.uk // 07816 776813

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band directory ADD A BAND - Real instrument backing to your own music. Perfect for singer songwriters etc. Studio near Newtown. www.addaband.co.uk, 07515 401635.

APPLEBY STONE Live acoustic duo/trio, guitar, flute, saxophones, voices, double bass, jazz, folk, R&B, pop, many originals, perfect for private and public events. applebystone.com 07979 542 449.

BAGPIPES Authentic Highland music for your formal event or gathering from international piper Keith Wellings.

Keith is a former British diplomat bringing Scotland’s music to festivals, theatres, balls, weddings and funerals. Contact by phone 07580 389903, email keiththepiper@gmail.com facebook keith.wellings instagram keiththepiper BANDAMANIA Community band playing wild and wonderful traditional music. Perfect for ceilidhs, parties and all sorts of local events. Sue Harris 01547 550158 sumarieharris@btinternet.com BEST FOOT CEILIDH BAND The hottest dance band on the borders + caller. Available for weddings, barn dances and parties. Contact: 07969 440183 or john@johnhymas.com GREY WOLF is a 4-piece, well established, popular Americana/ Old-time folk band from the Welsh Marches.

We play banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer and double bass alongside fine vocal harmony singing. The band has headlined several of the UK’s Old Time Music and Dance Festivals, performed on radio, at folk clubs, festivals, private parties and has featured at music and literary venues throughout the UK. Traditional, thoughtful and very entertaining, we are renowned for the rapport that we establish with our audiences. WEB : greywolffolk.com Contact : Jim 01584 810000. Email banjojim.allen@gmail. com HOT CLIMATE Ultimate party band, best 6-piece line up ever. For top musical entertainment at your party/ wedding/festival or corporate function. Book now!

New footage on www.hotclimate.co.uk. Contact Charlie 01568 613895 or mobile 07702 528088 anytime!

LITTLE RUMBA This is a band that will entertain and delight any audience that has its wits about it and has an ear for beautiful melodies infectious beats and songs that tell stories.

From Winchcombe Live “Absolutely fantastic evening from you guys tonight. We had so many positive comments from the audience; very gratifying! Great musical talent, great humour, variety, and warmth of performance.”

Contact Jacqui Savage 07966 943314 Email – jaxbass.xs@btinternet.com http://www.littlerumba.com THE LUDLOW JAZZ COLLECTIVE Local Quartet/Quintet with singer if required, playing smooth sounds of well-known standards, Latin and blues.

Available for all types of events and celebrations.

Contact Paul Brooks 07980 822014. pppbrooks@gmail.com

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MELOMANICS A wacky, Shropshire-based Duo with an amazingly dynamic sound, playing their eclectic and cosmopolitan repertoire with engaging humour and infectious energy (sustainable). Far more than just great music. And stilts if appropriate. Find out how much fun a ceilidh can be with Tim calling and playing. Ideal for parties, weddings,

fund-raising events, festivals, shows, pubs, restaurants, etc. Scottish, Irish and French-themed specialities (Timoléon pour vos soirées francaises).

For more info call Tim on 01743 719438, or Rich on 01743 718612. Email: tim@melomanics.co.uk Website: www.melomanics.co.uk NICK AND JANE – The Poptastic duo bring you the greatest hits of the 60’s, 70’s and more. Great harmonies and infectious enthusiasm to make your event a memorable success. Perfect for parties, pubs, festivals and weddings. Facebook @nickandjane email: nickandjaneH@gmail.com or call Jane on 07512 368433.

THE RAGTIME JUG ORCHESTRA A roots string-band duo recreating the sounds of the early 20th century America, playing a good-time mix of blues, skiffle and Americana music. We like to get audiences involved!

Available for festival, events, parties, folk clubs, pubs and bars; performance presentations and workshops for all occasions too. Contact: John; 07751 829109. Web: www.ragtimejug.co.uk Email: info@ragtimejug.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ragtimejugorchestra RHYTHM THIEVES Funky, folky and fun. Firm favourites at festivals, pubs, parties and events around the Midlands and beyond, Rhythm Thieves are a lively must-see band who deliver an unforgettable and highly entertaining night out. “Full of fire and enthusiasm” Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2 “Great, super, lovely - our resident band” Genevieve Tudor. BBC Radio Midlands Folk Show.

“If they don’t make you smile, you’re probably dead.”

Wheaton Aston Folk Festival Tel: 01568 770 134, e-mail rhythmthieves@hotmail.com SHRED BELLY Ludlow/Shropshire based acoustic duo, playing covers of popular ‘Dad’s Rock’ songs from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and more. All bookings and enquiries please contact: Kevin on 07873 426205 or Paul on 07957 247851.

SILVER BRANCH (Ceilidh and Concert Band).

CEILIDH BAND with caller. Available for weddings/ birthday parties/fund raisers, etc. For photos/videos please see our Facebook page. For further enquiries, ring David on 01981 540832 or Anna on 07980 961187.

SILVER BRANCH (UN-CALLED FOR) - Five piece cutting edge instrumental Folk Band. Concerts/gigs.

SIMON THE PIPER Simon is a full-time, professional Highland Piper and he has been playing for over 20 years.

He is the appointed Civic Piper to the City of Herefordpossibly the only civic bagpiper in the UK and is also the Pipe Sargeant for the Henllys Pipes and Drums in South Wales. Simon has performed at many high-profile functions in and around Herefordshire and these include the opening ceremony for the Knife Angel’s visit to Hereford Cathedral in 2021 and recently appeared on TV piping around the county for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Simon specialises in funerals and ceremonial occasions as well as many other events and is a very well-known piper in the West Midlands and South Wales. References can be supplied and Public Liabilty Insurance is also held by Simon. 07791045831 email simonthepiper@hotmail.com

VENUES SIR DANCELOT 4/5 piece ceilidh/twmpath band with caller. Far and away the best exponents of traditional dance music of the British Isles and beyond for miles around and leagues beneath. Concertina, mandolin, fiddles, whistles, cittern, jews harp... Available for weddings, parties and public events. For information and bookings, contact: Matt 01686 412 753 or 07843 440 789. www.sirdancelot.co.uk THE CARDBOARD BOX THIEVES A three piece music band based in Builth Wells. Songs accompanied by accordion, banjo and guitar. Let us entertain you with a selection of our own songs handcrafted and presented as musical stories. 07966 401731. See more on https://facebook.com/CBThieves THE CHERRYSTONES are Aly (whistles, flute, accordion, vocals), Matt (bass, foot drum, vocals) and Dave (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, vocals) who bring you a mix of original and traditional folk songs and tunes. From thoughtful, well-crafted songs to infectious uptempo Irish whistle tunes, we will warm your heart and stir your souls and soles! Contact : Dave 07817 220016, dgand2@btinternet.com. Find us here Facebook.com The Cherrystones. Website coming soon!

UNDAUNTED Female influenced indie rock band hailing from South Shropshire. This lively 4 piece brings you strong vocals, great rocking sound, fun and always something different from the norm. Available for weddings, parties and functions. For information and booking contact Tracey 07547188402 or Liz 07807 531151. Enquiries welcome.

WHISKEY RIVER is a 5/6 piece electric Americana band that play swamp blues, Cajun, Zydeco and good country music to set the dance floor rocking. To suit smaller venues and smaller budgets, pruned down acoustic versions of the band are available as “The Whiskey River Quartet”, “The Whiskey River Trio” or as a Duo [“The Whiskey River Boys”]. Laissez les bon temps rouler!!

Contact Martin, phone: 07846 669890, 01432 342018. Email: martin@whiskeyriver.co.uk.

Website: www.whiskeyriver.co.uk

Band Directory ONLY £40 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR

Just post the details of your band (around 40 words) with a cheque for £40 payable to Broad Sheep and post to: The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall St, Hereford, HR4 9HP just call Clare on 07786 131159 or email: info@broadsheep.com DON’T FORGET... if you have any gigs in the area, email/phone by the 15th of the preceding month for FREE LISTINGS.

ALBERT HALL, Ithon Rd, Llandrindod Wells 0300 102 4255 ASSEMBLY ROOMS, Mill Street, Ludlow 01584 878141 BARRELS, St Owen Street, Hereford 01432 274968 BASKERVILLE ARMS, Clyro, near Hay-on-Wye 01497 820670.

BASKERVILLE HALL HOTEL, Clyro Court, near Hay-on-Wye 01497 820033.

BELL HOTEL, Commercial St, Newtown 01686 625540 BELL INN, Etnam St, Leominster 01568 616811 THE BRIDGE HOTEL, Tenbury Wells 01584 810434 THE BRIDGE, Ludlow 01584 872963 BLACK LION, Bridge St, Hereford, 01432 266000 CARAD, East St, Rhayader, 01597 810192 CENTRE CELF, Tremont Rd, Llandrindod Wells 01597 822777 CHARLTON ARMS, Ludlow, 01584 872813 THE CLIFFE AT DINHAM, Halton Lane, Ludlow 01584 872063 CONQUEST THEATRE, Bromyard, 01885 488575 THE COURTYARD, Edgar St, Hereford. 01432 340555 THE DUKES ARMS, Presteigne 01544 267318 DUN COW, Shrewsbury 01743 356408 THE EXCHANGE, Newtown 01686 621814.

THE GLOBE AT HAY, Hay-on-Wye 01497 821762 THE GOLDEN CROSS INN, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford 01432 880274.

GORDON BENNETTS BAR, St Peter’s Square, Hereford, 01432 360250.

GRAPE VAULTS, Broad St, Leominster 01568 611404.

THE HARP INN, Glasbury-on-Wye 01497 847373 THE HERDSMAN, Widemarsh St, Hereford, 01432 277330 HOPE & ANCHOR, Rope Walk, Wye St, Ross-on-Wye. 01989 563003.

HUNDRED HOUSE INN, Purslow, 01588 660541 KNIGHTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE, Knighton 07751 221487.

THE LAKESIDE CAFÉ, Llandrindod Wells, 01597 825679 LICHFIELD VAULTS, Church St, Hereford. 01432 266821 LION BALLROOM, Broad St, Leominster. 01568 612277 LUDLOW BREWING COMPANY, The Railway Shed, Ludlow 01584 873291 THE MALTHOUSE, Ironbridge, 01952 433712 MINER’S ARMS, Priest Weston 01938 561352 NELSON INN, Ludlow 01584 872908 OAKENGATES THEATRE, Telford. 01952 619020 THE OLD MILL, High Street, Llanidloes 01686 412008 THE OXFORD ARMS, Duke St, Kington 01544 230322 PAVILION MID WALES, Llandrindod Wells 01597 258118 ROSE & CROWN, Tenbury Wells, 01584 811336 ROYAL FOUNTAIN, Cleobury Mortimer 01299 272720 THEATR BRYCHEINIOG, Canal Wharf, Brecon 01874 611622 THE HAFREN, Llanidloes Road, Newtown 01686 948100 THE TOWN HALL, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630023 THREE TUNS, Bishop’s Castle. 01588 638797 THE VICTORY, 88 St Owen St, Hereford 01432 274998 VOLUNTEER, Harold St, Hereford 01432 276189.

WHITEHORSE INN, The Square, Clun. 01588 640305.

WHITE SWAN, Eardisland, 01544 388577 WYESIDE ARTS CENTRE, Builth Wells, 01982 552555

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theatre A Christmas Carol, The Courtyard

Wed 13 & Thurs 14 December A CHRISTMAS CAROL ‘Mr Charles Dickens presents a Christmas Carol’. Actor John O’Connor faithfully recreates Charles Dickens’ famous performance. Enjoy a seasonal treat in the spirit of Christmas past, present and future. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

Thurs 14 December A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales performed as a monologue by award-wining actor Adrian Metcalfe. Hay Castle, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, £10, children £5, family £25, 01497 820079.

PERFORMANCE Fri 1 December MISTELTOE EVE An evening of entertainment inspired by mistletoe.

Featuring a blend of songs, dances and a heartwarming play, all woven together with the rhythmic charm of rhymes. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442.

Sat 2 December A CHRISTMAS CAROL DON’T GO INTO THE CELLAR COMPANY return to the atmospheric Judge’s Dining Room for a festive treat.

Award-winning actor and writer Jonathan Goodwin performs as Dickens in this one-man performance. Interval refreshments around the 16ft Christmas tree and roaring fire to warm you. The Judges Lodging, Broad St, Presteigne, 7.30pm, £12.50, wegottickets.com www.judgeslodging.org.uk Tues 5 December A CHRISTMAS CAROL AS TOLD BY JACOB MARLEY (DECEASED) BROTHER WOLF. Adapted and performed by James Hyland and music by Chris Warner. Told from the perspective of Scrooge’s deceased business partner.

Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7pm, 01600 719401.

Fri 15 December A CHRISTMAS CAROL Featuring Cornish actor David Mynne with his one-man performance of a timeless transformative story. This is Dickens original words with added silliness. Bah! Humbug! Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.30pm, £15, students £7, 07967 517125.

Thurs 18 January CONFESSIONS OF SWEENY TODD A one-man performance featuring an audience with the infamous Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.45pm, 01432 340555.

Fri 19 & Sat 20 January SHAKESPEARE’S FOOL Join Will ‘Cavaliero’ as he gives his final performance to an audience of a mouse and a marrote and tells us what really happened between him and William Shakespeare.

A bittersweet tale, told by an idiot. For ages 15+. 19 Jan - Beckbury Village Hall, 7pm, £12/£6/£30, heathert806@ gmail.com 20 Jan - Linton Village Hall, 7pm, £15/£6/£36, LVH@lintonvillage.com Arts Alive.

Sat 20 January FRANKENSTEIN RAIN OR SHINE THEATRE COMPANY. ‘Or, a play about a man, wot built another man’. An hilarious take on this Victorian classic. Expect gags, fast paced chaos, well timed comic set pieces and lots of hats. The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442.

Thurs 7 - Sat 9 December A CHRISTMAS SQUIRREL Presteigne’s pantomime. When Ebenezer Scrote arrives as Presteigne’s new mayor with ideas of developing the town, can the locals change his mind? Join colourful characters such as the Artful Codgers and Mr & Mrs Crossdresser and be transported back to a (different sort of) Victorian Christmas. The Ivor Hughes Centre, John Beddoes School, Presteigne, 7.30pm, tickets from The Salty Dog, Presteigne (cash only). Thurs £6/£4/£17.

Fri & Sat £8/£5/£22.

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Fri 8 - Sun 10 December SCROOGE AH PLAYERS are back with a production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ but with a twist. Who knows what will happen...

The Albert Hall, Ithon Rd, Llandrindod Wells, 7.30pm and Sun 2.30pm, £6, children £3, 0300 102 4255, www.thealberthall.co.uk

Shakespeare’s Fool

Wed 24 - Fri 26 January THE BAR AT THE EDGE OF TIME Where gig theatre meets sensory spectacle. For audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

The glasses are polished, the lights are low, and time will be hopping... The Courtyard, Hereford, 11am & 1.30pm, 01432 340555.

Fri 1 December - Sat 6 January DICK WHITTINGTON COURTYARD PRODUCTIONS. The ‘purr-fect’ Christmas family pantomime. Relaxed, audio described, dementia friendly and signed performances available.

The Courtyard, Hereford, various times, groups - 10 tickets and get 11th free. 01432 340555.

Wed 31 January NOW IN A MINUTE THEATRE ADHOC. Sophisticated dining has finally arrived in the sleepy valley town of Ystrad Cwm Gelli with the development of their very own fast food court...

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7pm, £10, 01873 850805.

Sat 2, Sun 3, Tues 5 - Sat 9 December THE SNOW QUEEN A magical winter wonderland as Hans Christian Andersen’s tale comes to life. Filled with adventure and friendship, it is perfect for younger children and families.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, various times, £8, children £6, 01584 878141.

Wed 7 & Thurs 8 February BOY ON THE ROOF VAMOS THEATRE. The story of an unlikely friendship, where acceptance, understanding and love find their way to centre stage. For ages 12+. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £18.50, under 25s £5, 01743 281281.

MUSICAL THEATRE & OPERA

Sun 3 December SANTA’S CHRISTMAS WISH A festive, song-filled, interactive family show particularly suitable for 2-8 year olds. Followed by a special meet and greet and treat with Father Christmas. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 11am & 2pm, £10 adults, under 16s £9, family £34. Children under 3 who do not take up seat are free, 01600 772467.

Sat 13 January THE SNOW QUEEN NYP THEATRE SCHOOL. Be spirited away by this new musical adaptation adventure that is inspired by the hit Disney movie, Frozen. The Hafren, Newtown, 1pm & 5pm, £13, 01686 948100.

Thurs 7 - Sat 9 December HORRIBLE HISTORIES: HORRIBLE CHRISTMAS When Christmas comes under threat from a jolly man in red, it’s up to one young boy to save the day - but can he save Christmas? The Hafren, Newtown, £15, children £12, family £50, schools £12, 01686 948100.

Sun 21 & Mon 22 January CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW Where musical theatre meets circus. A world that explodes into colour as West End and Broadway hits combine with breath-taking, amazing aerialists, contortionists and fire jugglers. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 4pm, Mon 7pm, £39-£34, 01743 281281.

Sat 9 - Sun 24 December GOLDILOCKS A warm, funny, accessible and delightful twist on a classic fairytale. With catchy music, laughter, puppets, singing and dancing, relaxed performance 17 Dec. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Thurs 25 - Sat 27 January LES MISERABLES SCHOOL EDITION An epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. Features one of the most memorable scores and characters of all time. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7pm, Sat 2pm matinee, 01432 340555.

Mon 5 - Wed 7 February OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR! BLACKEYED THEATRE. A cornerstone of modern musical theatre, Oh What A Lovely War is an extraordinary theatrical journey bringing to life the folly, farce and tragedy of WWI. For ages 11+. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, Wed 2.30pm, £27.50-£19.50, 01743 281281.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE Fri 1 - Sun 3 December MOTHER GOOSE OUR STAR THEATRE COMPANY. A magical goose lays golden eggs and classic rags to riches story makes this the perfect festive family treat. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, £16, under 16s £12, 01885 488575.

Until Sun 7 January JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Magic and mayhem featuring Brad Fitt, Shropshire’s legendary pantomime dame. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 2pm & 6pm, £29-£17, children £20 off, 01743 281281.

Tues 12 - Sun 24 December DEAR SANTA Santa is determined to deliver the most fantastic Christmas present to Sarah, but he doesn’t get it right straight away! Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, various times, £17.50-£16, children £2 off, 01743 281281.

Tues 12 - Sun 24 & Tues 26 - Sat 30 December SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Traditional pantomime with a cast of professional actors and a host of local children. (Relaxed performance on 28 Dec). Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 01584 878141.

Fri 15 December CIRCUS BERZERCUS CHRISTMAS ELVES SHOW Includes awesome circus tricks, magical illusions, Christmas musical bells and lots fo fun. Ideal for those between 3-93. Dolau Community Hall, 6pm, £10, children £5, 01597 851427 or WeGotTickets.com Fri 15 - Sun 31 December ALADDIN Join the adventure as Aladdin, a wannabe singer from Tenburyania, falls in love with the Princess... The Regal, Tenbury Wells, 6.30pm, 01584 811442.

Sat 16 December SANTA’S CHRISTMAS WISH HONALEE MEDIA present a brand new Christmas show.

Featuring Dasher the Reindeer, Pompom the Penguin and Snowy the Snowman. A fun, festive, musical adventure, then meet Father Christmas. Suitable for 2-8 year olds.

The Hafren, Newtown, 2pm, £11.50, adults £10.50, family £39, 01686 948100.

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Circus Berzercus, 15 December

DRAMA WORKSHOPS COURTYARD THEATRE, HEREFORD Sat - Junior Yourth Theatre. Year 3: 9.15am.

Year 4: 10.15am. Year 5: 11.15am. Year 6: 12.15pm.

Year 7: 1.45pm. Year 8: 3pm. Year 9: 4.45pm, £68.50 per term. Wed - Intermediate Youth Theatre.

Year 10 & 11, 5.15pm, £70.50 per term.

Fri - Senior Youth Theatre for Year 12+, 7pm, £73.50 per term. Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

COMMUNITY YOUTH THEATRES The Conquest, Bromyard. Mon - Juniors, Year 3-6: 4.30pm, £39 per term. Intermediates, Year 7-9: 7.15pm, £43 per term.

Seniors, Year 10+: 7.30pm, £46 per term. The Phoenix Theatre, Ross-on-Wye. Sat - Juniors, Year 8-14: 10am, £39 per term. Market Theatre, Ledbury. Mon - Intermediates, Year 7-9: 7.30pm, £39 per term. Seniors, Year 10+: 8.30pm, £39 per term. Details email takepart@ courtyard.org.uk or 01432 346526.

Fri 15, Sat 16, Wed 20, Thurs 21, Fri 29 Dec - Wed 3 January MOTHER GOOSE SPONTANEOUS PRODUCTIONS. With all usual funny and entertaining characters. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, various times, schools show, relaxed show, adult only show and family shows available, 01600 772467.

Thurs 18 - Sun 21 & Thurs 25 - Sun 28 January ROBINSON CRUSOE AND THE PIRATES LADS annual pantomime written by Alan P Frayn. Buckle your swash and set sail with Robinson, Captain Seasalt and Nutty Nick into a world of adventure and hilarity.

Market Theatre, Ledbury, Thurs-Sat 7.30pm, matinees Sat & Sun, 2.30pm, £12, children £8, family £42, 07967 517125.

Fri 19 - Sun 21, Tues 23 - Sat 27 January CINDERELLA THE WESTENDERS, Brecon’s leading amateur group.

Featuring stunning special effects. Dancing, singing and of course, hilarious comedy. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, various times, plus relaxed performance, £19, 01874 611622.

Sat 20 January THE WITCH & THE EGG Witch does what witches do best... fly around scaring people. The last thing she wants in her life is an egg!

Should she have it for breakfast or hatch it?

The Courtyard, Hereford, 11am, 01432 340555.

Fri 2 - Sun 4 February DEAR ZOO The timeless children’s classic book returns to the stage.

See our characters write to the Zoo. Who will be delivered? A cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 11am & 2pm, £16, children £14, suitable for ages 2+, 01743 281281.

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THEATR IEUENTID / BRYCHEINIOG YOUTH THEATRE With weekly sessions tailored to suit the needs of each year group, from 4 years and up. Mondays 3.45pm 4.45pm Roundabout, Reception & Years 1 & 2.

Wednesdays 5pm - 6pm Junior Youth, Years 3,4 & 5.

Wednesdays 6pm - 7pm Junior Youth, Years 6,7 & 8.

Thursdays 8.30pm - 10pm Senior Youth, Years 9, 10 & 11, 16 - 25. Call 01874 611622, www.brycheiniog.co.uk ASSEMBLY ROOMS, LUDLOW Mon - Go MAD in Ludlow, 5-6.30pm, Oscars. Contact Simon 07506 478235 & Suzanne 07484 289215 or email hello@gomadinludlow. org Sat - Ludwig Academy of Musical Theatre. 7-11 years 1-2pm, 12-16 years 2-3pm. Oscars. Contact Jack Ludwig, 077922 66225. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow.

Tuesdays YOUTH CAFE A safe place where young people can meet and share creative activites including music, drama and films. For ages 8-16 years, free. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 01743 234970 Tuesdays YOUTH THEATRE For 7-14 year-olds after school. Ledbury Market Theatre, 01432 383663.

Wednesdays KINGTON YOUTH THEATRE Kington Primary School. Wed - Junior 7-11 years, 4-5.30pm.

Intermediate 11+ 5.30-7pm. £42 per term, 01432 340555.

Thursdays (term time) SHROPSHIRE YOUTH THEATRE Seniors, 7-9.30pm, 14-25 years. All welcome. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury. www.shropshireyouththeatre.co.uk Thursdays IMPULSIVE THEATRE COMPANY For ages 13-19. The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, 5-6.45pm, 07916 277928.

Thursdays Fortnightly (term time) HAVE A GO SHAKESPEARE All welcome, 10.30am-1.30pm, £7.

Wyeside, Builth Wells, info@shakespearelink.org.uk.

Saturdays (term time) SHROPSHIRE YOUTH THEATRE Beginners 9.30am-10.45am, 6-8 year olds.

Juniors 11am-1pm, 9-12 year olds. The Hive, Shrewsbury, www.shropshireyouththeatre.co.uk

word Poetry & Storytelling

Rhod Gilbert

Fri 8 December & Fri 12 January BLAST STORYTELLING 8 Dec - Taffy Thomas, ‘Tales for the Turning of the Year’.

12 Jan - ‘A Spell in Time - The Dragon’s Black-dressed Daughter’. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 8pm, £8 or £28 for group of four, 01588 630321.

Comedy

Sat 2 December ANDY PARSONS: BAFFLINGLY OPTIMISTIC The highly acerbic and funny stand up is back touring.

He’s in an optimistic mood - but he doesn’t know why!

For ages 14+. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 8pm, £17, 01600 772467.

Fri 8 December COMEDY CLUB Corn Exchange, 8 High St, Ross on Wye, 8pm, £16, 01989 763174.

Fri 8, 15, 22 & Sat 9, 16 & 23 December, Fri 5 & 19 January WESTONS CIDER COMEDY CLUB Grab a drink from the bar and enjoy laugh out loud comedy from some of the hottest up-and-coming comedians on the circuit. For ages 18+. The Courtyard, Hereford, 8.30pm, 01432 340555.

Sat 9 December FARCICAL COMEDY ‘The Man, The Myth, The Legend’. Featuring Angelos, with a signature mix of deadpan delivery and out-of-thisworld anecdotes. The Left Bank, Bridge St, Hereford, www.theleftbankvillage.co.uk Sat 9 December STAND UP COMEDY NIGHT Headliner: Drew Taylor, with support from Gareth Hunt aka Welsh Jesus. Jack Harris aka The Yorkshire Spiderman.

Gilly Webb, Jacob Nussey and MC, Lovell Smith.

The Strand Hall, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, 01597 258118.

Tues 12 December & Tues 9 January COMEDY & CURRY The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 01952 610888.

ookshop reakfast

B

B

Can’t find that perfect present?

How about the gift of time...

New voucher available to gift your companion a private breakfast experience before opening hours in the bookshop including a book of their choice.

T&C apply. Email for details Jules@northbooks.co.uk

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www.northbooks.co.uk

Hay-on-Wye

Thurs 14 December A COMEDY CHRISTMAS CRACKER With Steve Spiers. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 01600 719401.

Thurs 21 December STAND UP COMEDY With Dave Williams, Ryan McDonnell, Henry Michael and Sean Percival. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, 01497 821762.

Fri 22 December COMEDY CLUB Three comedians from the UK comedy circuit.

Beforehand, the cafe will serving homemade curry, (please pre-order food). Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, show starts 8pm, curry £15, show £14, 01874 611622.

Fri 5 January COMEDY NIGHT JANUARY Featuring John Mann, El Baldiniho, Kate Martin and Stephen Bailey. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 8pm, £16 or with meal £31, 01584 878141.

Thurs 11 & Fri 12, Fri 19 January & Thurs 1 February RHOD GILBERT & THE GIANT GRAPEFRUIT Hilariously dark, passionate and way too personal, this is classic Gilbert, squeezing every last drop out of life’s latest curveball... with a little help from an old adversary.

11 & 12 Jan - The Courtyard, Hereford, 8pm, 01432 340555. 19 Jan - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £38, 01743 281281. 1 Feb - The Hafren, Newtown, 8pm, £37, 01686 948100.

Sun 28 January MARK SIMMONS: QUIP OFF THE MARK As seen on Mock The Week, the master of one-liners brings a brand new show. For ages 14+. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £19, 01743 281281.

Wed 31 January MILES JUPP His new show is a tale about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified medical practitioners. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £27, 01743 281281.

Thurs 1 & Fri 2 February ROSS NOBLE: JIBBER JABBER JAMBOREE The supreme master of stream of freewheeling stand up.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £31, 01743 281281.

Reverend Richard Coles

Fri 8 December & Fri 19 January HEREFORD ARTS APPRECIATION SOCIETY 8 Dec - Christmas Lunch, 12.15pm, £10 to members (subsidised), plus Christmas raffle.

19 Jan - ‘Blackfriars in Hereford’s History’, a talk by David Whitehead, 2.30pm, Office Q, The Kindle Centre, Hereford, 2.30pm, 6 month visitors welcome, £2 per meeting, 01432 357552.

Tues 12 December & Tues 9 January GOING WILD IN BISHOP’S CASTLE Winter talks. 12 Dec - Veteren Trees’. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 7pm, bar/refreshments available, no booking required, donation box at the entrance, 01588 630321.

Wed 13 December LEOMINSTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY An evening with Geoffrey Crofts. Grange Court, Leominster, 7.30pm, members free, guests £4 on the door, 01568 616464.

Wed 13 December SOUTH WEST SHROPSHIRE GARDENING CLUB 13 Dec - ‘Mistletoe and Myths’. A talk by Michael Jones.

Lydbury North Village Hall, 7.30pm, annual membership £15, guests welcome £5, 01568 661025.

Sat 3 February SAM AVERY: HOW NOT TO BE A TERRIBLE PARENT In a world filled with bad advice, empty mantras and online ‘experts’, how do we celebrate the small victories of parenthood and stop ourselves from feeling truly terrible?

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £19, 01743 281281.

Talks December NORTH BOOKS EVENTS 1 Dec - Morning coffee with author Nicola Edwards signing her latest title ‘This Thing of Darkness’, 10am-12pm, free.

8 Dec - Morning coffee with author Mike Parker signing his latest title ‘Map Addict’, ‘On The Wide Border’ and ‘On The Red Hill’. Mike will be reading at 11am, 10am-12pm, free. 9 Dec - Welsh-based writer, Jacqueline Yallop will be reading from her recently published science/philosophy book, ‘Into the Dark’, 4-5pm, £5. North Books, 4 Castle St, Hay-on-Wye, email Jules@northbooks.co.uk

Tues 19 December BEN RAWLENCE TALKS TO PATRICK HOLDEN Ben Rawlence, CEO of Black Mountains College and Patrick Holden, founder and CEO of The Sustainable Food Trust. Their discussion will follow a screening of an impactful documentary, ‘Kiss the Ground’.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7pm, £10, 01874 611622.

Sat 13 January HEREFORDSHIRE & MID WALES HARDY PLANT SOCIETY ‘Winter Wonderland - snowdrops and full supporting cast’.

A talk by Eddie Roberts. Pembridge Village Hall, 2pm, £5, 01981 510362.

Wed 17 January THE ARTS SOCIETY TEME VALLEY ‘Banksy - Genius or Fraud’, with speaker Pepe Martinez.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 2pm, £8 visitors or £50 membership, www.theartssocietytemevalley.org.uk Wed 17 January LIGETI - THE MAN AND COMPOSER Film and talk on Gyorgy Ligeti by Professor Richard Steinitz OBE and Sally Groves MBE. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7.30pm, 01497 821762.

AARDVARK BOOKS & CAFE Website: www.aardvark-books.com

50,000+ titles; North Herefordshire’s largest indie bookseller; We buy books Specialist in art, design, photography, history, gardening

Also open our superb CAFÉ!

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The Bookery, Manor Farm, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell, SY7 0DH Off A4113 Knighton Road.

Tel: 01547 530744 aardvaark@btconnect.com www.aardvark-books.com Bookshop open to visitors Tues-Sun 10am-4pm.

Open Bank Holiday Mondays.

Saturday 3rd December, 10am-3pm

AARDVARK CHRISTMAS FAIR

Over 20 brilliant stalls with vintage, crafts and Christmas essentials! Live music from The Dutch Lewis Trio.

Hot Food and Free Mulled Wine.

We are open every day in December except 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th & 26th!

Thurs 18 January AN EVENING WITH KRISH THAPA From growing up in the Himalayas, explore Kirshna’s journey through the Gurkhas and eventually through selection to the SAS. The Courtyard, Hereford, 7.30pm, 01432 340555.

Sat 20 January REVEREND RICHARD COLES: BORDERLINE NATIONAL TRINKET Reverend Richard Coles is the only British vicar to have had a number-one hit single and appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. He is also a Sunday Times bestselling author and broadcaster. The Courtyard, Hereford, 8pm, 01432 340555.

Thurs 25 January ARTS SOCIETY MID WALES & BORDERS ‘The Crystal Palace Exhibition 1851’, a talk by Charles Hajdamach. Powis Suite, Royal Oak Hotel, Welshpool, 2.30pm, visitors welcome, £7, 01938 555574.

Sat 27 January ON TOP OF THE WORLD: ADAM BOOTH A talk about his attempt to climb Kanchenjunga. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £15/£8, 01743 281281.

Sat 27 January STEPHEN HUGH JONES ‘The Spirit with no anus and the pots that fart. Adventures in the mythology of the Colombian Amazon and why this is of relevance to ourselves’. A talk by anthropologist Stephen Hugh Jones. The Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 8pm, £5 from The Workhouse Gallery, Presteigne and online WeGotTickets.com Tues 30 January WILD TRACKS WITH STEVE BATE MBE Paralympic gold medal-winning cyclist. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £17.50, 01743 281281.

ITALIAN LESSONS ON-LINE FOR ADULTS – ONE-TO-ONE or SMALL GROUPS Learn or improve your Italian from the comfort of your home with Lorenzo, your local native Italian tutor and language specialist. Conversational Italian, Beginners Italian, Improvers Italian, Advanced Italian, Italian culture and food.Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: On-line only.

Thursday morning: In-person group conversation meetings and workshops in Hereford. For more info, call Lorenzo on 01432 870661, WhatsApp 01432870661, or email italian@ italianwords.co.uk www.italianwords.co.uk/tuition.html Mondays WRITING ROOM The Courtyard, Hereford, 6.30-8.30pm, £75 per term, 01432 340555.

Every Tuesday READING ROOM The Courtyard, Hereford, 10.30am-12.30pm, £55 per term, 01432 340555.

Every Tues, Wed & Thurs SPANISH LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS Tues - Advance beginners 10am-11.30am, Wed - Advance Spanish B1, 10am. Thurs - Total beginners, 10am-11.30am with Mely. Private tuition GCSE students and A Level. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, 07837 160505. www.hayspanish.com Last Tuesday of each month HOMEND POETS Share words written by themselves or others.

Music, good company and food. No booking required.

Pot & Page, 8 New St, Ledbury, 6.30pm, www.potandpage.co.uk First Wednesday of the month POETRY CAFE, Charlton Arms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 01584 872813.

Third Wednesday of the month BEREAVEMENT CAFE Old Chapel, Hereford Cathedral, 2.30pm-4pm, run by volunteers, www.herefordcathedral.org

Wed 31 January AN EVENING WITH SHANE WILLIAMS As the 2024 Six Nations is about to get underway, the latest in a series of rugby evenings with an icon of Welsh rugby. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, 01600 719401.

Workshops & Courses 5 Dec, 9 Jan, 6 Feb, 5 March, 2 April, 7 May FIONA SAMPSON HEREFORD SEMINAR Monthly seminar groups, featuring close reading, in-depth discussion and feedback on your poems-in-progress. A venue near Hereford, 6.15-8.45pm, £286, please email to apply, administration@poetryschool.com Thurs 7 December LITTLE BIRD SAID: NATURE WRITING WORKSHOP Blending botanical knowledge with writer’s methods to explore fruits, seeds, bulbs and more. Through crafting, feedback and reflections, writers are encouraged to observe seasonal change. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 10am, free, 01743 234970.

Sat 6 January ENVISION 2024 ‘Craft Your Intentions for the New Year’. Spend a day focused on your new year with Creative Writing and SoulCollage. Presteigne Assembly Rooms (downstairs), 10am-5pm, £40, pre-register at www.craftedessence.com

BILL ROWLATT was Eardisley’s last village bobby, becoming the proprietor and funeral director at Oak Tree Funeral Services. One man, two careers and a wealth of stories from the 1960s to the present day.

All proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford.

£12 From The Strand bookshop in Eardisley or pre-order from Logaston Press www.logastonpress.co.uk/product

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grass roots Despite flood years, groundwater supplies could run dry

S

EVERAL times this year people in Britain have suffered floods. Even by watching the occasional TV news bulletin, you can see that having one’s home inundated is a nightmare. One would not wish that on one’s worst enemy.

But before high water threatens us again, we need to think about where the water that flows from our taps comes from. Actually, nearly a third of it emanates from aquifers that lie among layers of rock way down, scores or even hundreds of feet below the earth’s surface.

Because we never see that water, we rarely think of it.

And yet without it we would be scuppered. I know I have banged on in the past about filthy rivers, polluted with chicken waste. But the other side of that coin is another vitally important H2O resource, groundwater.

If we could only see the water that lies deep beneath us, we might get a severe shock. Because the contents of our aquifers is being squandered at high speed. To call it unsustainable would be putting it mildly.

New scientific studies this century have begun to show that aquifers are being emptied of water at a rate much faster than even expert hydrologists expected.

These studies have analysed information from two satellites launched by NASA over twenty years ago, as part of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). These satellites were dubbed Grace 1 and Grace 2. They monitored the presence of water on earth over time by measuring its gravitational force.

According to one leading hydrologist, Dr Jay Famiglietti, former director of Canada’s Global Institute for Water Security, the information coming from Grace 1 and Grace 2 shows that our water supplies from aquifers have been getting nearer and nearer to failure.

Dr Famiglietti says, “All around the world, we have been kicking the can down the road for a long time on effectively managing ground water. Now we are at the end of the road, and it’s a dead end.”

Famiglietti and colleagues at the University of Saskatchewan have carried out a twenty year study of the satellite data and they have found that, in that time, the contents of aquifers has fallen steeply around the world.

According to Famiglietti, this depletion of groundwater should be a wake-up call not just for Saskatchewan but for the whole of Canada, which is striving to double its food production. He says more than half of its population rely on groundwater for drinking,

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“If we want to increase food production and we want to be doing it on an annual, sustainable basis, that means irrigation and that means having continuous access to water. To me that means groundwater,” says Famiglietti.

The work of this hydrologist and his colleagues also conveys a warning to the USA’s dominant food-producing region, California’s Central Valley, which has depended on aquifers for nearly all its water during some of the heat waves of recent years. Famiglietti says that the use of groundwater has become totally unsustainable due to the extreme dependence of agriculture on aquifers.

The team in Canada have also zoned in on an alarming loss of water from Europe’s aquifers. “If that water disappears,” Famiglietti has said, “so does food production. That means less produce, higher prices, shortages, and other shocks to food systems. My fear is that if we wait 20 years to bring these aquifers to sustainability, there may not be anything left.”

Water supply in significant areas of the south and east of Britain has a high dependence on aquifers and in the drought of 2019-2021, groundwater losses were over 30 per cent faster than in the droughts of the previous two decades.

Famiglietti’s work may be based far from Britain, but he and fellow hydrologists are equally alarmed by the depletion of aquifers in Europe.

According to UNESCO hydrologist Alice Aureli, based in Paris, last year’s drought in Europe was the worst in 500 years. She says it has taken an event that severe to wake people up from their complacency.

The spectre of scarcity, she says, has “made even the water-abundant countries afraid. Unfortunately,” she warns, “people take action only when they are afraid.”

According to the UK Groundwater Forum, aquifers are the principal source of water supply in much of the English lowlands and, overall, groundwater storage far exceeds the volume stored in all the reservoirs put together.

Julian O’Halloran

Green Events Sat 20 January GREEN WILLOW WEAVING COURSE Use willow from the withy beds . Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 10am-4pm, £50 includes two pieces to take home, 01588 676060.

Sat 27 January FEATHERS AND FLIGHT A guided bird walk, bird box making workshop and children’s activities. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 10am-3pm, 01588 676060.

Sat 3 February HEREFORD SEED SWAP Seed, plants, bulbs, edibles and ornimentals, stalls, donations welcome. Plus talk by Tamsin Westhorpe: ‘Plan for your best ever summer garden’ at 11am.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 10am-2pm, 07880 730880 2nd Wednesday of the month KINGTON LOCAL ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY NETWORK (KLEEN) Oxford Arms, Kington, from 7pm, www.kingtonkleen.org.uk December NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME 10 Dec - Tranquility Haven, 7 Lords Land, Whitton, LD7 1NJ, Nov, 2-4pm, Dec 6-8pm, £4.50. www.ngs.org.uk KNIGHTON COMMUNITY WOODLANDS GROUP Volunteer with us on our weekly task days to learn new skills. http://tveg.org.uk/wordpress/woodland-project Email woodland@tveg.org.uk 01547 520374.

Every Third Saturday in the Month PRESTEIGNE REPAIR Presteigne Youth Centre, Hereford Street. 10am-12pm.

Household items repaired for free. Info: 01544 267997.

First Saturday of the month LEOMINSTER REPAIR CAFE, 10-12.30pm. Community Centre. We repair small electrical items, furniture & other household items, jewellery and clothing. Free service , donations welcomed.

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complementary therapies Disclaimer: We would like to emphasise that these listings relate to COMPLEMENTARY medicine practiitioners. Broad Sheep does not endorse any of the practitioners or healing methods listed. We provide no recommendation and take no responsibility for their content.

A is for ACUPUNCTURE with Joanna Bruce RGN, MBAcC at The Body Clinic, Leominster & Richard’s Castle. Treating pain (NICE recommended) and long-term health conditions since 1985. Food intolerance testing. Phone 01584 831 840 or text 07984 460969.

E-booking: www.thebodyclinicleominster.co.uk ACCREDITED, EXPERIENCED PSYCHOTHERAPIST & COUNSELLOR: One-to-one sessions for adults age 18 upwards, in Hay-on-Wye (HR3) and by online video.

Find relief from anxiety and depression; overcome trauma; transform anger and low self-worth; navigate divorce, bereavement, and other difficult life experiences. Contact Sarah Hamilton at HAY COUNSELLING, 07580 482751, www.haycounselling.co.uk.

ACUPUNCTURE. Sandy Sandaver Lic Ac MBAcC. I practice an integrated style of acupuncture using 5 element and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and am a member of the British Acupuncture Council. I also carry out home visits. Hay Acupuncture Clinic, Rose Cottage, Cusop Dingle, Hay-On-Wye 01497 821625/07980 596218 sandysandaver@onetel.com or www.hayacupunctureclinic.co.uk ACUPUNCTURE AND TUINA: I use TCM acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and Tui Na (therapeutic massage) to treat a wide range of health conditions. In Ledbury at my home treatment room on New Street, and in Hereford at Kyrle House Practice (kyrlehouse.co.uk 01432 273234). Acupuncture-Acutherapy Council member.

Ruth Busbridge, BSc MSc Dip.Acupuncture. https://rbacupuncture.co.uk/ 07743809466 ruthbacupuncture@gmail.com ANIMAL COMMUNICATION Helping to understand your animal’s behaviour, needs and nature, to resolve emotional and behavioural problems and to deepen your relationship. Contact Kohra on 01544 262 110 or kohra@gmx.co.uk ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, TRAUMA, LOW SELF WORTH and emotional difficulties - our innovative approach is being used with private and NHS clients with great success. Clients attend an average of 4 sessions to achieve a substantial, some say transformative, effect on their well being. You can check out the testimonials and book a one to one session on our website www. peaceofmindnow.co.uk or get in touch for more information Mike Buckley 07931 986168 mcmbuckley@gmail.com ARE YOU LOOKING TO GAIN DEEP SELFAWARENESS AND TO LEARN TO ACCEPT YOURSELF COMPLETELY? Find freedom and power within to change with Rebecca Perkins FdSc MBACP, experienced Counsellor available for F2F sessions at The Body Clinic, Leominster (HR6). Search www.thebodyclinicleominster. co.uk , or www.counselling-directory.org.uk for further information, or call 07789 473241.

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ASCENSION ALIGNMENT COACHING - LIFE COACHING WITH A DIFFERENCE. Do you need help to move towards your goals? Personal support in all areas of your life? Connecting to your truth, we work together to release old patterns and emotional blocks so you can live in full alignment, joy and peace. Connect to me, Caroline Mary at www.openlotusliving.com (Connecting online) THE BRIGHT N BUTE COMPANY - Medical/Sports & Veterinary - K-laser (low level laser therapy) endorsed by vets (VBS Direct) & NHS (NICE guidance) for GP practices & medical profession. Contact: Louisa Clarke BSc(hons) RVN BHSPT Cert Ed. Email: thebrightnbutecompany@ gmail.com https://the-bright-n-bute-company.business.site CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES - DR NANCY BANCROFT Are you struggling with intense emotions, feeling overwhelmed, lost or stuck? Make sense of your experience and create lasting change, with a specialist mental health professional. Trauma-focussed psychotherapy ~ EMDR ~ mind-body integration 1:1 therapy ~ training ~ supervision. Online and face-to-face sessions available in Pembridge, Herefordshire.Contact hello@thebodyinmind.co.uk www.thebodyinmind.co.uk COMPLETE BALANCE I am a fully trained therapist with over 20 years’ experience working with the therapies of The Bowen Technique, Health Kinesiology, and Reiki & Seichem. I help people with a wide range of conditions, helping to find solutions for lasting health and wellness.

My unique approach offers health packages and therapy sessions tailored to meet individual needs. Check out my Restore in Four, or Calm and Clear programmes featured on my website. Sessions are offered via Zoom, Skype or face-to-face where appropriate and I offer a free 15-minute phone call to see if I can help you. For information contact: Helen Mawson Mobile: 07904 457 075 Email: helen@complete-balance.co.uk, www.complete-balance. co.uk CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY Therapeutic Massage and Yoga Classes with Clare Johnson, to help you feel more at ease and aligned physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I work in Ludlow and Elton, near Wigmore.

Phone 07980 070675, email clareswork@gmail.com CULTIVATING SPACE I offer Wild therapy, Coaching and Decluttering. Let go of the physical and emotional obstacles in your way. Reconnect with yourself, others and nature, and start living the life you wish for. Based near Ludlow. Contact Tracey Baylis on 01584 823519 or 07905 967263. Walk/talk, face to face and online consultations available. Cultivatingspace.co.uk DEEPLY RELAXING Craniosacral Therapy can increase your well-being by releasing emotional and physical tensions. Given a safe space and correct focus, your body knows the way. I am an accredited practitioner, qualified since 2004, based in Shrewsbury, Crickhowell and Mid Wales. Email: cheryljonestherapy@gmail.com Mobile: 07476 012299.

Ready to quit Smoking?

Discover how to stop today with Hypnotist John Richards

Call or text 07783 916759 now www.hayhypnosis.co.uk DISCOVER HOW TO LOSE YOUR PHOBIA WITH HYPNOTIST JOHN RICHARDS Call or text 07783 916759 now. www.hayhypnosis.co.uk John Richards DipCAH; BA Hons. Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist. Hypnosis for Adults and Children.

EMDR AND HYPNOTHERAPY: Sabina Jennings BSc, PgDip Derm, Dip EMDR, Dip Hyp. HWHP. Solution Focussed Hypnotherapist and EMDR therapist for Anxiety, Low Self Worth, Relationship Concerns, Suffers of Narcissist Abuse, Imposter Syndrome, Fear of the Future etc. Visualization techniques for business and sport goals.

1 to 1 sessions or on-line. Supporting you to move forward from the limiting beliefs and habits of the past. Phone 07464202715 or see my website www.hypnotichub.co.uk.

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING: Anne Cummings FETC (Adv Dip), BAoG (Dip), MBIG (Dip) offers a safe, effective therapy to help adults and children heal their emotional and spiritual wounds and fulfil their personal potential. If you have difficulty relating to others, or have troublesome emotions call Anne on 01547 530977. Specialist knowledge and experience of working with panic attacks, anger, stress, bullying, low self-esteem, bereavement/loss and anxiety. For more information www.thewritetofeel.com.

GONG BATH SOUND MEDITATION SESSIONS IN & AROUND HEREFORDSHIRE. Soundscapes can aid in the letting go of old emotions & limiting behaviours. I run twice monthly Group sessions, & also offer 1:1 sessions, hen parties, corporate / wellbeing events, retreats.

For more info. Contact Lizzie 07870345216 www. lizzieyogahereford.com HAPPINESS COACHING & PERSON CENTRED COUNSELLING I’ve been practising for 27 years and offer a safe confidential space to off load your stresses and problems bringing relief and skills for life enabling you to be your true, authentic, fulfilled, relaxed and happier self. I’m compassionate, empathic, focused and work with integrity.Check my profile online at The Body Clinic Leominster and for booking an appointment or call me on 07903 415359.

HEREFORD HOMEOPATH Juliet Ablett RHom, MARH, MNCHM. Holistic health care with experienced practitioner using homeopathy, essences and homeobotanicals; safe and effective for all ages. I work with you as an individual, listening without judgement, working with whatever issues or problems you may have. Regular clinics in Monmouth, Hereford and Abergavenny, incl. Saturday morning children’s clinic in Hereford. See website: www.julietablett. co.uk or contact Juliet at julietablett@mailbox.org 01981 241456.

HYPNOTHERAPY Vicky Nicolson-James DipHP HWHP Herefordshire based empathetic hypnotherapist offering online or 1-1 therapy to help you live the life you want and deserve. Professional Hypnotherapy Practitioner Association and National Society of Hypnotherapy.

T:01568 760 306 E: vickynicolsonjames@gmail.com WhatsApp: 07790 162067.

JING - LUCIA LLOYD-CLOKIE ACMT Looking to reduce your pain? Increase range of movement? You’ve found Unwind-clinic to help you! Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy; a unique outcome based system for addressing musculoskeletal pain through a fusion of advanced soft tissue techniques, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and hot stones. Don’t delay, book in today and discover how amazing the body really is. Lucia looks forward to facilitating your healing journey, mobile: 07506 906614; email: hello@unwind-clinic.co.uk; website: www.unwind-clinic.co.uk; on IG and FB. Monday: Hereford Yoga Centre; Tuesday & Wednesday: Peretun, Ashperton; Thursday: Hop Pocket Village, Bishops Frome; Friday: Lotions and Potions, Church St, Hfd. Positive changes, one session at a time.

LEOMINSTER NATURAL HEALTH CENTRE Chiropractic, Herbal Medicine, Kinesiology, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Reflexology, Emmet technique. Remedial and Holistic Massage.

Counselling inc: Couples and Family, Cognitive Behaviour and NLP Stress Management, Child Birth Issues, Psychotherapy. Telephone 01568 616411 email infoleominstercommunitycentre@gmail.com Or visit Leominster Community Centre, School Road HR6 8NJ (behind Bridge Street car park).

LISA ADSHEAD I.I.H.H.T. ‘HEALING HEART SPACE’.

Relaxing, flowing Massage and Reiki Healing. A time and space for you to feel more ease in your body, let go of tension and allow feelings to be. Over 20 years experience.Concessions available. Working at The Body Clinic, Leominster. 07512 773146.

MASSAGE THERAPY WITH MARIAN HARDIMAN (MTI, CNHC, MLDUK). Remedial, Sports, Holistic, Indian Head Massage. Organic Facial and Manual Lymph Drainage.

Clinic in Presteigne (The Retreat), Presteigne, LD8 2UF. Contact: marian@silvanmassage.com, www.silvanmassage.com, 07816 981454.

NINA’S COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES Reflexology, Indian Head massage, Reiki or Crystal healing all from my country treatment room near Pembridge, Leominster.

I also offer distant healing. All treatments will be tailored to the individuals needs, first session will include a consultation. For more information or to book, contact Nina at nina.aitchison@gmail.com or on 07527 485404.

YOGA IN PRESTEIGNE Groups and one-to-one tuition in Stapleton Move more freely • Breathe better Think more clearly • Experience joy New: Vedic chant classes

Marie Hudson 01544 260352 www.theyogapractice.org.uk

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SHADOW WORK, COUNSELLING & EXPERIENTIAL PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC PROCESS Facilitated shadow work is a type of embodied psychotherapy rooted in depth psychology. I work in longer sessions, typically 5-hours.

These deep-dive one-to- one sessions allow a shame free space to develop within which to identify, explore and transform those habitual, ingrained or unconscious patterns, beliefs or behaviours that trap us and hold us back from living full and joyful lives. This work holds the potential for deep personal growth, and deep healing and is the place to dive real deep into difficulty and challenge, shame or guilt, your grief, your fear or rage. The holding I offer you is both sensitive and strong, and you are invited to bring anything you wish to our work together. Find out more about shadow work and schedule a free 20-minute consultation at: www.inner-truth.co.uk - Alasdair Kirk 07792 405 660.

OSTEOPATH. Mr R A Hughes D.O. Registered Osteopath and Sports Therapist. Fully qualified and registered since 1995. Established in Presteigne for over 20 years.

Sciatica, Arthritis, Trapped Nerves, Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain. Headaches, Sports Injuries. 07961 352056, rahughesosteo@gmail.com The Retreat, Presteigne – free car parking.

PARKINSON’S LIFE PROGRAMME: 1 to 1 Neuro Physio-Led Coaching, Education and Exercise for People with Parkinson’s and their Families. A Flexible and Positive Approach from Diagnosis onwards. Sarah Edwards Parkinson’s Specialist Physiotherapist, MCSP HCPCRegistered. Clinic Based in Castle Street, Hereford. Home or Gym visits available. Contact us on 01432 628123 or www.edwardsphysio.co.uk SOUND THERAPY, with Gongs, Singing Bowls and other therapeutic instruments to relieve stress and anxiety, restoring mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.Monthly group ‘sound bath’ sessions in Herefordshire, 1-2-1 treatments, retreats, private groups, celebrations.

Cecilia 07857 128 082, info@csoundspace.com www.csoundspace.com SOUND THERAPY BY EDAN SOUND. Soesen Edan is a certified Sound Therapist with nearly 20 years of experience running 1-2-1 and group sessions. Using sound and vibration to heal all manner of ailments and disease; physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. Monthly group sessions held in Herefordshire & Birmingham.

1-2-1 sessions run from Holme Lacy. Specialising in work with people with complex disabilities & autism; prison therapeutic education, corporate work & away days; workshops; talks; bespoke sound consultancy. www.edansound.co.uk THE BODY CLINIC LEOMINSTER Health Support with rehabilitation, pain, mobility, long term health conditions, mental health, wellbeing, women’s and men’s health, fertility and pregnancy and much more. Struggling to figure out how best to approach your health issue? Feeling lost or overwhelmed? Book a Holistic Health Assessment. This will give you the opportunity to talk through your symptoms with an experienced health practitioner who will listen and understand your problem from all angles and advise you on your best course of action. 17 West St, HR6 8EP. www.thebodyclinicleominster.co.uk 01568 368 907, 07493 078 566, thebodyclinicleominster@gmail.com

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THE WELLNESS ROOM - Anxiety relief with hypnotherapy & coaching. Combat anxiety and stress, help weight loss and reduce chronic pain. Fast, lasting results. Based in Hereford and online. £10 off with code: NEW10 www. thewellnessroom.org.uk. Email: info@thewellnessroom.org. uk. Call: Debi on 07570 200133.

Workshops WORKSHOP LISTINGS - Single (dated) listings are free.

Year round, ongoing workshops will cost £40 per year.

Thurs 11 - Sun 14 January TRANSFORMATION COMMUNICATION Learn the art of creating safe space, resolving relationship conflict and unleashing your full potential. Led by David Wolf, Phd, author of Relationships that Work and founder of Satvatove Institute in Florida. Llandrindod Wells, £535, 07910 075219, smcgreg@gmail.com CPD credits for social workers and nurses available.

PILATES GROUP CLASSES In Presteigne Memorial Hall, Titley Village Hall & Lyonshall Memorial Hall. Private lessons in my garden studio. All abilities and ages welcome. Pilates reduces back pain, increases strength and flexibility, tones your body from top to toe. Move it or lose it! Helen Boley info@helenbpilates.com https://helenbpilates.com 01544 231512, 07968 970093.

HEDGEROW MEDICINE, KITCHEN PHARMACY Herbal Medicine Making Courses with Rowan McOnegal, Medical Herbalist. Practical weekend courses which explore identifying, growing, harvesting, drying, storing and using herbs. Covers the basic principles of herbal medicine, and making and using teas, tinctures, infused oils, ointments, creams, syrups, inhalations and baths. www.hedgerowmedicine.org 01531 670075.

Every Tuesday MEDITATION EVENINGS IN NEWTOWN Healthy Mind Happy Life. We are a small group who meditate together in the evening at Plas Dolerw,Milford Road, SY16 2EH. Usually 2-5 week courses, £6 per session, no need to book. To find out dates please check our website meditationinwales.org. The class consists of simple guided meditations with practical advice from Buddha’s teachings on how to keep a peaceful and happy mind. Suitable for everyone.

Spring/Summer 2024 (potentially ongoing) NEI GONG WEEKEND WORKSHOP Led by Sophie Johnson, senior teacher of Lotus Nei Gong (https://www.sophieneigong.com/). For interest and inquiries, contact Kohra on 01544 262 110 or kohra@gmx.co.uk

For Total Health Re-Set 2024 RADICAL WELLNESS

* Wildfit 90 Day Challenge weight loss with nutritional behavioural-change programme, coached online * Acupuncture * Chinese Medicine * Specialisms in Women’s Health and Fertility * Sports Injuries, Pain Relief

Clinics in Presteigne and Ledbury

www.freyasherlock.com +353 86 1273148