Broad Sheep december/january 2015/16

BROAD sheep

December January 2015/16

What’s On - Herefordshire & The Marches

sheep

BROAD

Contents Small Ads

4 City tales 6 Art 8 Art workshops 11 Cinema

18 Dance 22 Food

24 Music 26 Music workshops 39 Venues 41 Band directory 42 Theatre 44 Word 48 Philosophy 50 Grass Roots 51 Comp therapies 52

We take no responsibility for the veracity of the information herein

Pete Mustill Mayfield, Stapleton, Nr Presteigne, Powys LD8 2LW Tel: 01544 260051 Email: info@broadsheep.com Website: www.broadsheep.com

My Bottom Drawer L

AST week with a rush of blood to the head I decided to clear out the rusty old Broad Sheep filing cabinets that have been cluttering up the corner of the office for the last 10 years. As far as I remembered, the only things they contained were instruction manuals for out of date fax machines, printers and a lot of boring letters from the bank. So no surprise to find they contained all these things but also all the photos of theatre groups, bands and artworks that people used to send us before we all went digital.

I bundled these up and gave them to Andy at Courtyard Antiques who seems to derive some strange pleasure from black and white photos of 90’s cover bands. Then I came across some very exciting, historical artefacts. Photos of our travels to the Czech Republic after the wall came down. Hand-crafted drawings and cartoons from the early Broad Sheep when we were still middle-aged and creative. Not to mention loads and loads of programmes from old Sheep Music Festivals and a fair smattering of letters from solicitors trying to sue the mag and of course the notorious ‘Shopping & Fucking’ saga.

The first cartoon that caught my eye was a drawing I must have made of the one and only time we cleared up the office when it lived in Nicola’s front room. A before and after snapshot it was particularly poignant as I’d just cleared up a bit of our new office for the first time after 10 years. (I know Clare, I know).

AFTER BEFORE Heater capable of Fresh milk! curdling a pint of blue Wasted top in 2 nano space seconds Lingerie

Unused Broad Sheeps Heater cable

Puzzled dog Dog chewing tissues, wrappers and old Bag of crap electricity final demands Next we come to the aforementioned ‘Shopping & F***ing’ saga. The story was that Ellie Parker, our then theatre critic, had reviewed a play of that name when it came to Cardiff. At the same time we were applying for a small grant from Hereford Council. The Hereford Journal put two and two together and came up with a salacious front page shocker. The whole thing was very very stupid, but a lot of very nice, articulate people jumped to our defence and it wasn’t until this clear out that I found all their letters. I particularly like this rant from John Malone.

“Broad Sheep is well-written, amusing and most informative across the whole local range of the arts, and essential reading for anyone even slightly interested in brushing against cultural experience. Of course, that would exclude most of your target readership: the people of Hereford are too idle to be apathetic. As for those in authority over them, it takes a special kind of genius to be able to bring a whole town to its knees as our City and County Fathers have contrived over the past twenty-five years. Now the same tired, tiresome, self-satisfied bunch are to take us into the New Millenium!”

There is a complete set of long and beautifully written missives from our film critic when he was resident in the Allanwood House of Correction and even a letter from two of his cellmates, complaining about his anti-American bias.

There are also loads and loads of very funny drawings and cartoons by Sara Bamford including the one we print here of the Hat Shop at full steam in the mid-1990s. Anyway we are off for a month over Christmas. See you in February.

Cover pic: Cam Penner & Jon Wood - 13 Jan, Assembly Rooms, Presteigne

small ads MOUNTAIN SPORTIVA WALKING BOOTS FOR SALE New in box. Size 6 but more like size 5. Cost £125 new. £60 o.n.o. Call Elda, The Coffee House, Presteigne, 01544 260055.

COMPLINE A service of evening prayers said or chanted before retiring for the night. The Church of St Mary Magdalene, Bleddfa. By candlight. Sunday 6 December, 8.30pm, Sunday 3 January, 8.30pm.

CHARACTERFUL, UNFURNISHED, DETACHED PROPERTY WITH FIREPLACE AND GARDEN SOUGHT by clean and well-behaved Labrador and his two human charges. Long let, 1-2 years, close-ish to Hay. Refs available. Email John at francespilgrim@icloud.com or call 07981 196694.

FEMALE BACKING SINGER WANTED for Hereford based party band with regular gigs. Preferably aged 30 – 55. Call 0788 4245665.

BLACKSMITHING EVENING CLASSES AND SHORT COURSES at Bluefoot Forge. For details, phone 01544 267810. info@wherethelightgetsin.co.uk or visit www.wherethelightgetsin.co.uk SILVER SURFERS! HAVING TROUBLE CATCHING THE INTERNET WAVE?? The internet is dominating the ways we communicate, not being able to join-in can be isolating.

I can help you learn how to email, set up bills payments on line or keep in touch with friends by email/social media.

If you want home tuition to get you started or a one off problem solving session. (references available from local people). Call: Moira 07967428703 LONDON FLAT, HOLIDAY OR SHORT-BREAK LETS Portobello Road/Nottinghill Gate area. Sleeps up to 5.

Please call 01544 260352 email: peter.rda@freeuk.com PRIVATE TUITION: “PAINTING AND DRAWING” Individually tailored for personal portfolio development.

Sue Purcell - Artist & Designer www.suepurcellart.com Tel: 01686 440668 or email sue@suepurcellart.co.uk DRUM LESSONS @ KJM STUDIOS. For all ages and abilities, private one-to-one tuition, all styles covered.

Free introductory lesson! Quote ‘Broad Sheep’.

Call Andy on 07969 168921.

EXPERIENCE UKRAINE TRIPS 2016 28.05.16 – 04.06.15 (8 days, 7 nights) Transcarpathian Adventure with visits to social projects,walks in wildflower meadows and live Ukrainian music! 22.08.16 – 29.08.16 (8 days, 7 nights) Carpathian Cultural Experience with traditional craft workshops, visits to Ukrainian villages and art and cultural capital of Ukraine- Lviv. All trips are fully inclusive except transport to Ukraine. Price: from £880pp. www.experienceukraine.co.uk 07963 090838 nataliya. cummings@gmail.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 Katie 01547 520328.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS Landscape photographer Rob Scamp offering one to one tuition. Accommodation available. For details: www.muddyslippers.co.uk Current photography www.flickr.com/photos/robscamp

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GETTING MARRIED SOON? Local photographer looking for two weddings, offering services free in exchange for portfolio of non-traditional, creative/candid photographs.

Willing to work alongside someone else. Looking to capture those ‘non-posed’ moments. For more information or to discuss, please contact Rob Scamp rob@muddyslippers.co.uk Current photography www.flickr.com/photos/ robscamp WANTED LAND Small piece of land required (up to 3 acres), cash waiting. Contact rob@muddyslippers.co.uk CHERRY TREE HOME HELP Would you like help with:• Shopping?

• Household tasks?

• Getting to appointments?

• Keeping up with your interests?

• Looking after your home while you are away?

• Assisting when you are home from hospital?

DBS-checked; fully insured; clean driving licences.

Hereford-based.

Vicky: 07941 412885 Cathy: 07990 630850 www.cherrytreehomehelp.co.uk SELLING PRODUCTS ONLINE: a workshop from the Small Business Clinic. Thursday 3rd December 10am – 3pm £35 including lunch. Book through Eventbrite.

Workshop programme for the new year available shortly. We are planning Getting Started, MailChimp, Websites, Spreadsheets and more. Further information on all our workshops at www.smallbusinessclinic.co.uk or call 07825 987114.

CHAIR CANING / RUSHING Furniture repairs. Advice.

Paul Richards, 01544 267367.

COURTYARD ANTIQUES, HIGH ST, PRESTEIGNE. A most unusual shop offering an eclectic and interesting collection of fine quality antiques, decorative and quirky items, Staffordshire pottery, country furniture and books.

01544 267033. aeleavis@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/courtyardantiquespresteigne BEEKEEPING TUITION Want to keep bees but don’t know where to begin? Our two-day Bee Ready course will give you the knowledge of how to start and allow you to handle bees under tuition before you take the next step. Courses are held on our family smallholding on the Worcestershire/Herefordshire border, with lunch included on both days. For further details of our beekeeping and smallholding courses please email woodruffbank@btinternet.com or phone 01886 884752/07813 276308.

CELLO, BASS, PIANO AND FLUTE LESSONS Contact Ludlow 01584 875659.

PRESTEIGNE.ORG.UK ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS FROM ONLY 50P PER WEEK 1000 direct unique hits per month, top of the page on Google when you type in Presteigne, all administrative work done by volunteers, project is not for profit. SUPPORT YOUR TOWN WEBSITE. Very cheap rates: 50p per week, or full page £1 per week. For more information go to www.presteigne.org.uk, email jtennanteyles@gmail.com or telephone James Tennant-Eyles on 01544 267363.

A STITCH IN TIME Careful repairs & creative alterations to well-loved clothes. Vintage a speciality.

Anne 01544 267997.

BROAD sheep check out the web site

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LISTINGS ARE FREE!!!

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FOOD BYTES DIRECTORY, BAND DIRECTORY & COMP. MED. DIRECTORY £40/year SMALL ADS 15p /word One Year’s Subscription £20 All cheques made out to Broad Sheep For more details phone our Sales Hotline 01544 260051 or email info@broadsheep.com

Make sure you get your adverts and free event details to us by the 15th of the preceding month and send them to our email info@broadsheep.com 55 6

tales from off

A Dispatch from the City M

INE was a country youth, a pastoral carnival projected in slow motion, grainy old-fashioned footage through a newflanged sepia Instagram filter.

Flying a kite, gripping its string in field-toughened hands while standing on the broad woollen back of a mightily-shouldered sheep, balanced precariously but confidently, surfing the beast as it galloped down the slope of a hill to join its frolicking brethren. Measuring, comparing and swapping amusingly-shaped twigs, drunk on cider from the river. Taking tractors apart to see what made them tick, and leaving their bones for the local witches. If the present truly is the murderer of the past and the cold, psychologically distant mother of the future, as the philosophers say, then part of me wishes that the past were actually the future, and the present merely a waiting room, because I’d love to kite-surf a sheep again, one more time, before they’re all gone.

But now I am a city dweller.

It’s not the country, I can say that with certainty. The country’s angsty, coughing, ash-cheeked second cousin perhaps, with whom it dreads having to make smalltalk at family weddings. The country reflected in a broken, haunted mirror. The country returning home after a long, violent, drunken tour of some seedy backwater galaxy, a tour where it, y’know, really saw some shit, man, you weren’t there, and is now as unrecognisable to itself as it is to those who knew it before. The streets are paved with unfulfilled ghosts, the money is worth exponentially, hilariously less than it is everywhere else, and the people spend their days uploading aggressive grime remixes of Mumford & Sons B-sides to the Internet in a futile effort to drown out the pervasive din. This din is difficult to describe; imagine silence with a brutal hangover, five seconds away from lamping you one for buying the last bottle of mineral water in the Tesco Express.

We have to come, though, we who dwell in the city. We come here to find ourselves, to see what we’re really like, and hopefully not grimace in disgust. We come here to find a way to make enough money to pay to learn the basic skills to make slightly more money to pay to learn some intermediate skills and then hopefully start the long process of maybe considering thinking about possibly building something new, if, you know, there’s nothing good on telly and we can be bothered to get out of our pyjamas. We come here to fight over the scraps left for us by our betters, to show the appropriate level of gratitude, and then retreat to the pub and nurse a

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single pint between five of us. Living the dream, boss, as they used to say in the country.

It’s not all bad, though. We have Jeremy Corbyn in the city. Do you have Jeremy Corbyn where you are? You can get him on the Internet, I think. He’s going to fix things. You know how the sun has been lower lately? It might be more obvious in the city because we’re closer to the equator, which has an effect on the angle of equinox; anyway, Corbyn is going to raise it back up to its rightful height. He is also going to repair the crack the Tories made in the moon, whacking their golf balls at it, drunk on rare port and the thrill of secret society outings. Corbyn has a very long ladder, we’re told, longer than a farmer’s memory.

Other wonderful things are afoot. There’s a Green Party happening soon, apparently. I must admit that find it quite mystifying that it’s happening in the city rather than out in the country – after all, the grass is literally greener in the countryside, because they paint it grey in the city, to discourage terrorists.

I don’t really know what’s going to happen at this Green Party, to be honest, because I misplaced my Facebook invitation, but I think there might be trees, and sharing platters of social justice.

I write this missive from what I lovingly, deludedly refer to as my writer’s garret – actually a small cupboard unit in the corner of another writer’s garret, which he sublets to me for £250 per week. I have lots of candles, a half-empty notebook I found in a bin, and as many free biros as I can pilfer from the Job Centre. It’s not a bad life. But on nights like these, when the frozen moon throbs and the winter crows peck at my toes, I find myself thinking about you. The country. Your pubs, like warm paternal hugs that somehow, through some inscrutable alchemy, have been transmogrified into buildings.

Your grass, and your air, and your notions of community, which we simply can’t afford in the city.

But, if I’m honest, mostly your pubs.

Christmas will soon be upon us, and like many, I shall be wending my weary way back to the country, trudging along the hard shoulder with a bundle full of damp pine cones to wrap and arrange under the tree. And when I catch my first sight of a hill, a genuine green hill dotted with woolly friends, I shall remember the best thing about the city.

Which is?

Returning to the country. Obvz.

Stefan Mohamed

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art POWYS Radnorshire Museum, Temple St, Llandrindod Wells 01597 824513 Until 9 Jan ‘Cornucopia’.

JOHN WELSON - surrealist art.

Open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm.

St Mary’s Church, Bucknell Until 5 Dec ‘Abstract Edge’. RAE HARRISON, ROGER PERCIVAL, ROS BURNS, CIARA LEWIS, LOIS HOPWOOD, TONY HALL, SUE FIRMIN, BRONTË WOODRUFF, MAGGIE JONES, ALISON McGREGOR-GRIMLEY, THELMA AYRE, JANE THOMAS, RACHEL SUDWORTH, GWEN VAUGHAN. Preview 28 Nov 11am-1pm, open other times 11am-4pm.

Ivy House Gallery, Montgomery 01686 668746 Dec & Jan Local artists and locally produced crafts. Open daily 9am-5pm.

Courtyard Antiques, High St, Presteigne, 01544 267033 Dec & Jan Art from the last 215 years.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-3pm. Facebook Courtyard Antiques, Presteigne.

The Hay Makers Gallery, St John’s Place, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5BN 01497 820556 Dec Christmas exhibition. KEVIN MADDISON - prints. CATHY TIMBRELL & NAOMI GREAVES jewellery. DEMELZA WHITLEY ceramic sculpture. ROSE DICKENSON - ceramics.

Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Brook Street Pottery & Gallery Hay on Wye HR3 5BQ 01497 821070 Until 5 Jan ‘WESTWARD HO HO HO’ Exhibition of artists and makers from the West of England curated

by The Restless Gallery and featuring paintings by JANET LYNCH and JAN PHETHEAN, ceramics by JAMES CAMPBELL, KIM DONALDSON, KATE SCOTT and RICHARD PHETHEAN, metal collages by LISA WISDOM, furniture by HELEN NOCK and GORDON MONK, aquatints by DAVIDA SMITH, jewellery by GUY ROYLE, DUIBHNE GOUGH and DEBRA HEYWOOD, blankets by SIONY RHYS HANDWEAVERS, baskets by NORA KENNEDY, papier mache by ARDYN GRIFFIN. Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm.

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Knighton Fine Art, 2 Broad Street.

01547 528052 Dec ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’. Seasonal art, craft and cards.

Jan ‘In with the new’. Work

by KEVAN HOPSON, BRONTË WOODRUFF and C20th Artists.

Open Wed-Sat 10am-5pm Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws 01686 688369 Until 25 Jan Open Exhibition. Inspired

by Wales. Thurs-Sun 10am-4pm.

Wyeside, Builth Wells 01982 552555 Until 31 Dec ‘A Family Affair’.

CHRISTINE, GRAHAM AND ANNA HASLOCK - paintings, photographs and prints. Open theatre times.

Museum of Modern Art, Machynlleth 01654 703355 Until 9 Jan ‘Raising Stones’.

HOWARD BOWCOTT - sculpture.

Until 16 Jan ‘The Stream and the Steam’. PETER McNALLY - paintings.

Until 16 Jan ‘Embrace the Hills’. BOB GUY - wood engravings.

Until 23 Jan LUNED GLYN - ceramics.

GLYN TOMOS - paintings.

Until 16 Jan ‘Counting in Colour’.

SIMON FENOULHET. Until 23 Jan ‘Pivotal Moments & Memories 1975-2015’. DAN ROBERSON. Until 5 March ‘Our Glorious Coastline’.

MIKE BRISCOE, ANDREA KELLAND, ARTHUR CHARLES KEMP, JUDY LINNELL, DAVID TRESS, TESS URBANSKA, GILL WATKISS & GEOFF Y. Mon-Sat 10am-4pm.

Oriel Andrew Lamont Gallery, Theatr Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf, Brecon 01874 611622 Until 31 Dec ‘Fusion’. Two sisters display Art of Glass and an exhibition of paintings of Welsh nature and the livestock of their farms. Open theatre times.

Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown 01686 625041 Until 27 Jan ‘House’. FRANCES CARLILE, AINSLEY HILLARD, JEANETTE ORRELL, CHARLOTTE SQUIRE, AMY STERLY & FELICITY WARBRICK. Artists who use the domestic space and objects as a springboard for their ideas.

Until 27 Jan ‘Talking to Gwen’. ANNA FALCIN. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm.

Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes 01686 413467 Until 24 Dec Christmas craft fair.

Open 10.30am-4.30pm, closed Sun.

Shepherd’s Ice Cream Parlour, 9 High Town, Hay-on-Wye 01497 821898 Until 31 Jan AMY GIBBONS - pen and ink, inspired by nature and wildlife.

Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10.30am-5.30pm.

Assembly Rooms, Presteigne 01544 260777 3 - 5 Dec Christmas Fair.

Perfect presents from local makers.

Open 10am-3pm.

Tower House Gallery, 29 High St, Knighton 01547 529530 Dec ‘A Winter’s Tale’. PAUL BEARMAN. Homemade soups, breads and cakes, Italian blend coffee and over 30 different varieties of leaf tea. Wed-Sat 9.30am-5pm.

The Workhouse Studio, Presteigne Industrial Estate 01544 267864 Dec & Jan Balthazar’s Bizarre Bazaar.

A sumptuous collection of interesting and unusual gifts from near and far.

Rare antique carpets and kilims.

Cafe. Wed-Sat 9.30am-5pm.

Closed 25 Dec - 4 Jan. HEREFORDSHIRE St Leonard’s Church, Yarpole 5 & 6 Dec ‘Made in HR6’. Art, craft and food in a magical setting.

Buy gifts direct from the makers and have lunch or tea in the gallery cafe.

Open 10.30am-4.30pm.

Shire Hall, Hereford 01981 540221 5 Dec Advent Fair. Handmade crafts and clothes, storytelling, children’s activities and homemade food.

Open 10am-4pm.

Birch Hall, Steiner Academy, Much Dewchurch, HR2 8DL 01981 540221 13 Dec Advent Market. Stalls, hand-crafted gifts, clothing produce, carol singing, food and more.

Wobage Farm Craft Workshops, Upton Bishop, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7QP www.wobage.co.uk Open every Thurs-Sat until Christmas Fine contemporary crafts by nine makers including pottery, wood, jewellery, textiles, baskets.

Open 10am-5pm, plus Sun 6 Dec. St Michael’s & All Angels church, Kingsland, HR6 9QW Until 13 Dec ‘The Light’. An exhibition of paintings, sculpture, print, stained glass and other media. Open 10am-4pm daily. Raising funds for Kinglsand Church.

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Amy Gibbons, Shepherd’s Ice Cream Parlour, Hay-on-Wye Tim Phillip, Public Hall, Bishop’s Castle

Carol Randell, Old Mayor’s Parlour, Church St, Hereford

Victoria Keeble, Hay Makers Gallery, Hay-on-Wye

Rebecca Lewis, Lion Gallery, Leominster

Christine Haslock, Wyeside, Builth Wells

Hereford Museum & Art Gallery, Broad St., Hereford 01432 260692 Until 30 Jan ‘The Wood Engraver’s World’. SARAH VAN NIEKERK & HARRY BROCKWAY. Tues-Sat 10am5pm, Sun 10am-4pm, closed Mon.

Gallery 54, Ross-on-Wye 01989 567917 A continual exhibition from artists in residence. A picture framing service is also available. Open Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm.

Tobias James Art & Framing Gallery, St Owen St, Hereford 07760 316959 Dec & Jan Works by local artists and from artists further afield.

Weavers Gallery, Church Lane, Ledbury, HR8 1LP 01531 633325 1 - 12 Dec ‘Designed for Christmas’.

Seven Designer Makers. Open daily 10.30am - 4.30pm.

Leg of Mutton, 17 Duke St, Kington 01544 231563 5 & 6 Dec ‘Gifted’. Holiday Exhibition.

Most work £95 or less. Featuring SHANNON DONOVAN, ANDREW EASTWOOD, DENISE FORDYCE, CIARA LEWIS, HELENA ORLOWSKI, LAURA ROWLATT, SAFFRON TOMS, AND JANE TUDGE. Open 11am-5pm. legofmuttongallery@gmail.com; legofmutton.wordpress.com Open by appointment.

The Studio, Greenacres, Tenbury Wells, WR15 8TH 01584 811080 5 & 6 Dec Handmade Christmas Fair with unique artisan gifts for sale.

Open 2-4pm.

Lion Gallery, Broad St, Leominster 01568 611898 Dec & Jan Regular gallery artist STACEY MANSER-KNIGHT - one-off ceramics, EMILY DORAN - ceramics.

MARIA MORGAN, REBECCA LEWIS, ELLEN THORPE - jewellery. Plus a wide variety of work selected from quality British designers and makers.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm.

Mike Gell, Contemporary British Jewellery, 3 East Street, Hereford.

01432 278226 Dec & Jan Jewellery, silverware and studio glass by more than 80 designers. Open Mon - Sat 10am-5pm.

Hereford Cathedral 01432 374261 Until Jan ‘16 ‘Art in Advent: Virgin & Child’. CHRIS GOLLON. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm.

South Chapel, All Saint’s Church, Hereford 01432 370414 Until 19 Dec Sale of Charity Christmas cards.

22 - 24 Dec Love Zimbabwe.

18 - 23 Jan GOLDEN VALLEY CRAFTS. 25 - 30 Jan SIAN THOMAS - stained glass, PREETI THAPA - Nepalese handicrafts. Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm.

The Print Shed, Swinmoor, Madley, Hereford, HR2 9JD 07796 673123 www.theprintshed.net Dec & Jan Plus artist-made etchings, lino prints, screen prints, handmade, original cards, textile and other unique gift ideas. Open daily 10am-4pm.

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Hereford College of Arts, College Road Campus, Hereford 01432 273359 Until 18 Dec MA Graduate Final Show.

Mon-Fri 9.30am-10.30am.

Market House Heritage Centre, Ross-on-Wye 01432 260675 Dec & Jan Various arts and crafts from local artists. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm.

Apple Store Gallery, Unit 1, Rockfield Road, Hereford, HR1 2UA 01432 263937 Until 20 Dec ‘Christmas Delights’.

Seasonal exhibition of local artists’ work. Wed-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 2pm-5pm.

5 & 6 Dec h.Art Christmas event, open 10am-4pm with mulled wine and mince pies.

6 Jan - 27 Feb ‘Artists @ ASG’.

Wed-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Sat 10am-1pm. Framing also available.

Blue Ginger Gallery, Home End Farm, Cradley, WR13 5NW 01886 880240 Dec A selection of arts and crafts, picture framing, prints and images, plus a showcase of local artists.

Open Wed-Sun 10am-5pm.

(Closed Jan).

The Courtyard, Hereford 01432 340555 Until 10 Jan SHANNON DONOVAN & ANDREW EASTWOOD. Open theatre times.

Old Mayor’s Parlour, 23 Church St, Hereford 01432 830899 5 - 11 Dec CAROL RANDELL landscapes, flowers and still life paintings. 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge 01544 388842 Until 31 Dec ‘All Wrapped Up’. A dazzling collection of hand picked, hand made delights! Give the High Street a miss this Christmas and shop for unique British made presents in the calm and tranquil atmosphere of the gallery. A wide collection of handmade British contemporary art and craft from Herefordshire and beyond, from jewellery to textiles, lighting, paintings, prints, ceramics & glass, sculpture & bronzes, candles to cards & Christmas tree decorations.

Gift wrap presents too!

Until 31 Dec Garden Sculpture Exhibition. A variety of media including forged iron, carved stone, stone resin, bronze, stoneware, glass and stainless steel. Including work by HELEN SINCLAIR, JENNY PICKFORD and more.

Jan An ever changing desplay of British contemporary art and craft by a collection of our favourite artists and makers. 11am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Tues by appointment. Check website for opening times.

Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, Foregate St, Worcester, WR1 1DT 01905 25371 Until 5 Jan ‘Crafted for You’. Some of the best craft makers in the Midlands exhibiting with items for sale. Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-4.30pm.

Hereford College of Arts, Folly Lane, Campus, Hereford 01432 273359 Until 4 Dec Young Photography Exhibition.

Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-10.30am.

Beckford Inn, Cheltenham Road, near Tewkesbury, GL20 7AN 01544 267033 31 Jan Antiques in Tents.

A number of quality antique stalls.

Details www.antiquesintents.co.uk SHROPSHIRE Beambridge Clubroom, Munslow 01584 873327 5 & 6 Dec CORVEDALE ARTISTS. 20 artists display their paintings.

Open 10am-4pm.

Hazel Cottage Annexe, Hazel Cottage, Killhorse Lane, Elton, Ludlow SY8 2HH 07801 821647 Until 6 Dec ‘Introspect’.

A pop-up exhibition of contemporary jewellery and objects by recent MA artist makers. FRANCESCA ANTONELLO, LANA CRABB, ROBERT GOLDSWORTHY, FRANCESCA ONUMAH. Open daily 11am-5pm.

Barbara’s Picture Framing, Units 3-4 Beaumont Rd, Church Stretton, SY6 6BN 01694 723586 4 - 16 Jan DIANA NUTTALL - distinct stylised landscape paintings in acrylics and a new venture in cushions and tableware. Open Mon-Sat 9.30am12.30pm, closed Wed & Sun.

Aardvark Books, The Bookery, Manor Farm, Brampton Bryan, Bucknell SY7 0DH 01547 530744 6 Dec Christmas Fair. With 25+ fantastic craft and bric a brac stalls and Christmas jazz from the Dutch Lewis Trio. Home-made soup, complimentary mulled wine. Open 10am-3pm.

Gallery 3, The Gateway Arts Centre, Shrewsbury 01743 355159 Until 11 Dec EDWARD MAKENZIE sculpture.

21 Dec - 29 Jan AMANDA WELLS paintings. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge, Telford 01952 433424 Until 18 Dec ‘Landscapes with Machines’. JEREMY DELLER & TONY CRAGG - an eclectic exhibition.

Until 18 Dec ‘Shifting Worlds’.

Contemporary Art and the Birthplace of Industry. Open Mon-Sun 10am-5pm.

Silk Top Hat Gallery, Quality Square, Ludlow 01584 875363 Dec Christmas exhibtion. DAVID STOVES, GERALD DEWSBURY, KIM DEWSBURY, FRANS WESSELMAN, JERRY BROWNING, DON SMITH, TAMSIN BRIDGE, NIK BURNS, ALISON DUPERNEX. From 9 Jan Winter exhibition.

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm.

Twenty Twenty Gallery, 3-4 High St, Much Wenlock 01952 727952 Until 31 Jan Christmas show, featuring ‘Winter Curiosities’.

Open Mon 11am-5pm, Tues-Sat 10am-5pm.

The Gallery, 32 High St, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630555 Contemporary arts including glass, ceramics, metal and wood, textiles, paintings, prints and jewellery.

Thurs-Sat 11am-5pm.

Land of Lost Content, Craven Arms, SY7 9NW 01588 676176 National Museum of British Popular Culture. 11am-5pm daily, closed Wed. Public Hall, Station St, Bishop’s Castle, SY9 5AQ 12 & 13 Dec Christmas Exhibition.

CASTLE ARTISTS - linocuts, watercolours, photographs, textiles, cards etc all at affordable prices. Open 10.30am-5pm daily. Refreshments available. www.castleartists.co.uk The Old Surgery Gallery, Clun 01588 640506 3 Dec, through Jan Christmas and New Year exhibition featuring TOM BARKER, JACQUELINE FLETCHER, JANIS GOODMAN, DAVID HARBAN, PAUL HIPKISS, JEMIMA JAMESON, LYNN JEFFERY, PAULINE KITELEY, TIM NASH, KEITH NOBLE, NOEL SHEPHERDSON, JUDY OSBORNE, PETER SHREAD, ANN-MONIQUE STELLINGA, JACQUE WAKELY AND GORDON YAPP. Ceramics by RALPH JANDRELL and jewellery by LIN BROWN. Open daily including Sundays, 10.00am - 4.00pm, closed December 24 - 28 and from January 4 open Saturdays and Sundays only.

Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle www.bishopscastletownhall.co.uk 01588 630023 5 Dec Flea & Antiques Market.

Open 9am-4pm.

19 Dec - 2 Jan YOUNG PERSONS OPEN EXHIBITION. 2 Jan Flea & Antiques Market.

Open 9am-4pm.

9 Jan - 6 Feb ELLESMERE WATERCOLOURISTS - exhibition of Haiku paintings.

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, The Square, Shrewsbury, SY1 1LH 01743 258885 Until 13 Dec ‘A Tale of Two Cities Shrewsbury and Zutphen’. JET ROTMANS. Until 10 Jan ‘Defence Through the Lens’. A century of military photographs.

Until 17 Jan ‘The Magical World of Masks and Puppets’. Open Tues-Sun 10am-4.30pm. Admission £4 adults, £3.50 ages 5-17 years, students (with card, £3.60).

Art & Craft Workshops Single listings are free. Year round, £40 per year

GINN’S CREATIVE WORKSHOPS Fun, recreational art sessions for EVERYONE. Start painting, drawing, printing & textiles. Guided by Ginn with 25 years in teaching & inspiring art & design. PLUS Ginn’s School of Sewing Tel: 01432 760961 www.ginnscreativeworkshops.co.uk COFFEE, CAKE & CREATIVITY Join us for a range of adult art & craft workshops at The Studio, Greenacres, Tenbury Wells. Classes in Portraiture, Still Life, Experimental Drawing, Fused Glass, Engraving and Paper Construction with artist Ann Wallace (18 years teaching experience) - www.annwallace.co.uk on studio workshop page for class listings - 01584 811080.

ART WORKSHOPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Free Art sessions, for 11-18 year olds.

Wednesdays 4-6pm. With different art techniques by local artists. Teme Valley Youth Project, Wigmore.

Email: youthtvyp1@yahoo.co.uk or call 01568 770110.

25TH NOVEMBER TO 20TH DECEMBER

WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY 9.30AM TO 4.30PM SATURDAY, 10AM TO 1PM : SUNDAY, 2 TO 5PM OTHER TIMES BY ARRANGEMENT SAT/SUN 28TH/29TH NOV. & 5TH/6TH DEC. 10AM TO 4PM FOR H.ART CHRISTMAS EVENT

6TH JANUARY TO 27TH FEBRUARY UNIT 1, ROCKFIELD ROAD, HEREFORD, HR1 2UA 01432 263937 : APPLESTOREGALLERY@BTINTERNET.COM WWW.APPLESTOREGALLERY.CO.UK

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SILK SCREEN PRINTING WORKSHOP Create your own silk screen prints with Royal College of Art graduate and Elle Decoration’s ‘Name to Watch’, Sunny Todd, in his Ledbury studio. A highly skilled and passionate designer with years of teaching experience at all levels, Sunny will share his knowledge and enthusiasm for this addictive process. Suitable for absolute beginners or those with screen printing experience. With a maximum of only 4 students you will have the time and support to produce or develop your own patterns and leave with your own collection of printed textiles. Half day taster session weekend workshop, 9.30am-1pm. Includes materials and refreshments. One day weekend workshop, 10am- 5pm, £100. Includes materials, refreshments and lunch.

Five week evening course, Mondays 6.30-9.30pm, £150. Includes materials and refreshments.

Info www.sunnytoddprints.co.uk or 07527 048749.

GLASSBLOWING COURSES Experience the magic of glassblowing.

Hay-on-Wye. www.glassgallery.co.uk

CREATIVE BREAKS Learn a new skill and explore your creativity with experienced tutors.

We offer a wide range of art and craft courses throughout the year:- Basketmaking, dyeing, spinning and weaving, earth ovens, glass fusing, green woodworking, hand and machine knitting, hedgerow medicine, jewellery, painting, photography, pottery, printmaking, rag rug making, stained glass, story telling, upholstery and woodworking. Visit our website: www.creativebreaks.co.uk for full details of our courses. Make it yourself - take it home - keep it, treasure it: give it with pride!

POP UP STONE CARVER Available for demonstrations, workshops, have a go sessions or childrens birthday parties. Can be from our workshop in Knucklas or at your own location. Stone and tools are all supplied and all ages catered for. Starting every Thursday - evening classes. Contact Lottie on 01547 528 792 or email her at info@stonecarving.co.uk December BOTANICAL ART Series of introductory workshops led

by Mary Brewin. Apple Store Gallery, Rockfield Rd, Hereford, email applestoregallery@btinternet.com

ALAN RITCHIE Timberframe Buildings

With 30 years experience in traditional oak carpentry and restoration work, we can work with you to bring your project to life.

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Hewnwood.com Email timberframe@keme.co.uk 01874 658440 07966 848119

December & January ASSEMBLY ROOMS WORKSHOPS Sat - SmART, art and craft club for 8-14 years, 10.30am-12.30pm, £35 per term. First Thurs every month Ludlow Arts Society, talks and demonstrations, 7.30pm, £4.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 01584 878141.

December & January EASTNOR POTTERY Dec - Christmas Family Pottery Fun. Tues-Sat 10am-4pm. Projects start at just £5. A brilliant indoor activity for individuals, families and friends.

19 Dec - Eastnor Pottery Potter’s Wheel Workshop. Spend the day relaxing and creating pots on the potter’s wheel. £120 Includes all materials, refreshments and lunch.

Jan - Family Pottery Fun in the New Year. Tues-Sat 10am-4pm. Projects start at just £5. A brilliant indoor activity for individuals, families and friends.

16 & 17 Jan - Eastnor Pottery Potter’s Wheel Weekend Workshop. Spend the weekend relaxing and creating pots on the potter’s wheel. £215 Includes all materials, refreshments and lunch.

Simply email admin@eastnorpottery. co.uk or tel 01531 633886 to book a session.

The Lion Gallery 15b Broad Street Leominster

showing quality contemporary British Art and Craft 10am-5pm, Monday - Saturday Tel: 01568 611898 www.liongallery.co.uk info@liongallery.co.uk

ARTS & CRAFTS AT THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS, PRESTEIGNE

CHRISTMAS extragavanza

CABINET MAKING - ANTIQUE RESTORATION KITCHENS / FREE STANDING KITCHENS JOINERY - GIFTS IN WOOD

DECEMBER thursday 3rd, 4-7pm friday 4th, 11am-8pm saturday 5th, 10am-4pm perfect presents from local makers WORKING WITH WOOD, WOOL, silver, semi-precious stones, silk, paper and print with LOTS OF EXTRA STALLS AND MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT

TEA & VEGAN CAKES

GARETH GWATKIN

FORGE COTTAGE, EVENJOBB, PRESTEIGNE, POWYS, LD8 2SD

T: 01547 560150 M: 07884 231104

gareth@hiddenwren.co.uk www.hiddenwren.co.uk

FOR DETAILS SEE WEBSITE

www.radnorshireartsandcraftsfoundation.org for details contact Rosamund 01544 260777

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December & January WESTHOPE COLLEGE near Craven Arms. Christmas workshops at Westhope. Learn a skill, make a gift. Come to our Christmas Craft Fair. Buy unique and inspiring gifts. For more details, phone 01584 861293. Website: www.westhope.org.uk December FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS WORLD 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 18 - 24 Dec. Featuring real reindeer, workshops, demonstrations, fun fair rides, Santa’s Grotto, animal nativity, trade stalls and Christmas circus shows. Ludlow Town Football Club, 10am-5pm, adults £6, children £12, under 2’s free, 07866 513431, cash event only, www.jollyentertaining.co.uk December TREDEGAR HOUSE 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20 Dec - Traditional Christmas Weekends with traditional ‘A Christmas Carol’ themed activities.

Tredegar House, Newport, 01633 815880, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ tredegarhouse

Fri 4 December BAH HUMBUG! A flower arranging demonstration for the festive season by Nick Grounds.

Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.30pm, £10, 01531 635404. Ledbury & District Floral Art Club.

Wed 23 December CHRISTINGLE NATIVITY WORKSHOP A family workshop to make Christingles and listen to a Christmas story.

College Hall, Hereford Cathedral, 10.30am-12pm, 01432 374256.

Sat 5 December MAKE NATURAL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS With WildPlay. Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum, Dinmore Hill, Leominster, 10am-3pm, £5 per child, no booking required.

January TEXTILE AND ART COURSES Offering unique learning opportunities for all, delivered by highly renowned artists and tutors. Moor Hall Farmhouse, Bettws-y-crwyn, Newcastle on Clun, 01547 510664.

Thurs 10 December ABERGAVENNY FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY Festive highlights. Be inspired by wonderful Christmas floral designs.

Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

Starting Mon 11 January ART COURSE, DRAWING & PAINTING With Angela Gladwell. For nine weeks. Morning or afternoon classes, 10am-12.30pm or 1.30pm-4pm, £96 per term to include refreshments.

Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, 01743 258881.

Sun 13 December CHRISTMAS GARLANDS WORKSHOP Starting with a foraging walk, then back to the Town Hall for soup before crafting the garlands. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 11am-3pm, £15, www.ticketsource.co.uk

Starting 14 January BLACKSMITHING EVENING CLASSES With Pete Smith, LWCB. 5 x 2 hour sessions, all tools, materials and safety glasses provided. Teaching ratio 3 to 1. £180, www.wherethelightgetin.co.uk or email info@wherethelightgetsin. co.uk 01544 267810.

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

Come and spend the week with us learning the craft of Traditional Oak Frame Carpentry in our Woodland Workshop.

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Hewnwood Courses

Hewnwood.com 01874 658440 07966 848119 Email: timberframe@keme.co.uk

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Sat 30 January BOOK ART WORKSHOP With Victoria Keeble. An introductory workshop for those new to book arts or a refresher for the more experienced.

Glassbury Village Hall, 10.30am-4pm, £55/£40, 029 2071 3200. Glasbury Arts.

Mondays APPLETREE KNITTING GROUP Studio 2, 15 Lower Galdeford, Ludlow. Meet at 2pm and again at 6pm supporting ‘Knit for Peace’. Donations of £2 each session, 0845 548 5449 Wednesdays VISUAL ART WORKSHOPS For 11-16 year olds. Mortimer Enterprise Centre, Kings Meadow, Wigmore, 4-6pm, 01568 770110.

Wednesdays POTTERY CLUB All ages and abilities.

Materials and refreshments included. Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, near Newtown, 7-9pm, 01686 688369.

Wednesdays KNITTING GROUP At the Workhouse Cafe, Presteigne, 2-4pm, 10% discount on food and drinks. All welcome, 01544 267864.

Thursdays (4-6pm) VISUAL ART WORKSHOPS Designed to suit 11-16 year olds. In these sessions young people will be introduced to different art techniques by established local artists. Refreshments and snacks are available. Workshops run by enthusiastic volunteers from TVYP at Mortimer Enterprise Centre, Kings Meadow, Wigmore, HR6 9UX, 4-6pm. Workshops are free of charge. Tel: 01568 770110.

Every Thursday STONE & LETTER CARVING Letter Carving with Will O’Leary and Stone Carving with Lottie O’Leary 7-9pm, £10, Upper House, Knucklas, Knighton, Powys, 01547 528792. www.stonecarving.co.uk Fridays AFTER SCHOOL ART CLUB For children aged 5 - 12 years. Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, near Newtown, 3.45-5.15pm, 01686 688369.

CHRISTMAS The Global Arms Industry is currently worth US $1.3 trillion a year.

Peace and Goodwill to All Mankind.

We ALFI

furniture makers

Made to Measure Kitchens & Traditional Furniture

Marcus Field & Sarah Redway CALL 01544 260033 EMAIL enquiries@wealfi.co.uk VISIT www.wealfi.co.uk

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BLACKSMITHING EVENING CLASSES With Pete Smith, LWCB. Starting Thursday 14th January, 2016 5 x 2 hours sessions ÂŁ180. No VAT

All tools, materials and safety glasses provided.

Teaching ratio, 3 to 1.

www.antiquesintents.co.uk 01544 267033 / 07974 356128

Book online at www.wherethelightgetsin.co.uk Email inquiries to info@wherethelightgetsin.co.uk Or phone 01544 267810

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cinema ABERGAVENNY FILM SOC. 2 Dec DIFRET (12A) 16 Dec WILD TALES (15) 6 Jan TIMBUKTU (18) 20 Jan SLOW WEST (15) 3 Feb IDA (12A) Details Melville Theatre, Drama Centre, Peny-y-Pound, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01874 623166

ASSEMBLY ROOMS, LUDLOW 2 Dec THE MARTIAN (12A) 6, 7, 9 & 10 Dec SUFFRAGETTE (12A) 11 - 17 Dec THE LADY IN THE VAN (12A) 19 & 22 Dec THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2 (ctbc) 21 & 22 Dec BILL (PG) 23 Dec THE WIZARD OF OZ (U) 23 & 28 Dec PAN (PG) 27 - 30 Dec, 2, 4 - 6 Jan SPECTRE (PG) 29 & 30 Dec HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 (PG) 31 Dec & 2 Jan THE BIG KNIGHTS (U) Details 01584 878141

BISHOP’S CASTLE FILM SOC 9 Dec OF HORSES AND MEN 6 Jan 8½ 20 Jan 71 3 Feb LEVIATHAN Three Tuns, Salop St, Bishop’s Castle, 8pm, 01588 630778, membership enquiries 01588 630776

BOOTH’S BOOKSHOP Until 3 Dec BROOKLYN (12A) 4 - 11 Dec LADY IN THE VAN (12A) 5 Dec DARTMOOR KILLING (15) 11 - 17 Dec BRIDGE OF SPIES (12A) 18 - 22 Dec STEVE JOBS (15) 19 & 20 Dec BRIEF ENCOUNTER (PG) 28 & 29 Dec DR ZHIVAGO (PG) Richard Booth’s Bookshop, Hay-on-Wye. Films every weekend.

Full programme www.boothbooks. co.uk 01497 820322

BRECON FILM SOCIETY 7 Dec TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT 4 Jan TIMBUKTU 1 Feb THE LOBSTER Doors open 7.15pm for 7.30pm start.

Coliseum Cinema, Wheat St, Brecon.

Membership enquiries 01874 623166

CONQUEST, BROMYARD 4 Dec MR HOLMES 18 Dec INSIDE OUT 22 Jan EVEREST Conquest Theatre, Tenbury Rd, Bromyard. Details 01885 488575

COURTYARD, HEREFORD 1 Dec 7 SONGS FOR A LONG LIFE (PG) Until 3 Dec IRRATIONAL MAN (12A) 5 Dec FAMILY TO RENT (UNE FAMILLE A LOUER) (12A) French Film Festival 6 Dec WILD LIFE (VIE SAUVAGE) (15) French Film Festival 7 Dec MY GOLDEN DAY (TROIS SOUVENIRS DE MA JEUNESSE) (12A) French Film Festival

THE LOBSTER Justly fêted at Cannes, this is the most surreal film you’ll see in ages, but arguably the funniest. Greek writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos has form with DOGTOOTH and ALPS, but his first English-language outing finds an unexpectedly tubby Colin Farrell staying at an Orwellian hotel/prison where singleton ‘guests’ must find a fiancée within 45 days or be turned into an animal of their choice, in his case the titular LOBSTER. The increasingly dark and absurdist events that engulf him include guests hunting escapees with tranquilliser darts, stilted ballroom dancing and a tentative romance with short-sighted Rachel Weisz’s weirdly pitiable character, plus some equally out-of-character turns from a Nurse Ratchett-style Olivia Colman, Ben Wishaw (“My limp is my defining character trait”) and a lisping John C Reilly. Flat-out brilliant.

All reviews by Mark Williams

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9 Dec ALL ABOUT THEM (A TRIOS ON Y VA) (15) French Film Festival 5 - 9 Dec MISS YOU ALREADY (12A) 13 - 17 Dec THE DRESSMAKER (12A) 14 - 17 Dec LA FAMILLE BELIER (12A) 20 - 23 Dec HOTEL TRANSYVANIA 2 (U) 20 - 23 Dec CRIMSON PEAK (15) 26 - 30 Dec PAN (12A) 26 - 30 Dec VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (15) Details 01432 340555

2 Dec FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125 2 Dec NATIVITY 3: DUDE, WHERE’S MY DONKEY Market Theatre, Ledbury 07967 517125 2 Dec PADDINGTON Cardington VH 01694 771295 3 Dec PADDINGTON Brilley VH 01544 327227 4 Dec NATIVITY 3: DUDE, WHERE’S MY DONKEY Little Dewchurch VH 01432 840333 4 Dec DARK HORSE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Marton VH 01938 580116 4 Dec FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD The Simpson Hall, Burghill 01432 760816 4 Dec PADDINGTON Kelsall Methodist Hall 01829 752548 4 Dec MY OLD LADY Fownhope New Memorial Hall 01432 860065 5 Dec SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE Clun Memorial Hall 01588 640254 6 Dec CASABLANCA Aston on Clun VH 01588 640254 6 Dec MINIONS Knighton Community Centre 01547 520602 6 Dec THE CHOIR Knihgton Community Centre 01547 520602 6 Dec CASABLANCA Priest Weston VH 01938 561336 6 Dec THE SNOWMAN Bayston Hill Memorial Hall 01743 873940 7 Dec FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Church Stretton School 01694 724330

7 Dec FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911 8 Dec CINDERELLA Loppington VH 01939 720341 8 Dec SUITE FRANCAISE St Mary’s Church Hall, Ross-on-Wye 01989 720341 8 Dec PADDINGTON Garway VH 01600 750465 9 Dec DARK HORSE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Hope Bowdler VH 01694 723648 9 Dec MR HOLMES Cuddington & Sandiway VH 01606 888931 10 Dec THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL Whitley VH 01925 730773 11 Dec MR HOLMES Bedstone & Hopton Castle VH 01547 530282 11 Dec A ROYAL NIGHT OUT Stoke Prior VH 01568 760423 11 Dec THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED Colwall VH 01684 540926 11 Dec PADDINGTON Clungunford Parish Hall 01588 660159 11 Dec WHISKY GALORE! Market Theatre Ledbury 07967 517125 11 Dec BRIEF ENCOUNTER Staunton-on-Wye VH 01981 501031 11 Dec THE IMITATION GAME Dorstone VH 01981 550943 11 Dec LAD: A YORKSHIRE STORY All Stretton VH 01694 723378 11 Dec MINIONS Dilwyn Cedar Hall 11 Dec THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING Bodenham Parish Hall 01568 797473 11 Dec DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Cawley Hall, Eye 01568 615836 12 Dec THE POLAR EXPRESS Myddle VH 01939 290872 12 Dec JURASSIC WORLD Longden VH 07539 545846 12 Dec FLASH GORDON Clun Memorial Hall 01588 640254 12 Dec IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Bayston Hill Memorial Hall 01743 873940 12 Dec BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S Eastham Memroial Hall 01584 781255 12 Dec SPY Chapel Lawn VH 01547 530530 12 Dec THE SOUND OF MUSIC Much Birch Community Hall 01981 580298 12 Dec ELSA AND FRED Sarn VH 01686 671205 13 Dec PADDINGTON Cound Guildhall 01743 761451 14 Dec MR TURNER Welshpool Assembly Room 01938 552043 14 Dec WOMAN IN GOLD The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock 01952 728911

BRIDGE OF SPIES Stephen Spielberg’s latest tells the story of Brooklyn lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks), charged with negotiating the release of Gary Powers (Austen Stowell, WHIPLASH), the American U-2 spyplane pilot shot down over Russia in 1960. Donovan’s task involved exchanging Powers, who was languishing in the notorious Lubyanka prison, for British-born Rudolf Abel (a mesmerising Mark Rylance) imprisoned three years earlier as a New York-based KGB spy. After a dramatic exchange on Berlin’s famous Glienicke Bridge and treated as a traitor when he returned to the USA, Powers’ reputation is largely rehabilitated

by Spielberg’s masterful re-enactment. Co-written by Ethan and Joel Coen, and with a starry cast that includes veteran actor Alan Alda and Amy Ryan as Donovan’s wife, BRIDGE OF SPIES is the ultimate cold war blockbuster.

15 Dec THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL Ashford Carbonell VH 01584 831574 15 Dec TIMBUKTU All Stretton VH 01694 723378 15 Dec THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL Acton Scott VH 01694 781260 16 Dec A ROYAL NIGHT OUT Chetton VH 01746 789257 17 Dec MR HOLMES Gorsley VH 01989 720358 17 Dec CINDERELLA Pattingtham VH 01902 700586 17 Dec PADDINGTON Kinnerley Parish Hall 01691 682282 18 Dec GET SANTA SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle 01588 630321 18 Dec BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S Bosbury Parish Hall 01531 640415 28 Dec PADDINGTON Castlemorton Parish Hall 01684 833549 4 Jan STILL ALICE Church Stretton School 01694 724330 6 Jan SUFFRAGETTE Cardington VH 01694 771295 6 Jan JURASSIC WORLD Stanford with Orleton VH 01886 853295 7 Jan DARK HORSE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Brilley VH 01544 327227 9 Jan GEMMA BOVERY Playhouse Cinema, Community Centre, Leominster 01568 616460 9 Jan DARK HORSE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Ripple Parish Hall 01684 592781 11 Jan THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL Welshpool Assembly Room 01938 552043 12 Jan AMY Garway VH 01600 750465

12 Jan WOMAN IN GOLD St Mary’s Church Hall, Ross-on-Wye 01989 720341 13 Jan FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Cuddington & Sandiway VH 01606 888931 15 Jan MR HOLMES Dilwyn Cedar Hall 16 Jan X + Y Yarpole Parish Hall 01568 780279 16 Jan 45 YEARS (15) Clun Memorial Hall 01588 640254 16 Jan KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE Llanbister Community Hall 01597 840450 20 Jan MR HOLMES Escleyside Hall 01981 510696 21 Jan THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING Grimley Peace Hall, Sinton Green 01905 641572 21 Jan DARK HORSE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF DREAM ALLIANCE Kinnerley Parish Hall 01691 682282 22 Jan WILD Shifnal VH 01952 462787 23 Jan MR HOLMES Upton upon Severn Memorial Hall 01684 591044 23 Jan A LITTLE CHAOS Clifton on Teme VH 01886 812238 28 Jan BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S St Peter’s Church, Cowleigh 01684 562114 29 Jan FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Clungunford Parish Hall 01588 660159

EDGTON VILLAGE HALL 5 Dec SILENT MOVIE NIGHT Featuring Unknown Horrors & Daredevil Delights with piano accompaniment. For all ages, hot dogs and ice cream. Edgton Village Hall, near Craven Arms, 01588 680611 or 01588 680366.

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THE DRESSMAKER Wielding a sewing machine and the accumulated bitchiness of a career in the international couture business, Tilly Dunnage (Kate Winslett in a perfect Aussie accent) returns to the outback town she was evidently banished from as a murderous child.

Intent on righting what she sees as her suffered wrongs – which include getting her dotty mother (the great Judy Davis, burning up every scene) to see sense – and clothing the town’s ladyfolk, and some of the men, in entirely inappropriate frocks.

Jocelyn Moorhouse returns to the director’s chair fully 20 years after her much garlanded HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT with an agreeably offbeat black comedy with Winslett’s character effectively confounding our every expectation, not least the direction of her tryst with local hunk Teddy (Liam Hemsworth).

GRANGE RD COMM CENTRE REGAL CINEMA, TENBURY 14 Dec ALUNA Grange Road Community Centre, Bishop’s Castle, 7.30pm, 01588 630648

LINGEN VILLAGE HALL

27 Jan ADDICTED TO SHEEP a special living history film screening

by Lingen History Group, 7.30pm

PRESTEIGNE SCREEN 5 Dec PHOENIX (PG) 18 Dec CHARLIE’S COUNTRY (15) Assembly Rooms, Presteigne. Details 01544 370202 or 01544 260577. www.presteignescreen.org.uk Email: info@presteignescreen.org.uk

OLD MKT. HALL, SHREWS. Until 3 Dec SPECTRE (12A) 4 - 10 Dec BROOKLYN (12A) 11 - 17 Dec THE PROGRAM (15) 18 - 24 Dec A CHRISTMAS CAROL (U) 18 - 31 Dec THE GOOD DINOSAUR 18 - 31 Dec BRIDGE OF SPIES (12A) 2 - 8 Jan UNDER MILK WOOD (15) 2 - 8 Jan HE NAMED ME MALALA (PG) 9 - 15 Jan THE DRESSMAKER 16 - 22 Jan CAROL (15) 23 - 29 Jan SUNSET SONG 16 - 22 Jan THE DANISH GIRL Details 01743 281281

PLAYHOUSE, LEOMINSTER 5 Dec MR HOLMES (PG) 13 Dec THE CHOIR (PG) 10 Jan GEMMA BOVERY (15) 16 Jan 45 YEARS (15) 23 Jan UNDER MILKWOOD (15) 30 Jan INSIDE OUT (U) Details Playhouse Cinema, Community Centre, Leominster 01568 612583

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1 & 2 Dec INTERN 4, 5, 7 & 9 Dec SPECTRE 5 & 6 Jan SUFFRAGETTE (12A) 8 & 9 Jan BRIDGE OF SPIES (12A) 9 & 10 Jan THE GOOD DINOSAUR 11 & 12 Jan THE DRESSMAKER 13 Jan STEVE MCQUEEN: THE MAN & LE MANS (15) 15 & 16 Jan MOMENTUM (15) 18 & 19 Jan THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 (12A) 20 Jan ADDICTED TO SHEEP (PG) 25 & 26 Jan THE LADY IN THE VAN (12A) 27 Jan STEVE JOBS (15) 29 & 30 Jan STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 1 & 2 Feb VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN (12A) 3 Feb BURNT (15) Regal Cinema, 47 - 49 Teme Street, Tenbury Wells. Details 01584 811442

THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWS 12 Dec SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN 17 Dec SAFETY LAST! (1923) Unsilent movies with a brand new live soundtrack. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281.

WYESIDE, BUILTH WELLS

Until 3 Dec HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 (12A) Until 13 Dec THE LADY IN THE VAN (15) Until 30 Dec SPECTRE (12A) Until 16 Dec SUFFRAGETTE (12A) 4 - 10 Dec STEVE JOBS (15) 4 - 12 Dec THE DRESSMAKER (ctbc) 11 Dec - 3 Jan THE GOOD DINOSAUR (ctbc) 11 - 14 Dec THE LOBSTER (15) 11 - 17 Dec BRIDGE OF SPIES (12A) 15 - 20 Dec HE NAMED ME MALALA (PG)

17 Dec - 7 Jan STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (ctbc) 21 Dec - 3 Jan THE PEANUTS MOVIE (U) From 1 Jan THE DANISH GIRL (ctbc) Wyeside, Builth Wells 01982 552555 www.wyeside.co.uk

LIVE EVENTS ON SCREEN 1 Dec GOYA Visions of flesh and blood from the National Gallery, London.

Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 7.30pm, 01584 811442. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 11am, 01743 281281.

3 Dec MIKADO English National Opera. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 7.30pm, 01584 811442. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, 01982 552555.

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.15pm, 01885 488575. Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 7.30pm, 01497 820322.

6 Dec THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS Bolshoi Ballet.

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575.

8 Dec JANE EYRE National Theatre.

Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 01600 719401. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555. Playhouse Cinema, Community Centre, Leominster, 7pm, 01568 612583. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7pm, 07967 517125.

Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7pm, 01952 728911.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7pm, 01743 281281. Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 7pm, 01497 820322.

10 Dec CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI The Royal Opera. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.15pm, 01952 728911. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.15pm, 01743 281281. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.15pm, 01584 878141. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.15pm, 01982 552555.

Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 7.15pm, 01497 820322.

12 Dec CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI The Royal Opera House.

Playhouse Cinema, Community Centre, Leominster, 7.15pm, 01568 612583.

12 Dec THE MIKADO English National Opera. Encore. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, 01743 281281.

12 Dec THE MAGIC FLUTE New York Met. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 5.55pm, 01885 488575.

13 Dec THE NUTCRACKER Bolshoi Ballet. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575.

15 Dec JANE EYRE National Theatre.

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575.

16 Dec THE NUTCRACKER Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.15pm, 07967 517125. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 7.15pm, 01600 719401. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.15pm, 01952 728911. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.15pm, 01743 281281.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.15pm, 01584 878141. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.15pm, 01982 552555. Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 7.15pm, 01497 820322.

18 Dec JANE EYRE National Theatre.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, 01584 878141.

19 Dec THE NUTCRACKER The Royal Ballet. Playhouse Cinema, Community Centre, Leominster, 7.15pm, 01568 612583.

21 Dec THE NUTCRACKER Royal Opera House, encore. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 7pm, 01584 811442.

21 Dec THE MIKADO English National Opera, live. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 01584 878141.

24 Dec THE WINTER’S TALE Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, live. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 2pm, 01584 878141. Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 2pm, 01497 820322.

27 Dec NUTCRACKER Royal Opera House. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 2pm, 01584 878141.

Rhapsody / The Two Pigeons

24 Jan THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Bolshoi Ballet. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575.

26 Jan RHAPSODY / THE TWO PIGEONS Royal Opera House live.

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

Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7pm, 01885 488575. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.15pm, 01982 552555. Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 7.15pm, 01497 820322.

28 Jan LES LIAISIONS DANGEREUX National Theatre live. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, 01584 878141.

Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555. Richard Booth’s Bookshop, 7pm, 01497 820322.

28 Jan ANTHONY & CLEOPATRA Globe Theatre. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 2pm & 7pm, 01584 811442.

30 Jan TURANDOT Met Opera. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 5.55pm, 01600 719401. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 5.55pm, 01885 488575.

31 Jan TURANDOT Met Opera.

Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555.

1 Feb LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES National Theatre live. Playhouse Cinema, Community Centre, Leominster, 7pm, 01568 612583.

4 Feb LA TRAVIATA Royal Opera House. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 6.45pm, 01600 719401. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 6.45pm, 01584 811442. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 6.45pm, 01982 552555.

30 Dec THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Playhouse Cinema, Community Centre, Leominster, 7.15pm, 01568 612583.

7 Jan DUCHESS OF MALFI Globe Theatre. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 2pm & 7pm, 01584 811442.

8 Jan THE WINTER’S TALE Branagh Theatre live. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7pm, 01982 552555.

14 Jan TITUS ANDRONICUS Globe Theatre. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 2pm & 7pm, 01584 811442.

16 Jan LES PECHEURS DE PERLES Met Opera. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 5.55pm, 01600 719401. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 5.55pm, 01885 488575.

17 Jan LES PECHEURS DE PERLES The Metropolitan Opera. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 2pm, 01982 552555.

21 Jan FLORENCE & THE UFFIZZI GALLERY Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 01584 878141.

21 Jan JULIUS CESEAR Globe Theatre. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 2pm & 7pm, 01584 811442.

5 The Mews, St Owen Street, HEREFORD

21

dance Snow Queen

Wednesdays Monthly, from 6th January, 7-9pm.

Contact Caroline for more information and new classes: 07495 701777 danceintojoy15@gmail.com Sat 13 February A HOOFER’S ODYSSEY Dance workshops for adults and young people, led by Lee Payne and guest guitarist Paul Booth to share the joy of tap. Glasbury Village Hall. Young people’s workshop 11am-12.30pm, £8 or £15 for both workshop and performance. Adult workshop 1.45pm-3.15pm, £12 or £21 for both workshop and performance, 029 2071 3200.

Glasbury Arts.

CHARLESTON EXERCISE CLASSES (solo) 10am-11am: Ross Wednesdays, Monmouth Thursdays. EASY JIVE LESSONS (partner) 7.30pm: Caerleon Mondays, Lydney Wednesdays, Abergavenny Thursdays, all classes are for absolute beginners. Contact Lyn tel: 01594 833765 www.fodjiveandswing.co.uk

Dance Performance Fri 4 & Sat 5 December THE SNOW QUEEN BALLET THEATRE UK present their beautiful re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale.

4 Dec - Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, £15/£14, 01982 552555. 5 Dec - Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 3pm, £16/£15, under 16s £12, 01600 719401.

Tues 9 February DREAMING IN CODE 2FACED DANCE COMPANY. An explosive and visceral double-bill performed by one of the UK’s most innovative male dance companies. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £15/£11, students £9, 01743 281281.

Sat 13 February A HOOFER’S ODYSSEY A journey through dance with Lee Payne and guest, jazz harpist Harriet Earis. Drama Studio, Gwernyfed High School, Glasbury, 7.30pm, £11/£9, 029 2071 3200.

Glasbury Arts. See dance workshops.

Dance Workshops

Single listings are free. Year round entries £40 Sun 20 December CIRCLE DANCE At Winter’s Edge with Bellamonda playing live.

Church Barn, Bishop’s Castle, 4pm, 01588 630648.

Starting in January DANCE INTO JOY Through Ecstatic Awakening Dance, a journey of breath, music and movement to shake up your energy, release stress and connect with your soul.... Barefoot dancing in a low light, taking you on your own personal journey through dance...£10 a session. Classes in Hereford: Monday mornings 9.30am-11.30am, Cafe Miro Studio, St Owen’s St, Leominster: Tuesday evenings 7-9pm, The Lion Ballroom, Broad St. Starting in Jan 2016, Presteigne:

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BELLY DANCE CLASSES WITH ALANYA OPEN LEVEL Mon - Lady Hawkins Community Leisure Centre, 7-8.30pm. Thurs - Bodenham Parish Hall, 7.30-9pm. £30 per 5 classes or £8 drop-in. For information and other classes visit www.alanyabellydance.com or call Abbie on 07962 161081.

LEARN 2 JIVE BEGINNERS CLASSES Monday, 8-9pm, Bartestree Village Hall, Hereford, HR1 4BY. Tuesday, 8-9pm, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, SY8 1AZ. Tuesday, 8-9pm, Stretton Sugwas Village Hall, HR4 7PT. NEW - Wednesday, 8-9pm, Tenbury Pump Rooms, WR15 8BA. Wednesday, 8-9pm, Leigh & Bransford Memorial Hall, Malvern, WR13 5DE. Thursday, 8-9pm, Bishops Frome Community Centre, WR6 5AZ. Contact Matt or Sarah on 01989 750354 orinfo@coolmovesdance.co.uk www.coolmovesdance. co.uk Coolmoves Dance & Fitness for adults.

APPLETREE ORGANISATION Tues - Disco Gym Tots, 10.15am, £3.

Tues - Belly Dance for Beginners, 2pm, £25 for 6 sessions.

Tues - Gym-Pan-Ze Rope & Trapeze for all, 5.30pm.

Wed - Disco Dots, 10.15am, £2.50.

Wed - Dance Crusaders for the over 50s, 2pm.

Wed - Fuzion Dance, for ages 4 - adult, times from 4pm.

Wed - All Tap Sessions for 7 to 12+, times from 4pm.

Appletree Theatre, 15 Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, 0845548 5449.

MELY’S ZUMBA Mon - Dorstone, 7pm. Tues - Zumba class at St Peter’s Centre, Peterchurch, 10am. Mely 01497 820991, 07837 160505.

Mon SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Join an enthusiastic adult group on Monday evenings to learn how to dance jigs, reels and Strathspeys at Llanelwedd School Hall, Builth Wells from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. £2 per session (first free). No need to bring a partner. Beginners and experts welcome.

01982 570324/01544 350707.

Mon BREAKDANCE With 2Faced Dance Company. 4-5pm 4-7 year olds, 5-6pm. 7-11 year olds, 6.15-7.15pm 11+ year olds.

The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 276807.

Mon DIZZY DAZZLERS DANCE CLASSES For 4 - 7 year olds. With Powys Dance. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 4pm, £2-£3.50, 01982 552555.

Mon RIPPLERS DANCE CLASSES For 8-11 year olds.

With Powys Dance. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 4.45pm, £2-£3.50, 01982 552555.

Mon YOUTH DANCE CLASSES For ages 11 and over.

With Powys Dance. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 5.45pm, £2-£3.50, 01982 552555.

Tues DANCE @ THE COURTYARD Contemporary Dance for Adults 6.30-7.30pm. Junior Youth Dance for ages 7-11 4.15-5.15pm, Senior Youth Dance for ages 1218 5.15-6.15pm, 01905 611199.

Tues LEARN TO JIVE Fun, easy to learn and no partner/ experience needed. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £5, 01989 750354.

Weds CIRCLE DANCING Leominster Community Centre 2.00-3.30pm All welcome, £4 per session. Transition Leominster 01568 620180.

Thurs, Fri & Sat MID WALES DANCE ACADEMY Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 01874 623219.

Thurs URBAN DANCE CLUB WITH 2FACED DANCE COMPANY Ages 7-11 years 4-5pm, ages 11+ 5-6pm.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 01584 813711.

Fri CHANCE TO DANCE A gentle programme of creative dance for the over 50s. The Courtyard, Hereford, 10.15am-11.15pm, £3.50 per session, 01432 340555.

Fri DANCING TOTS Drop-in sessions. No need to book.

The Courtyard, Hereford. 11.30am-12.15pm, £4, £1 for an additional child, 01432 340555.

We are a small bistro in the heart of Presteigne showcasing the finest local ingredients and hand selected wines.

The Duck’s Nest 10 High street Presteigne Powys LD8 2BA 01544 598090

23

food page

Pizza Express, Quality Square, Ludlow

L

ONG before his youthful sanguinity had been subdued by the cynicism of the seasoned critic, when Mr Wilson was Prime Minister and Jimi Hendrix was playing Woodstock, Mister Pernickety first sat down to eat in the Pizza Express in the Fulham Road. It was to be one of dozens of visits to the place, one of the first pizzerias in Britain. In those earlier days, Pizza Express was new, fresh and special; it fizzed with unfamiliar energy and colour, oozing ethos, staffed by cohorts of jolly little Romans joyously hurling around large floppy discs of freshly made dough.

Mr P loved Pizza Express then, and admired what the founder, Peter Boizot had created with outstanding designer and visualizer of 60s London, Enzo Apicella.

It was a place born of a time and attitude of exuberant discovery which has, regrettably, since morphed into cynical exploitation. The early Pizza Express was good, and so it succeeded, more or less, despite the faintly altruistic and uncommercial outlook of the man who conceived it. But in fifty years it grew and grew, and control was gradually transferred to the money men, to the point where it was acquired by a Chinese investment company last year for the staggering sum of £900 million, and Peter Boizot had become a mere figurehead – else why would he have allowed the new bland, corporate look restaurant, whose only concession to the its early ethos is the fine Art nouveau Pizza Express logo, to open in the vulnerable surroundings of a unique hill town like Ludlow. He would have felt instinctively that it was the wrong thing to do – and he would have been right.

Mr Pernickety and many others objected strongly to what had sadly become just another High Street multiple besmirching the face of Ludlow. The protests were ignored, the place has now opened, and on the first Saturday evening it was in business, Mr P strolled by at half past seven to observe that, of the 165 seats they claim, just two were occupied. This was encouraging; however, in order to achieve an honest appraisal for his readers of what it offers, Mister Pernickety felt obliged to drag his Lovely Companion and her child, the Children’s Menu Consultant, along there for lunch. He did so, slightly dreading that something about the experience would trigger a few nostalgia ganglia and cause him a twinge of pleasure a la recherché du temps perdu.

Nothing of the kind occurred. In the Pizza Express that has landed to despoil one of the best sites in Ludlow, not a vestige of the charm, excitement and freshness of the original remains. Ironically, it replaces an ill-conceived, badly operated and under-funded venture, which closed through lack of trade, and Mr P confidently predicts, that this massively well-resourced, bland, cynically homogenous pizzeria will close for the same reason – although its vast funds will allow it to die more slowly.

24

Mr Pernickety’s small party was greeted with evident eagerness by a cluster of staff.

‘You or’right?’ one of them asked anxiously, as if Mr P were showing signs of imminent collapse.

Mr P assured her that he was well, noting that this particular social tick is a growing, regrettable tendency among restaurant staff.

The party chose to sit close to the front window, looking out at the flea market in the square. That was, they felt, better than looking at a sea of empty tables, and an interior like a thousand others trying to appeal to young aspirant metropolitans.

The LC ordered a Campari and soda. The waitress had never heard of the drink, and the LC was obliged to point it out to her on the menu. It arrived with Mr P’s 250ml glass of very ordinary Sicilian wine, optimistically described as ‘medium-bodied with ripe jammy fruits and juniper berries,’ at £5.25. The Campari came without the customary a slice of fresh orange that contrasts so well with the subtle bitterness of the aperitif. The waitress explained that they didn’t have any oranges. The LC pursed her lips, and declined the offer of a slice of lemon instead.

To eat, the CMC chose a new kind of pizza, called Romana, thinner, but bigger in diameter than the classic, using, Mr P suspects, the same amount of dough, but c.15% more expensive. His Four Seasons arrived overbaked, with the mushrooms and pepperoni slices all snurped up (as Mr P’s old neighbouring famer used to describe the leaves of dying vegetables.) The LC said she could find little difference between her Classic Napoletana and the kind she has bought for the CMC at Aldi. Mr P wishing to sample a non-pizza item from the menu ordered Pollo Pesto, a bowl of pennette in a pesto sauce with the addition of a few chewy hunks of tasteless cotton wool, intensively farmed broiler chicken. Everything they had eaten so far, they agreed, would have been fresher, better prepared and tastier for less money around the corner at the independently owned Pizza Ten in Quality Square.

By way of a final comparison, Mr P and his LC shared a portion of Pizza Express tiramisu. This was more than disappointing – a layered slab of ingredients with dry unpenetrated sponge fingers, and containing no alcohol, which is a key ingredient. A real tiramisu – cheaper and incomparably better (made with brandy, amoretto and coffee liqueur) can be had at Ludlow’s Cicchetti Bar.

Some will accuse Mr Pernickety of strong, perhaps even unprofessional bias in these views, and he doesn’t deny his opinion that Pizza Express will do nothing but harm to the specialness of Ludlow and that they and others like them should be vigorously discouraged. So he suggests that those not wishing to be swayed by any prejudice they might detect, try the place for themselves, after which, he believes, they’ll be unlikely to revisit. www.misterpernickety.com

EVENTS

Dec & Jan LITTLE BLACK DOG CAFE Delicious seasonal tapas menu, accompanied with wines, beers, ciders, followed by something sweet.

Open Mon & Tues 9am-5.30pm, Wed-Sat 9am-11pm, 01432 263451. 5 The Mews, St Owen St, Hereford.

Sat 5 December KINGTON FESTIVE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL FROM THE BORDERS 70 festive stalls, competitions, real ale challenge, wine tasting competition and children’s crafts. The Fetch Theatre Clapper Box. Music from Whitton Voices and other local choirs, street buskers including Streetsax, Poobahs and more. Centre of Kington, 9.30am-3pm, free and free parking. A Kington Chamber of Trade event.

Fri 11 & Sat 12 December CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND FOOD FAIR Over 30 stalls of local crafts, food and drink, mulled wine and entertainment. Hereford Cathedral, Fri 3.30-8pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm, free.

Sat 12 December KINGTON CHRISTMAS MARKET Food, crafts, gifts, activities, Santa. Market Hall, Kington 10am-4pm, 01544 231665.

Sat 12 December PRESTEIGNE CHRISTMAS LOCAL FOOD MARKET Memorial Hall, Presteigne, 9am-1pm.

Sun 13 December ABERGAVENNY CHRISTMAS FOOD & DRINK FAIR Food and drink stalls, chef demonstrations, secret treats workshops, book signings and a Christmas musical feast and light parade. Open 10am-5pm, www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com Sun 24 January COOKING FOR WELL-BEING Bespoke sessions for groups wanting to learn about how to make perfect pastry or easy entertaining. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 01588 676060.

First Saturday of every month FARMER’S MARKET The Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 9am-1pm.

Sat 2 January PRESTEIGNE LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET Memorial Hall, Presteigne, 9am-1pm, 01544 262773.

3rd Saturday of every month FARMER’S MARKET Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 01588 630023.

3rd Saturday of every other month PRODUCE MARKET Hightown Community Rooms, Vicarage Rd, Clun, 10am-2pm, 01588 641145.

Every Thursday BURGER NIGHT Castle Inn, Wigmore, 01568 770203.

Every Thursday MARKET Bread, cakes, crafts, fruit and vegetables, baskets and pottery. Bishop’s Castle Town Hall, 10am-2pm.

Last Friday of every month PIZZA NIGHT The Old Mill, High Street, Llanidloes. To book, call 01686 807 506.

Every Friday KINGTON LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET Market Hall, Kington, 9am-2pm, 07765 404759.

Until the end of the year POP-UP TAPAS RESTAURANT Bridge St, Hereford, run by A2Zest Events. Open Wed-Sat, 6pm till late, info@oldbridgehereford.co.uk 01432 611528.

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. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm.

THE CIDER BARN IN PEMBRIDGE 01544 388161 www.the-cider-barn.co.uk Serving the best that Herefordshire growers produce in imaginative and inspired dishes cooked by Sophie Griffiths-Goddard the young chef patron. Full à la carte menu and lunchtime specials.

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. Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm, Sat 10am4pm. With The Green Bean Shop/Deli under the same roof.

THE OLD STATION TEA ROOM, THE OLD RAILWAY STATION, NEW RADNOR, LD8 2SS 01544 350543.

Visit us at the Old Station Caravan Park for hot drinks and homemade cakes. Superb views and free Wi-Fi. We can cater for small groups, meetings and other events. Accommodation also available. Open daily 9am-5pm, 1st March-31st October.

The India & China Tea Company at TOWER HOUSE GALLERY, HIGH STREET, KNIGHTON 01547 529530 www.towerhousegallery.blogspot.co.uk/ We serve homemade soups, breads and cakes, Italian blend coffee and over 30 different varieties of leaf tea. Wednesday to Saturday 9.30 to 5.00, (Sun, Mon & Tues - CLOSED).

Open Sundays, POLLY’S TEAROOM / GALLERY At the foot of The Narrows, Knighton 01547 528591 Light lunches,cakes, a variety of teas and coffees.

Selection of original paintings. Open all week except Fridays 11am-5pm Summer, 11am-4pm Winter THE WORKHOUSE CAFE, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PRESTEIGNE 01544 267864 Cafe gallery, light lunches, good coffee, homemade cakes. Tues - Sat 10am - 4pm.

RHOS MARKET GARDEN, KNIGHTON 01547 528315 Growers & providers of organic veg, fruit & flowers.

Old Garage Shop, Knighton. Tues-Sat. Free parking, opposite library. Friday morning market stall in Presteigne. Veg boxes delivered to local area weekly. Restaurant orders welcome. info@rhosorganic.co.uk www.rhosorganic.co.uk

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music

DECEMBER Tues 1 December

Thurs 3 December

BROMYARD CHORAL SOCIETY Carols. St John the Baptist, Whitbourne, 7.30pm, 01885 483634.

MUSIC @ THE EDGE Featuring WBS Express Club concert.

Students from William Brookes School present an evening of popular vocal and instrumental music. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £3, 01952 728911.

JACK BRETT & FRIENDS Charity Advent Adventure IV. Ludlow Brewery, The Railway Shed, Station Drive, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £10 including supper delivery from New China Garden. Reservations 01746 787419.

EX CATHEDRA Christmas by Candlelight. St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £20, £10 under 25s, 01743 367482.

Wed 2 December THE TRAVELLING MUSIC HALL Fun-filled evening of old-fashioned variety entertainment. Songs, stories, monologues, magic and comedy.

Linton Village Hall, near Ross-on-Wye, 7.30pm, 07585 663138.

THE DRAGON BAND 12-piece band playing traditional favourites, swing and mainstream big band arrangements. The Horse and Jockey, Churchstoke, 8pm, free, donations.

Keith James

COUSIN JONES Featuring James Hickman and Sarah Smith. Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 01952 610888.

OPEN MIC NIGHT King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

THE BRODSKY QUARTET Programme includes Borodin, Shostakovich and Beethoven.

Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 8pm, £16/£14, 01584 878141.

OPEN MIC Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

Fri 4 December DAWSON Dun Cow, Shrewsbury.

TOTAL RECALL Shadows tribute band. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

KEITH JAMES Playing the music of John Martyn and Nick Drake. Knighton Community Centre Bar, 8pm, £12 from Tower House Gallery, on the door or 07751 221487.

WAYNE MARTIN BAND White Horse Inn, Clun.

JAZZ @ THE OLD BLACK LION Featuring Simon Deeley and Dayne Cranenburgh Duo, piano and bass.

Black Lion, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, free, 01497 820841.

LET’S GET QUIZZICAL The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

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HMV BAND Malthouse, Ironbridge.

HALF DEAF CLATCH CARAD, Rhayader, 8pm, £5 on the door.

HEREFORD GILBERT & SULLIVAN SOCIETY Cabaret-style seasonal favourites with a modern twist. Hereford Town Hall, 7.30pm, £10 includes refreshments from The Outback, Hereford, 01432 275063.

STEVE EDWARDS Ego’s, Quality Square, Ludlow.

LE FREAK Yew Tree Inn, Peterstow, near Ross-on-Wye. TEN BOB MILLIONNAIRE Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

Sat 5 December LOST THE PLOT Malthouse, Ironbridge.

ROCKY ROAD TO RUIN The Victory, St Owen St, Hereford.

Raising funds for Greenpeace.

CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS CONCERT With the Village Quire. Songs and stories of wonders and wassailing.

All Saint’s Church, Cwmbach, Glasbury, 7.30pm, £7.50, £5 under 18s to include mulled wine and mince pie, 01497 847676, www.villagequire.org.uk SHENANIGANS Featuring Undercover Hippy and supported by Alex Valentine.

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

A TOUCH OF HOLLY AT CHRISTMAS Buddy Holly tribute. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 8pm, £17/£16, 01584 878141.

LUDLOW CHORAL SOCIETY ‘The Song of the Angels’. Christmas charity concert. St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £15 & £10 from The Wool Shop, Broad St or www.ludlowchoral.org.uk

GLASBURY ARTS Saturday, 5 December, 2015 Glasbury Village Hall PuppetSoup Theatre Company present Land of Dragons

Performance at 6pm Workshop for young people aged 7-13, 11am to 12.30pm PuppetSoup, will take you to the edge of your seat and the brink of your imagination. Earlier in the day. PuppetSoup will present an exciting workshop for puppet lovers, seven years old and up.

Supported by Night Out Scheme, Gwernyfed & District Community Council, W H Ricketts and Sons Ticket prices: £8 full price, £5 under-18s, £6 concessions (unwaged, students, over-60s) Workshop, £8. Combined workshop and performance ticket, £12 10% member’s discount applies to both prices.

Saturday, 16 January, 2016 Glasbury Village Hall, 7.30pm Devil’s Violin – Forbidden Door Welcome to a cinema of the mind!- with their visceral combination of live music and dynamic storytelling, The Devil’s Violin weave an enchantment of melody and mystery.

Don’t open the door!

Supported by Night Out Scheme and Hereford Windows.

Ticket prices: £10 full price, £8 concessions (unwaged, students, over-60s) 10% member’s discount applies to both prices.

Wheelchair accessible Free Bus from Hay to Glasbury, for both events must be booked in advance on 07583 544110.

Sunday, 30 January, 2016 Glasbury Village Hall, 10.30am – 4pm Book art workshop with Victoria Keeble An introductory workshop for those new to Book Arts, or a refresher for the more experienced.

Victoria will offer guidance as participants explore this exciting art form by experimenting with different structures to create innovative and beautiful books from the simplest of materials. drawing, lettering, collage, colour and print to create your own unique books.

Ticket prices: £55, full price, £40 concessions (unwaged, students, over-60s) 10% member’s discount applies to both prices.

Tickets for all events: by telephone on 0333 666 3366 or online at www.glasburyarts.co.uk

Jamie Smith’s Mabon

OPEN MIC Ledbury Community Hall, 7pm, £5, bring a bottle, 01531 632968.

XL5 Vaga Tavern, Hereford, 9pm.

VILLAGE QUIRE All Saint’s Church, Cwmbach, HR3 5LR. THERESA Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

THE RONALDOS + PIGDAZE Ludlow Brewery, £7, 01584 873291.

All profits go to Joel’sWish, young people with cancer.

JAMIE SMITH’S MABON Market Theatre, Ledbury, 8pm, £12, students £8, 07967 517125.

Sat 5 December KEITH DAVIES With his own ‘Memphis Mafia’ he returns with his popular tribute to the King. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

WORCESTERSHIRE LEVELLERS Christmas Fair, King’s Head, Tenbury Wells, 1pm onwards.

TOM THE FROP 60s and 70s pop and rock.

King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

BISHOP’S CASTLE ORCHESTRA Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle, 5pm, 01588 630023.

MORE THAN MEMORIALS

SHROPSHIRE HARMONY QUIRE Includes instrumentalists. Concert of West Gallery carols, the music of 18th/19th century rural parish churches.

St Cuthbert’s Church, Clungunford, 7pm, £6 includes refreshments, 01588 630446.

WELSHPOOL WINTER FESTIVAL Street stalls, craft and charity stalls in the Town Hall. Entertainment from Sylvesta the Jester and Melomanics.

Santa in his grotto (free) and a performance from Montgomery Youth Theatre, 10am-5pm, 01938 553142.

HEREFORD CHORAL SOCIETY Handle’s Messiah. With Marches Baroque. Hereford Cathedral, 7.30pm, 0845 4633124.

NOTORIOUS BROTHERS Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

THE FB POCKET ORCHESTRA Working backwards from the 1930s, the FB Pocket Orchestra explores blues, ragtime and hot jazz: the sort of vintagey/tea dance/speakeasy type repertoire that has such a wide appeal. Breinton Village Hall, 7.30pm, £10/£5/£28, 01432 350919. Arts Alive.

ROLO BENZ Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

BISHOP’S CASTLE CHRISTMAS STREET FESTIVAL Featuring The Wayne Martin Band at The Vaults, Bishop’s Castle, 9pm.

KINGTON FESTIVE FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL FROM THE BORDERS 70 festive stalls, competitions, wine and ale competitions, children’s crafts.

The Fetch Theatre Clapper Box. Music from Whitton Voices and other local choirs, street buskers including Streetsax, Poobaas, Celticana Band, Geoff Rogers, Bandamania and more.

Centre of Kington, 9.30am-3pm, free and free parking. A Kington Chamber of Trade event.

Sun 6 December SIMON BLIGHT The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

Will & Lottie O’Leary Upper House, Knucklas, Knighton, Powys

TEL: 01547 528 792

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www.stonecarving.co.uk

THE FB POCKET ORCHESTRA See 5 Dec for details. Whitbourne Village Hall, 7.45pm, £8/£5, 01886 821684. Arts Alive.

DUTCH LEWIS TRIO Sing and play their jazz Christmas songbook. Guitar, vocals, trumpet and bass. Aardvark Books, Brampton Bryan, near Bucknell, 11.30am-2pm, free entry and parking.

CLIVE JOHN TRIO Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

FB Pocket Orchestra

SOPHIE GRECH, ROBERT SECRET & DUNCAN HONEYBOURNE Programme of songs and music by Liszt, Bruch, Brahms and Schubert.

Lion Ballroom, Leominster, 3pm, £12, £6 students from Roundabout Stationery, 01568 610215 or on the door.

DAVID BUSBY Acoustic. Bull Inn, Shrewsbury, 5pm.

COMPLINE Evening prayers said or chanted.

St Mary Magdalene, Bleddfa, 8.30pm.

SHREWSBURY JAZZ NETWORK Presents The Big Annual Jazz Jam with Stuart Goodhew, Dave Margaroni and Jerome Auxant with the rhythm section.

All levels of ability welcome. The Hive, Shrewsbury, 2.30pm, £3 on the door, under 18s free, 01743 234970.

Thurs 10 December

DAN JAMES Queen’s Head, Monmouth.

RAINBREAKERS The Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

Mon 7 December

GOODERHAM & NEEDS Blues. Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 01952 610888.

CIDER CITY JAZZMEN The Barrels, St Owen’s St, Hereford, 01432 274968.

HAY MUSIC Featuring Clare College Cambridge Choir performing an evening of ancient and modern seasonal music.

Richard Booth’s Bookshop, Hay-onWye, 7.15pm, £12, 01497 820322.

TIM CRANMORE He makes and plays recorders, carves carrots into flutes and plays them too with the London Vegetable Orchestra.

Plus a poet, author, baritone singer and all round performer. Hellens, Much Marcle, Ledbury, 01531 660504.

JAZZ @ GRACIES Featuring Mark Latimer, Steve Tarner and Trevor Davies. Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

JOHN KIRKPATRICK Carolling and Crumpets. A musical journey through the bizarre traditional rituals found in the folklore and folk music of England at Midwinter.

Wem Town Hall, 7.30pm, £9/£5, 01939 238279. Arts Alive.

Fri 11 December DELRAY ROCKETS Rock-a-billy all the way. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

MICRO BABY Dun Cow, Shrewsbury.

THE

ROWAN TREE

ROEBUCKANEERS FOLK CLUB The Roebuck Inn, Brimfield, near Ludlow, 8pm, 01584 711854.

PRESTEIGNE

Tues 8 December INSPECTOR GADJO TRIO Bistro 7, Welshpool, 8.30pm, free, although table bookings advisable, 01938 552879.

BROMYARD CHORAL SOCIETY Carols. St Mary the Virgin, Bishop’s Frome, 7.30pm, 01885 483634.

Wed 9 December THE DRAGON BAND The Horse and Jockey, Churchstoke, 8pm, free, donations.

BLAKES III Norrie’s Cafe, West St, Leominster , £20 with lovely dinner, 7.30pm, booking essential, 01568 614290.

LINERUNNERS & THE LONESOME STAMPEDE The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford, 01432 274968. Hereford Live event.

OPEN MIC With Mike Longmore. White Horse Inn, Clun.

Saturday 9 January to Sunday 17 January 2016

CHRISTMAS

Artistic Directors: Daniel Tong and Simon Crawford-Phillips

TREATS

Annual chamber music festival featuring world class professional musicians performing in intimate venues throughout the Wye Valley, from Chepstow to Hereford.

Tickets £12-£25.

For more information and to book tickets: www.wyevalleyfestival.com or info@wyevalleyfestival.com

FOR EVERYONE 01544 260292

ghtj.rowantree@gmail.com

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BIG CHRISTMAS SING With The Marches Choir, conducted by Alistair Auld with organist Richard Silk.

Plus Bishop’s Castle Primary School Choir. St John’s Church, Bishop’s Castle, 7pm, £5, students free, 01588 650448.

Inspector Gadjo Trio, 8 Dec

Fri 11 December THE DRAGON JAZZ & SWING BAND Dance night. Montgomery Town Hall, 8pm, £10 tickets from Bunners, Montgomery or 01686 668675.

ALTERNATIVE ROOTS Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

THE CARNIVAL BAND Capturing the spirit of Christmas with Carnival Yule. Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton, 7.30pm, £12.50, 01694 720132.

DAVE CHRISTIE Ego’s, Quality Square, Ludlow.

FRIDAY LIVE Featuring Desert Island Picks with Derek Addyman. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

AIR BAG Malthouse, Ironbridge.

JAZZ @ THE BONDED WAREHOUSE Featuring Shrewsbury Jazz Orchestra.

The Bonded Warehouse, Canal St, Stourbridge, 7.30pm, £7, £3.50 students on the door.

THE WAYNE MARTIN BAND The Exchange, Newtown.

RAY STROUD AND OUT LATE Sweet soul music. Piesse of Piddle, Wyre Piddle, 9pm.

FOWNHOPE HEART OF OAK SOCIETY CHRISTMAS CONCERT With the AW Parker Drybrook Brass Band. Fownhope New Memorial Hall, 7.30pm, bar and raffle, £10, £5 under 16s, 01432 860584.

KINGTON CHRISTMAS MARKET Food, crafts, gifts, activities, Santa.

Market Hall, Kington 10am-4pm, 01544 231665.

MEN IN GENERAL A cappella quintuplets. St Peter’s Church, Cowleigh Bank, North Malvern, 7.30pm, £10, 01684 893858.

OUTLAWED Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

CLUN LOOK BACK EVENT On the anniversary of playwright John Osborne’s birthday, ‘Clun Look Back Event’ is the launch party for next year’s Osborne & After festival in May – 60 years on from the opening of ‘Look Back in Anger’. Clun Memorial Hall from 3pm – includes a screening of Flash Gordon, 50’s style jive, displays and fun activities. Free.

Details www.osborneandafter.org INDIE DOG HOUSE Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

GROOVE CITY Malthouse, Ironbridge.

JOHN KIRKPATRICK See 10 Dec for details. St Leonard’s Church, Yarpole, 7.30pm, £10/£5/£25, 01568 780874. Arts Alive.

Sat 12 December COUNTRY & FOLK MEETS JAZZ & BLUES Featuring Virgil Clenthills, Ann Gray, Dutch Lewis and Olds Cool and many more. Burway Bowls Club, Bromfield Rd, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £10. South Shropshire Blues Club.

THE RHYTHM THIEVES King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

30

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

Men in General

HANDEL’S MESSIAH With Cantorion Llandrindod, The Irfon Singers, The Hertfordshire Chamber Orchestra and professional soloists.

Rhayader Leisure Centre, 7pm, £12.50, under 18s free, from the Leisure Centre or the Herb Garden Cafe, Llandrindod Wells or 01597 803082.

CEILIDH WITH STRAY AWAY Bishop Bevan Hall, Brecon, 7.30pm start, all welcome, £8, 01874 611529.

Brecon & Distric Mind. Bring along food to share in the break, bar available.

SHENANIGANS Featuring The Lonesome Stampede.

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

ABERGAVENNY BOROUGH BAND ‘The Glory of Christmas’. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

ACADEMIA MUSICA CHOIR Carols and other seasonal choral music

by Britten. St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £10, under 18s free from Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 01584 878141 or on the door.

VILLAGE QUIRE Songs and stories of winter and the festive season. New Radnor Community Centre.

LIVE MUSIC The Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

EIRA/SNOW Evening of music with Scandinavian, Celtic and Middle Eastern influences.

St Michael’s Church, Garway, 7pm, £5, 01981 570268.

Charlie’s AutoRepair Service Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

MOT’S £29.95 (cars & vans) Special Offer Aircon service £29.95 NO RE-TEST FEE, MOTs WHILE YOU WAIT, MOT WORK, SERVICING, RE-SPRAYS, BODYWORK, WELDING, RESTORATION, CAMBELT REPLACEMENT, FREE ESTIMATES All vehicles serviced & repaired Tel. 01568 613100 Mob. 07702 528088 email: hotsax@hotclimate.co.uk Unit 10, Western Close, Southern Avenue, Leominster, HR6 0QD

31

BLACK COUNTRY ROCK Malthouse, Ironbridge.

OPEN MIC Hosted by Mark from Rhythm Thieves.

Sun Inn, Leintwardine, 8pm.

FRIDAY LIVE Featuring Christmas Special Open Mic. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

TALON The best of the Eagles. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

Carnivále Republic, 20 Dec

Sun 13 December FOLK SESSION Arvon Ale House, 4pm, 07477 627267.

STEVE AJAO BLUES GIANTS The Barrels, St Owen St, Hereford.

THE BAR FLIES Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

LOUIS COUPE Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

ARTISANS QUARTET Festive food, wine and music: Dvorak’s American Quartet and Borodin Quartet.

New Inn, Pembridge, 4pm, £10 on the door or 01544 388689 or 01544 388341.

THE WOOD TOWN HILLBILLIES The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

HEAVY QUARTET Queen’s Head, Monmouth.

Mon 14 December BLACK MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS Tomatitos, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm.

THE CHRISTMASSY CHRISTMAS SHOW OF CHRISTMASSY CHRISTMASSNESS! Fir trees, fairy lights, sleigh bells and snowflakes, crackers, carols, presents and puddings. Learn about Yuletide traditions old and new, Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 1pm, £5, 01584 878141.

JAZZ @ GRACIES Featuring Mark Latimer, Steve Tarner and Trevor Davies. Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

Tues 15 December BROMYARD CHORAL SOCIETY Carols. St John’s Church, Pencombe, 7.30pm, 01885 483634.

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JAZZ & BLUES FOR THE WINTER SEASON Featuring Bella Collins, Gareth Evans, John-Paul Gard and Phill O’Sullivan.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 8pm, £7, 01874 611622. Brecon Jazz Club.

LIVE MUSIC The Red Lion, Knighton, 7.30pm.

Wed 16 December THE DRAGON BAND 12-piece band playing traditional favourites, swing and mainstream big band arrangements. The Horse and Jockey, Churchstoke, 8pm, free, donations.

THE DELRAY ROCKETS Fuel injected rockabilly. King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

PAUL PARKER Dun Cow, Shrewsbury.

LEDBURY COMMUNITY CHOIR Christmas concert. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.30pm, £10, students £8, 01531 634630.

Sat 19 December XL5 Pop and rock covers. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

EX CATHEDRA CONSORT A programme of Christmas music and readings from the 13th to 18th centuries. Hereford Cathedral, 7.30pm, £30/£20/£10, 01432 374210.

JOHN KIRKPATRICK Carolling and Crumpets. Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle, 8pm, £8 in advance, £10 on the door, www.bcth.ticketsource.co.uk

Thurs 17 December

SUN HONEY Greyhound Inn, Llangunllo.

TALON The best of the Eagles. Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

ROLLING STONES NIGHT With Dave Luke and The Glimmer Twins (Dave Kirk and Bugsy) murder all your favourite Stones tunes.

With special guests. The Dukes Arms, Presteigne, 8.30pm, free.

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS The Bell Inn, Etnam St, Leominster, 9pm.

LOST THE PLOT Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 01952 610888.

BLUZ BOX The Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

Fri 18 December SULTANA BROTHERS Rock and blues. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

THE WAYNE MARTIN BAND The Wheatsheaf, Shrewsbury.

BLAKES 3 Christmas party. Norrie’s Cafe, 35 West St, Leominster, 7.30pm, £20 includes meal, 01568 614290. Please book in advance.

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON Carol singing, mince pie competition and more. Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 01952 610888.

WHITTON VOICES & FRIENDS Seasonal songs, winter tales and merry music, led by Sue Harris. St Michael’s Church, Discoed, near Presteigne, 6.30pm, £7, raising funds for Concern Universal, mince pies and hot punch included, 01547 550158.

ROVING CROWS Colwall Village Hall, 7.30pm, £10.

GOT 2 SING Hereford Contemporary Choir’s Christmas Concert. An evening of Christmas songs and carols.

Hereford Town Hall, 7.30pm, ticket only, 03330 146164, www.got2sing.co.uk WHISKEY RIVER 5-piece electric line up. The Baskerville Arms, Christmas Dinner Bash, Clyro.

Booking essential, 01497 820670.

SHENANIGANS Featuring a Christmas Ceilidh.

The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7pm, 01497 821762.

FRUIT MACHINE Malthouse, Ironbridge.

RICKY COOL & THE HOOLA BOOLA BOYS The Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

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

JOHNNY TRASHED Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

CASTALIA STRING QUARTET With guitarist Tim Edwards and featuring Boccherini’s Guitar Quintet.

St Gwendoline’s Church, Talgarth, 3pm, £5 on the door or from Bakers Table or Talgarth Mill, 07795 473883.

ALEX HUTCHINS AND JOHN PAUL GARD ‘Cook Book’ project. Queen’s Head, Monmouth.

PAUL PARKER & FRIENDS Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

LEDBURY COMMUNITY CHOIR Christmas concert. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 7.30pm, £10, students £8, 01531 634630.

Sun 20 December JOHN KIRKPATRICK See 10 Dec for details. Alveley Parish Memorial Hall, 7pm, £8/£5, 01746 780478. Arts Alive.

SONS OF DELTA Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

CARNIVALE REPUBLIC This guitar led, electro acoustic quartet fuses elements of swing, world rhythms, improvisation and an exquisite melodic sensibility. Extraordinarily danceable.

The Bar, Knighton Community Centre, 8pm, £5, 01547 528543.

A CHRISTMAS CONCERT Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

John Kirkpatrick

AUGHISKY Queen’s Head, Monmouth.

CHRISTMAS CROONERS A cast of scintillating singers backed by a talented swing band sing over thirty Christmas hits. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7.30pm, £15/£14, 01874 611622.

Mon 21 December LEOMINSTER CHORAL SOCIETY Carols by candlelight. Priory Church, Leominster, 7pm, £6, under 16s free, mulled wine and mince pies, 01432 830160.

JAZZ @ GRACIES Featuring Mark Latimer, Steve Tarner and Trevor Davies. Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

THE DRAGON BAND 12-piece band playing traditional favourites, swing and mainstream big band arrangements. The Horse and Jockey, Churchstoke, 8pm, free, donations.

Wed 23 December

Thurs 24 December

JOHN KIRKPATRICK See 10 Dec for details. Welshampton Parish Hall, 7.30pm, £10/£6, 01948 710586. Arts Alive.

THE VELVET DUKES The Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

BOX OFFICE

01743 281281

SUN 20 - SAT 26 DEC

DEAR SANTA Music, laughter and plenty of audience participation. Plus the opportunity to meet Santa himself and after the show!.

TICKETS £10.50 Child £9.50

THU 28 - SAT 30 JAN

THE GREAT GATSBY Immerse yourself in America's Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece brought to life in this sizzling stage adaptation.

TICKETS £17 - £15 CONC. £1 OFF SCHOOLS £10

SUN 31 JAN

CARMEN The award winning and highly acclaimed OperaUpClose return with their new English version of Bizet's wildly popular opera TICKETS £22 - £19 CONC. £1.50 OFF

view full listings at www.theatresevern.co.uk

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Shrewsbury Jazz Network, Partikel’s String Theory, 9 Jan

FIGHT THE BEAR The Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

PHOENIX Vaga Tavern, Hereford, ticket only.

GOLD ROOM Malthouse, Ironbridge.

BOUTS OF IDIOCY The Bell Inn, Etnam St, Leominster.

JANUARY Fri 1 January

LIVE MUSIC White Horse Inn, Clun.

Sat 2 January Thurs 24 December

Wed 30 December

ADAM HODSON AND THE ACOUSTIC UNDERDOGS Malthouse, Ironbridge.

THE DRAGON BAND 12-piece band playing traditional favourites, swing and mainstream big band arrangements. The Horse and Jockey, Churchstoke, 8pm, free, donations.

Sat 26 December THE TEXELS Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

LEOMINSTER MORRIS The traditional Boxing Day Morris and performance of the Herefordshire Mummers Play, the historic battle between good and evil featuring characters such as St George & The Dragon, Widow Quill and Napoleon.

The New Inn, Pembridge, 12 noon.

Sun 27 December FOLK SESSION Arvon Ale House, 4pm, 07477 627267.

LIFE DUO The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

RHI MOORE & ED Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

THE HAUNTED SOULS Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

RAY STROUD AND OUT LATE Sweet soul music. Railway Inn, Malvern Wells, 9pm.

Mon 28 December JAZZ @ GRACIES Featuring Mark Latimer, Steve Tarner and Trevor Davies. Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES GIG Featuring Little Rumba, The Poobahs, Chuck Micallef, Same Tokens, Luke Doyle and lots of other guests. Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 7pm. Recommended donation £10, bar.

XL5 Pop and rock covers. Ticket only, £10 from the pub. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

THE ENDINGS Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

HOT CLIMATE The Salwey Arms, Wooferton, 7pm, limited tickets £25, 01584 711510, www.salweyarms.co.uk NEW YEAR EVE CELEBRATIONS With Sould and DJ Mr B. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 8pm, 01497 821762.

FAT CHANCE Dun Cow, Shrewsbury.

TIME BANDITS MFA Bowl, Hereford, 8pm, £15 from Nick Fisher Music, Commercial Rd, Hereford, 07590 984772.

EARL GREY & THE TEA LEAVES Fancy dress. Greyhound Inn, Llangunllo.

BEEZ NEEZ Castle Hotel, Bishop’s Castle.

SOUL SUPPLY With bar nibbles and laser show.

Charlton Arms, Ludlow, £30, 01584 872813.

FANCY DRESS EXTRAVAGANZA With live music. King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

VELVET DUKES White Horse Inn, Clun.

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS The Roast Ox Inn, Painscastle, 10pm.

Tues 29 December

MONTY FOLK Eclectic mix of ceilidh favourites with historical tunes. Montgomery Town Hall, 7.30pm, bring a plate of food to share, £7.50, £2 children under 12, 01686 668526.

OPEN MIC NIGHT Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 01952 610888.

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Thurs 31 December

THE ROOZ Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

THIN VISION Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

NEW TRICKS Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

OPEN MIC Ledbury Community Hall, 7pm, £5, bring a bottle, 01531 632968.

Sun 3 January LUKE DOHERTY BAND Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

COMPLINE Evening prayers said or chanted.

St Mary Magdalene, Bleddfa, 8.30pm.

DAVE RAE The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

Mon 4 January CIDER CITY JAZZMEN The Barrels, St Owen’s St, Hereford, 01432 274968.

JAZZ @ GRACIES Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

ROEBUCKANEERS FOLK CLUB The Roebuck Inn, Brimfield, near Ludlow, 8pm, 01584 711854.

Wed 6 January LEOMINSTER MORRIS WASSAIL Traditional Twelfth Night wassail.

The Boot Inn, Orleton, 7pm.

Fri 8 January JAZZ @ THE BONDED WAREHOUSE Featuring Philip Clouts Quartet.

The Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge, 7.30pm, £7, £3.50 students on the door.

FOLK IN THE FOYER: ROGER WILSON Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, 01885 488575.

FLOYD EARL BAND Funk and soul band. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

Sat 9 January EUPHONISM Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

Box Office: 01885 488575 www.conquest-theatre.co.uk

35

Sat 16 January THE FABULOUS BORDELLOS King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

YESTERDAY’S JAM Vaga Tavern, Hereford, 9pm.

WYE VALLEY FESTIVAL Chamber Music Festival Workshop day hosted by Stephen Walsh. Treowen Manor, Dingestow, near Monmouth, 11am-6pm, £60, includes refreshments and lunch, www.wyevalleyfestival.com EGO FRIENDLY Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

Dave Luke & Chuck Micallef, Medecins Sans Frontieres gig, 28 Dec

Sat 9 January BISHOP’S CASTLE ORCHESTRA Gala Concert with a special French flavour. Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton, 7.30pm, £10, 01694 720132.

CALIBRE Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

WYE VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Programme includes Mozart and Ravel.

St Briavel’s Church, St Briavels, 4pm, £16/£5, www.wyevalleyfestival.com SEAN SAYE Music from the 50s-70s. King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

5 O’CLOCK HEROES Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

SHREWSBURY JAZZ NETWORK Presents Partikel’s String Theory. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £14, 21s and under £7, 01743 234970.

Sun 10 January WYE VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL Faure and Ravel. Bishop’s Palace, Hereford, 3pm, £16, £5 student, 5.30pm £12, £5 student, £25 for both, www.wyevalley festival.com THE STANDARD LAMPS Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

36

BRECON JAZZ CLUB Featuring Donnie Joe’s American Swing Quartet; feelgood sounds from 1940’s jazz era. Jazz In The Bar, Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 8pm, £7 on the door, 01874 611622.

Wed 13 January CAM PENNER AND JON WOOD By turns elemental and spectral, Canadian Cam Penner’s gruff, gritty folk/ blues songcraft - as heard in 2015’s BBC adaptation of Iain Banks’s Stonemouth - has won comparisons with Neil Young, Woody Guthrie and Tom Waits.

Atmospherically accompanied by Jon Wood’s wizardry on guitar, lap steel and sampler. “Masterful - utterly compelling” (AmericanaUK). The Assembly Rooms Presteigne, £5 on the door, Bar, pies.

A Full Circle Pop-Up gig.

Thurs 14 January TROY REDFERN BAND Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

WYE VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Programme includes Bach, Schumann and Mendelssohn. Treowen Manor, Dingestow, near Monmouth, drinks/ canapes 7pm, concert 7.30pm, £25, www.wyevalleyfestival.com

LIVE MUSIC The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

THE ELO EXPERIENCE Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, 7.30pm, 01873 850805.

Mon 11 January

Fri 15 January

JAZZ @ GRACIES Featuring Mark Latimer, Steve Tarner and Trevor Davies. Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

LIVE MUSIC White Horse Inn, Clun.

Tues 12 January

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS The Bell Inn, Redbrook, Monmouth, 8.30pm.

HAY MUSIC Featuring Rachel Podger and Marcin Swiatkiewicz. An evening of popular and lesser-known baroque music.

Richard Booth’s Bookshop, Hay-onWye, 7.30pm, £14, 01497 820322.

THE BANDYCOOTS Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

BLACK HEART ANGELS 3-piece rock covers. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

HARRY RAY Piano concert. Programme includes Bach, Satie, Handel and Chopin.

Kinnersley Castle, 7.30pm, £10/£8 from The Green Bean, Weobley or The Kinnersley Arms or 01544 327407.

BCDC Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

CLOCKWORK Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

DEVIL’S VIOLIN - FORBIDDEN DOOR A combination of live music and dynamic storytelling. Glasbury Village Hall, 7.30pm, £10/£8, 029 2071 3200.

Glasbury Arts.

Sun 17 January WYE VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Programme includes JS Bach, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Beethoven. Hellens, Much Marcle, near Ledbury, 12.15pm & 3.15pm, £16-£12, students £5, £9 lunch, £4.50 tea, www.wyevalleyfestival.com LIVE MUSIC The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

THE BIG WOLF BAND Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

DVORAK AT TWILIGHT A tribute concert by friends and colleagues of the late Peter Cropper.

Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury, 6pm, £16.50, 25s and under £8, under 18s £1, 01743 367482.

Mon 18 January ROSS ON WYE CLASSICAL MUSIC SOCIETY ‘Sibelius and Nielsen’. Christchurch, Edde Cross St, Ross-on-Wye, 7.30pm, £6, 01989 567750.

Devil’s Violin

37

Mon 18 January JAZZ @ GRACIES Featuring Mark Latimer, Steve Tarner and Trevor Davies. Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

Thurs 21 January FRUIT MACHINE Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

MOONSTREAM Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

SEAN SAYE The Bell Inn, Etnam St, Leominster.

Fri 22 January GREY WOLF Acoustic old time Americana and blues.

King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

BUSTER YARRANTON Two-tone revue. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

Sat 23 January PERFECT STRANGER Classic rock. King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

POSITIVELY FOURTH STREET A celebration of the music, art and poetry that flowed from Greenwich Village in the early 60s. Performed by Ben Bowden. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, £9, 01885 488575.

LIVE MUSIC Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

MARTYN JOSEPH The ‘Welsh Springsteen’. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, £15/£14, 01982 552555.

PHOENIX Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

WILD WILLY BARRETT’S FRENCH CONNECTION With French singer, Aurora Colson.

Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton, 7.30pm, £10, 01694 720132.

Sun 24 January THE BLUE ROAD Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

LIVE MUSIC The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

Mon 25 January

Fri 29 January RAY STROUD Old Nags Head, Monmouth, 9pm.

OPEN MIC Hosted by Mark from Rhythm Thieves.

Sun Inn, Leintwardine, 8pm.

LIVE MUSIC White Horse Inn, Clun.

MARTYN JOSEPH Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £16, 01743 281281.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

BALLADEERS AND CHANCERS 10 years running and over 115 different performers. Balladeers says farewell.

Come and join us for the final hoorah.

Featuring Brent Lee and Mark.

Dukes Arms, Presteigne, 5.30pm, 07837 944090.

LIVE MUSIC The Red Lion, Knighton, 7.30pm.

KENT DU CHAINE Prince of Wales, Ledbury.

LIVE MUSIC The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 3pm.

FEBRUARY Mon 1 February

SAM EVANS BAND 4-piece band from Bristol with their own material. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

JAZZ @ GRACIES Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

Sat 30 January THE SULTANA BROTHERS The Bell Inn, Etnam St, Leominster.

LUDLOW MUSIC SOCIETY Programme includes Schubert. Moor Park, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £18, students £6, accompanied children free from Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 01584 878141 or on the door.

BUDDY’S REVIVAL Bull Inn, Shrewsbury.

BURN’S NIGHT SUPPER & REELS Featuring George Buchanan’s Band, piper, traditional address to the Haggis, reels, raffle and auction. Lyde Arundel, near Hereford, 6.30pm, £60, 07775 751122. In aid of The Music Pool.

SOUTH SHROPSHIRE BLUES CLUB Live music. The Railway Shed, Station Drive, Ludlow, 8pm.

LIVE MUSIC Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

T’PAU: SONGS AND STORIES Carol Decker performs stripped back versions of classics. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £20, 01743 281281.

OCD Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford.

Thurs 28 January

MARCHES BAROQUE JS Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with international soloists. Hereford Cathedral, 7pm, 01432 374261.

BEEZ NEEZ Vaults, Bishop’s Castle.

Sun 31 January

WHISKEY RIVER 5-piece electric line up. Gloucester Cajun & Zydeco Festival, Guildhall, Gloucester.

JAZZ @ GRACIES Featuring Mark Latimer, Steve Tarner and Trevor Davies. Gracie’s Wine Bar, Leominster, 8pm, free, 01568 610051.

MUSICAL EVENING A musical evening with Melvin Hancox.

Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 8pm.

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OPEN MIC NIGHT Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 01952 610888.

BROTHERS BLUES, SISTER SOUL King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

CIDER CITY JAZZMEN The Barrels, St Owen’s St, Hereford, 01432 274968.

ROEBUCKANEERS FOLK CLUB The Roebuck Inn, Brimfield, near Ludlow, 8pm, 01584 711854.

Fri 5 February MEGSON The husband and wife duo bring an infectious mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonised driving rhythmic guitars.

The Leintwardine Centre, 7.30pm, £12 from WeGotTickets.com or 01547 540554. Arts Alive.

UNFORGETABLE Featuring Michael Williams of The Drifters. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £21, 01743 281281.

THE WHISKEY RIVER BOYS The Nag’s Head, Monmouth, 9pm.

THE BRIGHT EYES Disco and party music. Golden Cross Inn, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford.

Sat 6 February

ROVING CROWS High energy with roots in folk and Celtic music. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 8pm, £12, 07967 517125.

GRETCHEN PETERS Nashville-based singer-songwriter.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £23.50, 01743 281281.

AN EVENING WITH HAZEL O’CONNOR With Clare Hirst and Sarah Fisher.

Wyeside, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, £15/£14, 01982 552555.

OPEN MIC Ledbury Community Hall, 7pm, £5, bring a bottle, 01531 632968.

Music Workshops

Sun 6 December HEARTWARMING SONGS AROUND THE FIRESIDE Wassails and seasonal songs.

All welcome, everything taught by ear with Sue Harris and Katherina Garratt-Adams. Kinnersley Castle, near Eardisley, 2.30-5pm, £10/£8, includes hot punch, tea and cakes.

Places limited, booking essential.

01544 327407 or 07867 337613.

Sun 24 January SHROPSHIRE HARMONY QUIRE TASTER SESSION Sing and play mainly West Gallery music, which is energetic, rousing, no-nonsense stuff. Led

by Sue Harris. This session particularly welcomes new singers and instrumentalists. Free. Bishop’s Castle Methodist Hall, Station St, 2-5pm. Email bosky@btinternet.com Monday ALIVE & KICKIN’ CHOIR Coleg Powys (now NPTC), Brecon, 7-9pm, £5 public, £3 students/staff. tanyawalkermusic@hotmail.com Monday BANDAMANIA Traditional dance music from far and wide.

Assembly Rooms, Presteigne 7.15pm, Sue Harris 01547 550158.

Tuesday BANG ON DRUMS Drum circle. Black Lion, Bridge St, Hereford, 7-9pm, bring your own hand drums or drums and percussion instruments provided, 07870 747248, www.bangondrums.co.uk Tuesday DOLAU MIXTURES Mixed choir. Dolau Community Hall, near Llandrindod Wells, 8pm, 01597 851427.

Tuesday WHITTON VOICES Mixed community choir. Songs from around the world, traditional and contemporary.

Assembly Rooms, Presteigne, 8-10pm, £6. All welcome. Led by Sue Harris, 01547 550158.

Wednesdays CASTLE VOICES SING ON 7 - 8.30pm in the Cadet Hall, Bishop’s Castle. Sing your heart out with songs from far and wide.

Everything taught by ear. All welcome, £5 per week. Led by Sue Harris 01547 550158 sumarieharris@btinternet.com Wednesdays BISHOP’S CASTLE EARLY MUSIC GROUP Singing renaissance and baroque music a cappella. All music readers welcome, 7.30pm. Contact Mark, 075385 68378 or email jacquelinesw@hotmail.co.uk

Wednesday ROCKSPRING COMMUNITY CHOIR All welcome particularly men! Minimal charge. Rockspring Community Centre, Ludlow.

01584 529053.

Wednesday LUDLOW LARKS COMMUNITY CHOIR Led by Polly Bolton. Songs from around the world - from the Beatles to Bulgaria. Ludlow Women’s Centre, 7.30pm-9.30pm. Polly on 01584 823609 or info@oak-barn.co.uk or check our website www.jollypages. co.uk/larks Thursday CLUNSONGBIRDS 10 -11.30am in Hightown Hall - along from the church. Uplifting songs from many traditions around the world, all taught by ear. Everyone welcome for a rousing sing. £5 per week. Led by Sue Harris 01547 550158 sumarieharris@btinternet.com Thursday CANTORION LLANDRINDOD Mixed choir, early/classical music.

Howey VH, 7.45pm, 01874 754774.

First Thursdays BLACK HILL TUNE CLUB 2pm at the Crown Inn Longtown.

Free. 01432 263495.

Friday MUSIC TIME A session of music and movement for under 5s. The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, 10.30am11.30am, £5 per child, 01743 234970.

We Manufacture on Farm Poultry Housing • Pet Housing • Runs Pig Arks • Multi-Purpose Arks • Goat Housing • Strong Walk-in Enclosures (For Pets, Poultry, Aviary) • Bespoke Items - Simply Provide a Sketch.

Always Available Point-of-Lay Hens from £10, Fully Vaccinated. Also: Light Sussex, Bluebelles, Rhode Rocke, Speckeldy.

Also in Stock Jacob lambs • Miniature Pet Pigs Alpacas • Poultry Pellets with in-feed Flubenvet Wormer from £5.95

PIANO TECHNICIAN & TUNER ROBBY TONER (A.E.W.V.H.) Tuning, Regulation, Repairs & Transportation of Concert, Grand & Upright Pianos.

Fine Tune/Concert Pitch

Please Call:- 07884 245665

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Friday FAMILY MUSIC MAKERS Fun sessions for parents and toddlers 12.30-2pm, £4 per adult and child pair, under 1s free. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

SESSIONS

Last Tuesday ACOUSTIC LIVE SESSIONS Hafren, Newtown, £2 on the door, 01686 614555.

First Saturday OPEN MIC Greyhound Inn, Llangunllo, 9pm, 01547 550400.

Last Tuesday JAM SESSION Beer In Hand, Eign St, Hereford.

First Saturday FOLK & IRISH SESSION Harp Inn, Glasbury-on-Wye, 8.30pm, free, 01497 847373.

Last Tuesday HOMEND POETS & MUSICIANS Ledbury, www.folklife.org.uk/homend-poets.html Nick Halligan, 01684 563281.

First Saturday of month PICKIN’ AT THE BIRD Acoustic session. The Bird in Hand, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, 01743 357484, 9pm onwards.

Every Wednesday ACOUSTIC NIGHT Baskerville Hall Hotel, near Hay-on-Wye, 8.30pm, 01497 820033.

3rd Saturday OPEN MUSIC SESSION Harp Inn, Glasbury-on-Wye, 8.30pm, free, 01497 847373.

First Wednesday BLACK HILL TUNE CLUB Longtown, 01432 263495.

Every Sunday OPEN MIC Stag, Llanidloes, 6.30pm, 01686 414824.

First Wednesday SONG AND GUITAR SESSION Red Lion, Llanidloes. 07445 338949.

1st Sunday OPEN MIC NIGHT with Danger Trains, England’s Gate, Bodenham, 7:30pm, all welcome. Steve 07969 470959

Every Wednesday TELFORD ACOUSTIC CLUB The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 9pm, 01952 610888.

1st Sunday OPEN MIC With Danger Trains. England’s Gate, Bodenham, 7pm, all welcome. Steve 07969 470959.

2nd Sunday ACOUSTIC MUSIC SESSION Jill and Mark (from the Rhythm Thieves) hosting. All styles welcome.

The Sun Inn, Leintwardine, 8pm.

Every Monday ACOUSTIC NIGHT The Golden Lion Hotel, Llandysilio, near Welshpool, 01691 830295.

Every Monday BLUES & COUNTRY JAM NIGHT The Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 9pm, 01952 610888.

Every Monday OPEN MIC NIGHT Bull Inn, Shrewsbury, 01743 344728.

Every Monday nights BRECON TOWN BAND Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 7-9pm. 01874 623650.

First Monday BRIMFIELD FOLK CLUB Brimfield Village Hall, Brimfield, near Ludlow, 8pm, 01584 711854.

First Monday IRISH NIGHT The Grape Vaults, Leominster, 01568 611404.

4th Monday FOLK/ACOUSTIC SESSION Any style, Crown Inn, Clunton, 8pm, 01588 660226.

Every Tuesday TUESDAY JAM SESSION The Falcon Hotel, Bromyard, 8-11pm, 01885 483034.

First Tuesday OPEN MIC NIGHT King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

John Langstaffe

Maker & Restorer of Violins, Violas & Cellos Repairs, Fitting Up, Tonal Adjustments etc Room 12, 2nd Floor, Lion House 15, Broad Street, Leominster HR6 8BT

Every Wednesday ACOUSTIC SESSION Prince of Wales, Ledbury, 8.45pm, 01531 632250.

Alternate Wednesdays SESSION Major’s Arms, Halmonds Frome, 01531 640261.

Alternate Wednesdays SESSION Crown Inn, Colwall, 01684 541074.

2nd Wednesday JAM SESSION White Horse Inn, Clun, 8.30pm onwards. 01588 640305.

Fourth Wednesday OLD TIME AMERICAN AND BLUEGRASS King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

Every Thursday SESSION Black Swan, Much Dewchurch, 01981 540295.

1st Thursday (except Aug) TRAD SESSION Acoustic traditional music session. Join in or listen. The Bull & Heifer, Bettws Cedewain, Newtown, 8pm, 01686 650603.

1st Thursday FOLK Farmer’s Arms, Wellington Heath, 01531 660253.

1st Thursday SESSION The Alma, Linton, 8.30pm, all welcome, 07779 144005.

1st Thursday OPEN MIC NIGHT The Bridge, Tenbury Wells, call to book your slot, all welcome, 01584 810434.

3rd Thursday FOLK SESSION King’s Head, Tenbury Wells.

3rd Thursday OPEN MIC NIGHT Tarrington Arms, Tarrington, Hereford. Details ne-services@hotmail.co.uk

Langstaffe Violins

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3rd Tuesday FOLK NIGHTS The Crown Inn, Longtown, 8pm. Register for e-Newsletter john.baxter87@btinternet.com

We also stock a selection of new and antique instruments and accessories T: 01568 620120 M: 07501 724663

www.langstaffe-violins.co.uk

Trevor Davies Music

For all your musical needs 87 Etnam Street, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 8AE tel: 01568 613611

We stock Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, ESP, Fernandez, Epiphone, Indie, Aria, Ovation, Adamas, Martin, Taylor, Yamaha, Crafter, Burns, Washburn, Jackson, AER, Marshall, Hartke, Carlsbro, Laney, Zoom, Digitech, Tama, Casio.

Plus many other brands.

Approximately 500 guitars in stock and Brass, Woodwind, Drums, Keyboards, accessories and thousands of music books and sheet music.

3rd Thursday FOLK NIGHT Castle Inn, Knucklas, 7pm, 01547 528223.

1st Friday ACOUSTIC SESSION The Unicorn, Corve St, Ludlow, 8:30pm. Contact: Ann Gray 01584 879 348.

1st & 3rd Friday ACOUSTIC FEATURE NIGHTS Castle Inn, Wigmore, 8pm, 07549 414138.

1st & 3rd Friday every month OPEN MIC & ROCKAOKE The Exchange, Newtown, 01686 624275.

2nd & 4th Friday OPEN MIC Radnorshire Arms, Presteigne 07549 414138.

3rd Friday TRADITIONAL SESSIONING Llanfyllin Workhouse, 01691 649062.

3rd Friday ACOUSTIC FOLK MUSIC & SONG SESSION The New Inn, Bartestree, Hereford.

4th Friday SESSION Lamb Inn, Stoke Prior, 01568 760226.

Last Friday TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION The Yew Tree, All Stretton, 8.30pm, all welcome. Contact Keith 07971 661615.

Last Friday OPEN MIC NIGHT With Mark from the Rhythm Thieves. Sun Inn, Leintwardine, 8.30pm, 07885 467673.

5th Friday SESSION Nelson Inn, Ludlow, 01584 872908.

A GREENER CHRISTMAS

Presents... the future Stuck for ideas?

First public opening early spring: Budget solar and eco home building Ecogardening / fruitgrowing workshops Expert led. Lyonshall.

Info and discount early booking vouchers www.co2gurus.com

VENUES 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-onWye 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 CHARLTON ARMS, Ludlow, 01584 872813 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.

GARWAY VILLAGE HALL, Hereford 01981 580056 THE GEORGE & DRAGON, Knighton 01547 528532 GLEANINGS, near Bishop’s Castle, 01743 891412 THE GOLDEN CROSS INN, Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford 01432 880274.

GRAPE VAULTS, Broad St, Leominster 01568 611404.

THE GRANARY, Leominster 01568 614290.

THE GROVE HOTEL, Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, 01743 271227 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.

HOTSPUR CAFE & BAR, Shobdon Airfield 01568 708783.

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 611588 THE LOWFIELD INN, Marton, Welshpool 01743 891313 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 ELECTRIC SHOP, Hay-on-Wye 01497 821194 THE OLD MILL, High Street, Llanidloes 01686 412008 THE OXFORD ARMS, Duke St, Kington 01544 230322 THE PLOUGH INN, Whitecross Road, Hereford 01432 343360 THE RETREAT, Ledbury, 01531 632766.

ROSE & CROWN, Tenbury Wells, 01584 811336 ROYAL FOUNTAIN, Cleobury Mortimer 01299 272720 ROYAL OAK, Presteigne, 01544 260842.

THEATR BRYCHEINIOG, Canal Wharf, Brecon 01874 611622 THE HAFREN, Llanidloes Road, Newtown 01686 614555 THE THREE ELMS, Hereford. 01432 273338.

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 YORKSHIRE HOUSE, St Mary’s St, Shrewsbury 01743 362622

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band directory APPLEBY KINSEY a contemporary folk and jazz trio: acoustic guitar, flute, saxophones, double bass, female vocals. A large repertoire of original songs, from tender, lyrical, slightly dark, to up-tempo latin jazz and dance.

Live original music with authenticity and sophistication for events, festivals, weddings, clubs. www.applebykinsey.com or call Ken on 07979 542 449.

THE BAGGAGE HANDLERS - acoustic duo playing classic covers from the likes of R.E.M. to Johnny Cash, Snow Patrol to The Jam. We can be contacted at www.facebook.com/thebaggagehandlers www.myspace.com/baggagehandlersmusic or simply ring 07824 787168.

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 MARTIN BLAKE: Fingerpickin’ good guitar, banjo and vocals, solo or with a variety of bands from duo to six piece, including Whiskey River (5/6 piece playing swamp music from America’s Deep South with fiddle, Cajun accordion and sax), The Whiskey River Boys (duo version of the same), The Grass Snakes (5 piece trad bluegrass band with high lonesome harmony vocals), Blakes III (an eclectic acoustic trio with fiddle, clarinet, guitar and 3 part harmony) and The Blake Plowman Hot Band (red hot 4 piece rocking country band). Pubs, Clubs, Weddings, Divorces, etc.

Contact: 07846 669890 or 01432 342018. Email: info@martinblake.org Website: www.martinblake.org CHRISIE J LOCAL VOCALIST! I sing Jazz. Soul, Musical Theatre, Pop and Rock. For more information or to make a booking email chrisiej20@gmail.com or phone 079688 93719. Look at my Facebook page Chrisie J and Youtube channel Chrisie J for performance videos.

FLATWORLD Roots ‘n’ grooves from Eastern Europe and beyond. Lively 5-piece band with magnificent tunes and kicking rhythm for your festival, wedding, party or pub. Also circle dancing with caller. Contact Neil on 01684 569611 or 07866 021489; www.flat-world.org.uk or email info@flat-world.org.uk THE FLOK Duo/Trio/Band suitable for most occasions.

Kate Thomas lends her stunning voice to a refreshing mix of material from the likes of KT Tunstall, Pink and Mumford & Sons, ably supported by Dave Luke (guitar/ mandolin/vocals) and a solid but subtle rhythm section.

Dave 07967 029159 Kate 07817 019918 daveluke1@ hotmail.com - or like us on Facebook!

HAGGLEBAG How about some lively and raucous Irish songs, jigs and reels from this 5-piece band? Featuring flute, guitar, melodeon, mandolin and bass. Great for pubs, parties and festivals. Find us on facebook or email lornaflute@talktalk.net Telephone 07442 168858.

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THE HANNAH BAILEY BAND play soul, classic rock, pop and blues. Featuring Hannah, the queen of midland soul on vocals and guitar. Double keyboards, guitar, bass and electric drums (they can be turned down - or up!) and vocal harmonies provide their funky sound. You just “gotta, gotta, gotta” book them for your party or pub.

Contact Bill Pitt on 01584 819394.

Little Rumba

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!

HOTSY-TOTSY If you’re seeking musical entertainment with a vintage twist from the golden age of swing, delivered by experienced performers, dancers and musicians who exude elegance, sophistication and glamour, also specializing in strict tempo for ballroom, latin and fun sequence dancing, then Hotsy Totsy Entertainment Inc. can help. Different line ups for different occasions, tailor made entertainment for your event.

Parties, Weddings and Corporate Events catered for.

Contact Naomi 01588 674823 or email npayne14@ yahoo.co.uk www.hotsytotsyentertainmentinc.co.uk LE FREAK Upbeat party covers band. Great 5-piece outfit for any dance event. Hear us on soundcloud.com/ lefreak357066067 or phone Nick on 01981 540348 or 07952 415487.

LITTLE RUMBA A classy four piece band featuring Hugh, John, Jacqui & Pete, from The Tango Band and The Rumbajax, playing moody, melancholy music everything from East European and South American to the Blues.

Viola, violin, accordion, saxophones, guitar, vocals and bass. 01547 520339 www.littlerumba.com LOS SQUIDEROS “The Greatest Mexican Band to come out of Hereford in a Hundred Years” Fabulous party band with a long history of amazing crowds.

Playing surf, funk and ska with latino beats.. Also, The Swing Set; Swing jazz, Blues and rock n roll from the Squid collective. Contact Leo 07816 686856 leocaithness@tiscali.co.uk MELOMANICS Really fun duo, trio, or full Ceilidh band, more than just great music - stilts as well if appropriate! Modern, traditional and original tunes with a cosmopolitan flavour. (Specialité: Timoléon pour vos soirées Françaises). Ideal for parties, weddings, fund raising events, festivals, shows, pubs, restaurants etc.

For info call Tim on 01743 719438 or Rich 01743 718612, email tim@melomanics.co.uk, website www.melomanics.co.uk

MOSTLY JOHN CEILIDH BAND Cast aside that economic gloom. Why not let our merry minstrels, aided by the lovely Pammy (“no, no, no!”) restore your joie de vivre at your party, wedding or knees-up.

John 01588 661096.

MUCH ADO - The band for your ceilidh or barn dance.

4-piece band with caller for ceilidhs, barn dances, weddings, parties, shows, fetes, etc. Alan Oberman 01982 570432, email alan.oberman@gmail.com.

See website www.muchadoband.com OVER THE HILLBILLIES - Lively, foot stomping, rip-roaring band performing everything from Led Zep to Kylie, Dolly to Motorhead, and Blur to the Bee Gees.

With a look fashioned straight from “Deliverance”, playing on a banjo, fiddle, tea-chest bass, drums, harmonicas, guitar and a suitcase(!) we are perfect for parties, pubs, festivals and anything else that involves drinking and dancing. Contactl Linda on 01686 670409 / 07816 125802 or find us on Facebook.com/Over-the-Hillbillies. YEEEEHAAAAA! RAY STROUD Fingerstyle guitarist/singer. Huge repertoire of songs and tunes from 60s-90s, jazzy pop, roots and folk. “Faultless playing and wonderful songs.

Expect an eclectic mix and to be delightfully entertained” - Rea Rver Roots. www.ray-stroud.com 07962 916333 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 SAMBUCA Ludlow based acoustic trio, playing a nice mix of jazz standards, classic blues, sambas etc.

For more information call Richard 07974 399524 www.sambucamusic.co.uk SEAN SAYE Music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Great party music, capturing the retro vibe. Contact tel: 07734 399497 or email seansaye@yahoo.co.uk.

Website www.seansaye.com.

SILVER BRANCH Ceilidh/folk band, complete with caller and PA system. Multi-instrumental 5-piece band playing traditional Irish/world music and contemporary tunes. David: 01981 540832, Anna: 07980 961187.

SLIPPERY SLOPE Silly, melancholy and beautiful music played on accordion, fiddle, guitar and steel pan.

From ska to klezmer via a Parisian cafe and a Russian vodka bar. For more info please call Jo or Ben on 01981 510136 see www.slipperyslope.org.uk or email slipperyslope@hotmail.com SOUL SUPPLY 6-piece soul, Motown and R & B Party Band. Guaranteed to turn your event into a hive of nonstop dance floor activity. Available for weddings, parties and corporate events. Full PA, lights, staging and disco as required. 079905 75531 or 01568 708868 www.soulsupplyband.co.uk info@soulsupplyband.co.uk

STASH Rockin’ good folk. Firey fiddle, souring guitar, pounding rhythms, with bouncing energy. Folk rock at its best. Please phone Mick on 01432 840475, Wizzy on 01432 263317 or Will on 07960 569784.

STOMPING-GROUND Versatile 3 piece party band.

Ideal for weddings and function’s. Contact Richie 07817 620644. www.stomping-ground.co.uk www.stomping-ground.co.uk STONED CHERRIES Are: Dave Evans, guitar, mandolin, vocals; Roger Pugh, guitar, mandola, vocals; Aly May, whistles, vocals and Matt Donaldson, bass, percussion and vocals. A dynamic folk / rock fusion of original, traditional and modern songs and tunes. Roger 01885 483425 / 07779 694615 / pugh@ live.co.uk or Dave 01886 822132 / 07817 220016 / dgand2@btinternet.com www.dgand2.wix.com/thestonedcherries THE SULTANA BROTHERS Fine R&B from one of the best bands around! The ultimate hip swingin’, foot tappin’ party band - guaranteed to help you dance the night away. For bookings/enquiries contact Phil 07791 129391 or Adam 07855 037092. Website www.thesultanabrothers.vpweb.co.uk or find us on Facebook.com/ thesultanabros THE ROCK OF AGES EXPERIENCE BackTrack to the 80s with The Rock Of Ages Experience Tribute Band.

Ian: 07736 816136. See our live video on our website www.therockofagesexperience.com STEADY EDD & THE BOOGIEMEN Boogie Woogie and its best, jazz and soul - let the good times roll!

Contact Edd, on 01432 769077, www.steadyedd.co.uk TROVATORI Classical singers Darren and Caroline perform opera and musicals through to modern ballads and folk accompanied on guitars. Live, stylish and bespoke entertainment. www.trovatori.com Tel: 07971 880794 or email mail@trovatori.com THE TRENSETTS ROCK BAND: Good dancin’ good listenin’. Real authentic music. For parties, weddings, clubs, pubs. Reasonable fees.

Contact Gwyn on 01686 625665 /07831 557292.

THE VILLAGE QUIRE Spine-tingling harmonies sung with all the emotional clout, subtlety of expression and love of life that you get when voices are raised together in song. Music from and inspired by the folk harmony, west gallery and shape note traditions all woven together with words and stories. New show for 2015 / 16 ‘Back to the Garden’ – life and hope in the trenches based on original letters from WW1 Herefordshire soldier and gardener William Bevan. “The Village Quire have become one of my favourite singing groups of all time ... (Frank Hennessy, Celtic Heartbeat, Radio Wales). For bookings / further info ring 01497 847676 www.villagequire.org.uk TRIO TANGENTE Violin and vocal led spicy fun energetic Latin/Tango/Hot Club/ Gypsy influenced band.

For all occasions. Contact Faith 07870 320022.

XL’S Maximum R’n’B, Feelgood Rock & Roll.

01588 650686.

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theatre PERFORMANCE

Sat 5 December BURTON Rhodri Miles’ production of ‘Burton’, an affectionate and hilarious look at the life of Richard Burton.

Leintwardine Community Centre, 8pm, £10, 01547 540169.

Wed 2 & Tues 8 December THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR ODDSOCKS THEATRE. Prepare for magic, music and mirth as the ‘boy who would be king’ pulls the sword from the stone. An exciting, interactive and action-packed treat for all the family. 2 Dec - Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 7.30pm, 01885 488575. 8 Dec - Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 1pm & 7.30pm, £10, 01584 878141.

Thurs 10 - Sat 12 December THE GREAT BRITISH BOOK OFF PRESTEIGNE PLAYERS. Presteigne’s library has been relocated to a phone box. Fortunately though it’s a magic library where books come to life to help the town back on its feet. Don’t miss more madness, mayhem and magic at this year’s Presteigne panto! Memorial Hall, Presteigne, 7.30pm, Thu /Fri £6/£4 family £16. Sat £7/£5 family £19.

Tickets from Winnie’s Newsagents, Presteigne.

Sat 12 December CHRISTMAS GOTHIC Adapted and performed by Rebecca Vaughan, the evening resurrects a Victorian tradition by presenting three tales for those dark Christmas nights. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 8pm, £12, students £8, 07967 517125.

Sun 10 January MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING WILLOW GLOBE THEATRE. One of Shakespeare’s warmest comedies with sparkling lovers, dastardly deeds and a Neighbourhood Watch which owes a considerable debt to Captain Mainwaring. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 3pm, £10, £5 under 16s, 01982 552555.

Wed 3 February A PLEASING TERROR Two ghost stories by MR James and performed by RM Lloyd Parry. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £13/£11, 01743 281281.

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Wed 3 & Thurs 4 February TRANSPORTS PIPELINE THEATRE COMPANY. In 1973 a 15 year old is shunted into her final foster home. Her foster mother has a hint of a foreign accent and a trunk full of secrets.

A story that draws on real life experience of the Kindertransport.

3 Feb - Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch, 7.30pm, £8/£6/£25, 01948 660660. 4 Feb - SpArC Theatre, Bishop’s Castle, 7.30pm, £10/£7, 01588 630321. Arts Alive.

Thurs 11 & Fri 12 February THE BEST THING VAMOS THEATRE. A swinging ‘60s story of mistaken morals, sexual revolution and unconditional love from the UK’s leading full mask theatre company. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £15/£13, 01743 281281.

MUSICAL THEATRE & OPERA Thurs 28 - Sat 30 January THE GREAT GATSBY A new stage adaptation, featuring live music. The story of doomed love and a decadent decade. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm, £17-£15, 01743 281281.

Sun 31 January CARMEN OPERAUPCLOSE. Carmen captivates and provokes, disturbing the composure of everyone she encounters. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 7.30pm, £22-£19, 01743 281281.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Wed 2 December - Sun 10 January DICK WHITTINGTON More gags, more mayhem and more show-stopping scenes. A thrilling tale of good against evil, the search for true love and exciting adventures to far-off lands. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £23 - £11.50, 01743 281281.

Until Sun 6 December ROBINSON CRUSOE RAINBOW VALLEY PRODUCTIONS. In search of treasure beyond your imagination, Robinson is joined by a cast of memorable characters, including his girlfriend Polly Perkins, Bluebeard, Miranda and The Mighty Konga!

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, times vary, £15, 01874 611622.

Until Sat 9 January BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Jason Marc Williams returns for his second year to play the Dame, alongside new recruits, Beth Dillon as Bebe and Ben Astle as the Beast.

The Courtyard, Hereford, phone for times, 01432 340555.

Sat 5 December LAND OF DRAGONS PUPPETSOUP THEATRE COMPANY. Award-winning Hay-onWye based puppeteers take you to the edge of your seat and brink of your imagination, where wise men are grown from witches’ cauldrons and dragons really do exist. For ages 5-105.

Glasbury Village Hall, 6pm, £8/£6, under 18s £5, combined workshop and performance £12, 029 2071 3200. Glasbury Arts. See workshops.

WEA HEREFORD BRANCH Adult Courses starting January 2016 Lively courses for lively minds Led by experts 6/7week morning courses in Hereford City Calligraphy from the Court of Charlemagne High Renaissance Painting & Printmaking 1498-1576 Literature: The Alchemist & The Tempest Homer’s Odyssey: Myth & Reality History & Art in Churches of Herefordshire Tudor Herefordshire (Monday evenings) For more information or to book your place contact 01531 634460 or 01981 251426 Fee waiver available for income related benefits, please ask for details Full details of Workshops with the Museum & Archive Services available in Jan. call 01432 880545 Full programme available at Herefordshire Libraries Or Email: herefordbranch@wea.org.uk

BOX OFFICE

01743 281281

SUN 20 - SAT 26 DEC

DEAR SANTA Music, laughter and plenty of audience participation. Plus the opportunity to meet Santa himself and after the show!.

TICKETS £10.50 Child £9.50

THU 28 - SAT 30 JAN

THE GREAT GATSBY Immerse yourself in America's Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece brought to life in this sizzling stage adaptation.

TICKETS £17 - £15 CONC. £1 OFF SCHOOLS £10

SUN 31 JAN

CARMEN The award winning and highly acclaimed OperaUpClose return with their new English version of Bizet's wildly popular opera TICKETS £22 - £19 CONC. £1.50 OFF

view full listings at www.theatresevern.co.uk

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Sun 20 - Sat 26 December DEAR SANTA All the ingredients of Rod Campbell’s ingeniously simple and charming style are brought to life on stage, with music, laughter and plenty of audience participation. For ages 2 - 7 year olds. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, £10.50, children £9.50, phone for times, 01743 281281.

Hansel and Gretel Sun 6 December SANTA’S CHRISTMAS CRACKER Join the adventures of Dotty the Elf and Pompom the Penguin in a festive, interactive, song-filled visit to Santa’s home. Suitable for ages 2-7 years. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 1pm, £8 adults, £6 under 16s, £25 family, 01600 772467.

Thurs 10 - Sat 12 December PETER PAN KILPECK PANTO will be performing their 20th annual pantomime. Kilpeck Village Hall, 7.30pm, matinee 2pm.

Tickets £5, under 12 years £2, 01981 570377.

Thurs 10 - Thurs 31 December HANSEL AND GRETEL Funny, energetic show, perfect for children and families with stunning interactive puppetry. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Wed 16 December DACW MAM YN DWAD A new Welsh language pantomime for ages 3-9 years and their families from the ever-popular Martyn Geraint. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 10am & 1pm, £10/£9, 01874 611622.

Sat 19 December THE SELFISH GIANT IMAGE THEATRE COMPANY. Based on one of the most beautiful and moving tales, this participation musical is preceded by a rehearsal workshop where some of the children in the audience are chosen to take part in the show.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 2.30pm, £8, 01874 611622.

Wed 16; Mon 28 - Thurs 31 December JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Fee Fi Fo Fum! 16 Dec is a special relaxed performance where normal theatre etiquette is relaxed, there will be no loud noises, strange pyrotechics or flashing lights.

Phone for times, adults £12, under 16s £8, family £35, Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 01600 772467.

Wed 16 & Thurs 17 December PANTO WBS SIXTH FORM. Come and enjoy the festive fun with all the adventure, gags and great characters with the rousing song and dance you expect from a Christmas panto. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, 7.30pm, £6/£4, 01952 728911.

Sat 19 December BEAUTY AND THE BEAST FAME FACTORY SPOTLIGHT LTD. A great, fast-paced, hilarious pantomime boys, girls and adults will love. Blake Theatre, Monmouth, 2pm, £13 adults, £7 children, family £36, 01600 719401.

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Sat 19 December - Sat 2 January JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Written and directed by Ben Crocker. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, tickets from £10, 01584 811442.

Sat 12 - Wed 16 January RED RIDING HOOD - THE PANTO APPLETREE THEATRE. Boo at the villains and giggle at the Dame as Little Red embarks on an adventure to leave the horrid Orphanage of Squire Bullymore. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7pm, 2pm matinee on 16 Jan. Adults £10, students £9, family £35. Also a ‘relaxed performance’ on Sun 17 Jan, 2pm, £8, 01584 878141.

Fri 15 - Sun 17 January ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND BOX TALE SOUP. Carroll’s Wonderland floods onto the stage in a whirl of handmade puppets and extraordinary characters. For ages 4+.

15 Jan - St Mary’s School, Bucknell, 5.30pm, £8/£5/£25, 01547 530366.

16 Jan - Kinokulture, Oswestry, 4.30pm, £8/£5, 01691 238167.

17 Jan - Hope Village Hall, 2.30pm, £8/£5/£25, 01743 296160. Arts Alive.

Thurs 21 - Sat 30 January OLD MOTHER HUBBARD - A WILD WEST ADVENTURE LADS. Annual pantomime. On the verge of being evicted from their home Old Mother Hubbard, her son and daughter are granted a wish by the Good Fairy... Market Theatre Ledbury, 7.30pm, £10, children £6, 07967 517125.

Sun 23 - Sun 30 January RED RIDING HOOD WESTENDERS PANTO are taking you on a journey into the woods with the traditional tale of Red Riding Hood.

Full of laughter, energetic musical numbers and spectacular scenery for all the family. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 01874 611622.

Wed 3 - Sat 6 February HORRIBLE HISTORIES Performing ‘Groovy Greeks’ and ‘Incredible Invaders’.

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, phone for times, £16, children £13, family £54, 01743 281281.

Fri 12 - Sun 14 & Thurs 18 - Sat 20 February MAY THE FARCE BE WITH YOU In Panto Sci Fi Land, by Andrew Yates. The return of pantomime to the Conquest! Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, 01885 488575, www.conquest-theatre.co.uk Sun 14 February THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT’S TREASURY OF NONSENSE SOAP SOUP THEATRE COMPANY. Market Theatre, Ledbury, 3pm, £8, £5 children, 07967 517125.

DRAMA WORKSHOPS

Sat 5 December SHADOW PUPPETS

By Panic Circus for ages 8 years and over. CARAD, Rhayader, 9.15am-3.30pm, £5 for the day, bring a packed lunch, 01597 810561.

Sat 5 December PUPPETSOUP THEATRE COMPANY WORKSHOP An exciting workshop for puppet lovers, for ages 7-13 years. Glasbury Village Hall, 11am-12.30pm, £8, combined workshop and evening performance £12, 029 2071 3200. Glasbury Arts.

HAVE A GO SHAKESPEARE Fortnightly group sessions for anyone interested in having a go at Shakespeare read, discuss, explore, perform and have fun! Wednesdays - Llandrindod Wells. Thursday - Rhayader. Fridays - Builth Wells. More info at www.shakespearelink.co.uk or call 01597 811487

Tuesdays DAI Y BANNAU Focussing on acting, scriptwriting, singing and dancing, storyboarding and set design. Dai Y Bannau is a Welsh medium multimedia theatre group. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 4pm, for ages 7-12 years, 01874 611622.

Tuesdays THE ITC / IMPROV THEATRE For ages 11-25, £24 for 6 week block. SpArC, Bishop’s Castle, 3.45-5.15pm, 01588 630243.

Tuesdays YOUTH THEATRE Drama workshop for 7-14 year-olds after school. Ledbury Market Theatre, 01432 383663.

Wednesdays KINGTON YOUTH THEATRE With Kate Ganderton. Kington Primary School. Wed - Junior 7-11 years, 4-5.30pm. Intermediate 11+ 5.30-7pm. £42 per term, 01432 340555.

Wednesdays THE COURTYARD KIDS For reception Year 2, led by Helen Durant, £60 per term. The Courtyard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

HAY SENIOR YOUTH THEATRE For 12-17 year olds.

The Globe, Hay-on-Wye. Call Janine Sharp on 07733 055430 for details or to express an interest.

Wednesdays and Fridays INTERMEDIATE YOUTH THEATRE Year 10s Wed and Year 11s Fridays.

The Courtyard, Hereford, £67 per term, 01432 340555.

MID POWYS YOUTH THEATRE Tuesdays Junior Youth Theatre 8-11, 4.15pm-5pm. 11-14 years, 5.15pm-6.15pm.

Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells Senior Youth Theatre 14+ 7pm-9.30pm. The Drama Centre, Llandrindod Wells.

Contact Ralph Bolland on 07810 350994.

Thursdays and Saturdays SHROPSHIRE YOUTH THEATRE Providing training in a range of theatre skills for ages 5-25. All abilities welcome. The Hive, Belmont, Shrewsbury. Contact Maggie Love: 07813 026367.

Mondays BROMYARD YOUTH THEATRE Led by Kate Ganderton. Conquest Theatre, Bromyard. Kids, ages 4-6. Juniors ages 6-1. Intermediate ages 11-14. All £30 per term. Senior ages 14-18, £35 per term, 01432 340555.

Mondays NO STRINGS ATTACHED Puppetry and Mask Theatre with The Fetch Theatre Co. 11-16, 6.30-8pm.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 01584 878141.

Mondays APPLETREE ORGANISATION Junior Youth Theatre for children 8-11 years, 4.45pm. Young Promoters for 13+, 5.45pm. Senior Youth Theatre, 11-18 years, 6.15pm. The Appletree Studio, 15 Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, SY8 1RU. £5 per session. mel@the-appletree.org or phone 0845 548 5449.

Mondays (during term time) BRYCHEINIOG YOUTH THEATRE Led by Andrew Sterry and Gareth Williams.

Ages 9-12 6-7.15pm, ages 13-25 7.30-9pm.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 01874 611622.

Tuesdays SENIOR YOUTH THEATRE The Courtyard, Hereford, £62 term, 01432 340555.

Every Thurs ADULT DRAMA CLUB AT THE GLOBE IN HAY for anyone interested in having fun trying out some performance skills with Janine Sharp. The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7-30pm-9-30pm. £6. 07733 055430.

Thursdays LEINTWARDINE YOUTH THEATRE Run by Teme Valley Youth Project. For ages 11+. Leintwardine Community Centre, 4-5pm, 01568 770110.

Thursdays IMPULSIVE THEATRE COMPANY For ages 13-19. The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, 5-6.45pm, 07916 277928.

Thursdays & Fridays SENIOR YOUTH THEATRE For ages 16-24, led by Ellen Dorsett, Dan Pegler or Rebecca Cook. Courtyard, Hereford, £70 per term, 01432 340555.

Fridays and Saturday JUNIOR YOUTH THEATRE For Year 3 - 9 led by either David Durant or Ellen Dorsett.

The Courtyard, Hereford, £65 per term, 01432 340555.

Every Saturday HAY YOUTH THEATRE AT THE GLOBE IN HAY for ages 7-11. Excl. half term, 10.30-12.30pm, £6. Loads of fun! Call Janine Sharp on 07733 055430.

AARDVARK BOOKS & CAFE New website: www.aardvark-books.com

50,000+ titles; North Herefordshire’s largest indie bookseller; We buy books CHRISTMAS FAIR 6th December 2015 10am-3pm

Specialist in art, design, photography, history, gardening

Aardvark’s last fair of the year with 25+ fantastic craft and bric a brac stalls. Brilliant for Xmas presents. Christmas jazz from the DUTCH LEWIS TRIO. Home-made soup, The Bookery, Manor Farm, Brampton Bryan, complimentary mulled wine! Free Entry.

Bucknell, SY7 0DH Off A4113 Knighton Road.

Aardvark seasonal opening: open every day except Tel: 01547 530744 OPEN EVERY DAY 25 & 26 December and 1 January. aardvaark@btconnect.com www.aardvark-books.com Compliments of the Season to all! Look out for the Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm Aardvark January SALE! 16th – 24th January 2016

Also open our superb CAFÉ!

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word Poetry & Storytelling Fri 11 December THE GOLDEN KEYS An evening of storytelling for adults. Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle, 8pm, £7 per person or £20 for four people, 01588 630023.

Sat 2 January ALEXANDRA HARRIS AND FRIENDS ‘Winterland: the influence of winter weather on writers in prose, poetry and song’. St Peter and St Beuno’s Church, Llanveynoe, 7.30pm, £8, 01873 860298 or 01873 860260.

Sun 7 February REEL TO REAL Cheshire Poet Laureate, John Lindley, performs from ‘Screen Fever’, his highly entertaining collection of poems about the magic of cinema, interspersed with spell-binding readings with classic film and still images. Alveley Parish Memorial Hall, 3.30pm, £8/£5, 01746 780478. Arst Alive.

Comedy

December COURTYARD COMEDY CLUB 4 Dec - Starring Iain Stirling, Hayley Ellis and Jack Berry.

11 Dec - Julian Deane, Patrick Morris and Alex Smith.

12 Dec - Julian Deane, Patrick Morris and Alex Smith.

18 Dec - Mark Cooper-Jones, Steve Bugeja & Kieran Boyd.

19 Dec - Mark Cooper-Jones, Steve Bugeja & Kieran Boyd.

The Courytard, Hereford, 01432 340555.

Wed 2 December MARK THOMAS: TRESPASS A mix of theatre, stand-up, activism, a dash of journalism and a dollop of mayhem. For ages 16+. Wyeside, Builth Wells, 8pm, £15/£13, 01982 552555.

Tues 8, Mon 28 December, Tues 12 January TELFORD COMEDY CLUB 8 Dec - Featuring Dave Dinsdale, Patrick Draper, Marshall B Anderson, Ryan Brown, Danny Davies, Alex Hylton, Laura Monmouth, Jay Islaam, Phil Pagett, Graham Milton, Roger Swift, Dave Pollard, Paul and Andy Nightingale.

Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford.

28 Dec - Featuring Jack Shanik, Toni Mullinder, Paul Nightingale, Ste Jones, Roger Swift and Dave Pollard.

Elephant & Castle, Dawley. 12 Jan - Comedy & Curry Crown Inn, Oakengates, Telford, 8pm, £6, 01952 610888.

Thurs 10 December ROB BECKETT - MOUTH OF THE SOUTH A brand new hour of funnies and he’s taking on the big issues like Kit Kats and flatbread. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 8pm, £14, students £12, 01600 772467.

Thurs 17 December JOSH WIDDICOMBE Plus support. Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 8pm, £16.50, 01874 611622.

Tues 29 December & Wed 27 January COMEDY NIGHT White Horse Inn, Clun.

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Fri 22 January LEWIS SCHAFFER IS FREE UNTIL FAMOUS, 2016 The acclaimed New York comic comes here with his unique pay-what-you-want free show. Free admission - give only if you laugh. Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells, 8pm, 01584 811442.

Sat 30 January MARK STEEL In his newest stand up show, a surprising and enthralling story told with aplomb. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 8pm, £16, 01584 878141.

Sun 31 January JIM DAVIDSON - CHARLTON NIL Guaranteed to be an irreverent, outrageous and truthful night. Adults only. Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, 7.30pm, £22.50, 01600 772467.

Wed 10 February TOMMY TIERNAN: OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND Ireland’s number one comedian; profound, dark and silly too. For ages 16+. Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 8pm, £19, 01743 281281.

Wed 10 February ROD WOODWARD - THE JOURNEY STARTS HERE Wyeside, Builth Wells, 8pm, £16/£15, 01982 552555.

Talks

Tues 1 December, 5 January & 2 February BRECKNOCK DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY 1 Dec - It Will Never Show: Designing historical costumes for film and TV. 5 Jan - The Life of Debussy, with lecturer Malcolm Meadows. 2 Feb - Bernard Leach, The National Museum of Wales and Tea, with lecturer Simon Rees.

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, 2.30pm, annual membership £40, visitors welcome £7.50 per lecture, 01874 625679.

Thurs 3 December IOLO WILLIAMS: THE WILDLIFE OF WALES & THE MARCHES Regular presenter of Spring Watch and S4C and one of the UK’s foremost naturalists. Shire Hall, Hereford, 6.45pm, £10, booking essential, 01432 356872, www.herefordshirewt.org Wed 9 December OFFICIAL LAUNCH NIGHT ‘The Drovers Ways’. A recently-formed business that takes customers on bespoke trail/canoe and wild camping holidays in the region will be talking about their plans and what makes them unique in this field. The Blue Boar, Mill St, Ludlow, 8pm.

Wed 9 December ROWAN WILLIAMS: CONFLICT, PEACE & JUSTICE Olivier Memorial Peace Lecture 2015. Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £12/£10, students £5, www.ludlowquakers.co.uk Wed 9 December & Wed 20 January LEOMINSTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY 9 Dec - ‘In Search of Hidden Leominster’, a talk by Duncan James, 7.30pm, £3 on the door. 20 Jan - Social Evening with finger buffet and picture quiz, booking essential, 7.30pm. Both at Grange Court, Leominster, 01568 610040.

Thurs 10 December THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES A talk by Alan Wells. Christ Church Hall, Edde Cross St, Ross-on-Wye, 7.30pm, £2.50 non-members on the door.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, 01432 356872.

Tues 15 December UNUSUAL ARTEFACTS Guess the origin and use of 20 old-time items, led by Don Balkwill; followed by seasonal refreshments, all welcome, £3 for non-members. Garway Village Hall, 7.30pm, www.garwayheritagegroup.co.uk Wed 16 December TWO YEARS IN PARADISE An illustrated talk by Peter Carty, who was warden of Aride Island in the Seychelles. Town Hall, Bishop’s Castle, 8pm, £3.50, 01588 630023 or on the door.

Wed 16 December & Wed 27 January SOUTH WEST SHROPSHIRE GARDENING CLUB 16 Dec - ‘Fordhall Organic: Britain’s First Community Farm’ a talk by Charlotte Hollins, plus buffet supper from Fordhall’s Farm Kitchen. 27 Jan - ‘Alpines, Dwarf Bulbs & Hardy Cyclamen’, a talk by Jim Almond. Lydbury North Village Hall, 7.30pm, 01588 620055.

Wed 20 January WHY GARDENS FOR WILDLIFE Blackbourn Theatre, Presfelde School, Shrewsbury, 01952 813186.

Workshops & Courses Thurs 3 December MEET THE GREEKS A course to provide an introduction to the history and culture of Ancient Greece. No knowledge of Ancient Greek is required. Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, 10.30 3.30pm, £55 including refreshments (lunch not provided), 01743 258881.

Starting January WRITING COURSES Staring 13 Jan - Detective and Thriller Fiction.

Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, 10.15am-12.30pm.

Starting 14 Jan - Writing for Children: An Introduction.

Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells, 10.30am-12.45pm.

Starting 15 Jan - Writing Short Stories. Chrickhowell Resource and Information Centre, 10am-12.15pm.

All courses have nine sessions and are run by Lara Clough in association with University of Aberystwyth Lifelong Learning, early bird discount of £20 if enrol by 16/12/15. 07795 112431, www.aber.ac.uk/sell January WEA HEREFORDSHIRE BRANCH COURSES Starting 18 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Tudor Herefordshire’ with David Whitehead, Kindle Centre, ASDA, Hereford, 7-9pm, £49. Starting 18 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘High Renaissance Painting and Printmaking 1498-1576’ with Allen Fisher.

Kindle Centre, ASDA, Hereford, 10.30am-12.30pm, £49.

Starting 19 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘The Alchemist and The Tempest’ with Richard Willmott. Kindle Centre, ASDA, Hereford, 10.30am-12.30pm, £49.

Starting 26 Jan for 6 weeks - ‘Calligraphy From the Court of Charlemagne’ with Christine Oxley. Saxon Hall, Hoarwithy Rd, Hereford, 10.30am-12.30pm, £45.50.

Starting 20 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Homer’s Odyssey: Myth and Reality’ with Thomas Roderick, 10.30am-12.30pm, £49.

Starting 21 Jan for 6 weeks - ‘History and Art in Churches

of Herefordshire’ with Tim Bridges. Kindle Centre, ASDA, Hereford, 10.30am-12.30pm, £45.50.

Starting 11 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Enviromental Ethics’ with Robert Ellis. Burgage Hall, Church Lane, Ledbury, 2-4pm, £49. Starting 11 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Reading Latin Spring Term’. Ledbury Baptist Church Hall, Ledbury, 2-4pm, £49.

Starting 12 Jan for 6 weeks - ‘Taking The Lid Off Science’.

Ledbury Baptist Church Hall, Ledbury, 10am-12pm, £45.50. Starting 12 Jan for 6 weeks ‘Modern History Discussion Group’. Trinity Parish Room, 20 New St, Ledbury, 10.30am-12.30pm, £15.

Starting 12 Jan for 4 weeks - ‘Studies in Russian History and Politics’ with Gerald Brooke. Trinity Parish Room, 20 New St, Ledbury, 2-4pm, £28. Starting 13 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘The Mozart and Da Ponte Operas’ with Martyn Moxley. Ledbury Baptist Church Hall, Ledbury, 2-4pm, £49. Starting 21 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Poetry of TS Eliot’ with Richard Willmott. Trinity Parish Room, 20 New St, Ledbury, 2-4pm, £49. Starting 11 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Mrs Gaskell: The Victorian Writer Fit for our Era’ with Gillian Fothergill. Leominster Community Centre, 10.30am12.30pm, £49. Starting 20 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Early Renaissance Painting in Europe 1305-1519’ with Allen Fisher.

Leominster Community Centre, 10.30am-12.30pm, £49.

Starting 21 Jan for 7 weeks - ‘Picturesque Parks and Gardens of Herefordshire 1770-1830’ with David Whitehead. Leominster Community Centre, 2-4pm, £49. www.wea.org.uk ORIEL DAVIES 2015 OPEN WRITING COMPETITION Writers are invited to submit either poems (up to 50 lines each) or prose (up to 1,000 words each) that focus on the theme of ‘flora’, The winning entries (one for best prose and one for best poetry) will receive a £50 voucher to spend in the gallery shop. The entry fee is £3 per piece submitted. Closing date: 2nd Nov 2015. Contact: desk@orieldavies.org / 01686 625041.

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Storytelling and creative writing courses led by Carol Florence Graham.

Also available are coaching sessions; Forest School projects, CPD training for educators and individual tuition in Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing. For 2016 programme see www.storyspace.co.uk Every Tues READING ROOM The Courtyard, Hereford, 10.30am-12.30pm, £48 per term, 01432 340555.

First Wednesday of the month POETRY CAFE, Charlton Arms, Ludlow, 7.30pm, 01584 872813.

2nd Wed of each month MID WALES WRITERS GROUP An informal writers’ group for wordsmiths of all kinds.

Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells, 7.30pm, £2.50, 01982 552555.

Every 3rd Thursday PLAY READING Led by Simon and Paul of Rooftop Theatre. All scripts provided. The Sitting Room, Ludlow, 7.30pm, free, email paul@rooftoptheatre.co.uk 4th Thurs of each month HAY-ON-WYE AMNESTY GROUP The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, 7-8pm, 01497 821153.

International Poetry Writers’ Collective: Abergavenny 01873 856350 Leominster Writers' Circle, Leominster Community Centre, 01568 610451.

Mid-Border Arts Writers’ Circle, Presteigne 3rd Tues, Assembly Rooms, 7.30pm. 01544 260255 Tenbury Writers’ Group Tenbury Library, 01584 812585.

Border Poets 01547 530380.

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philosophy Really?

C

HRISTMAS carols are all well and good but don’t you find them philosophically thin? Of course you do. They need beefing up and your Philosopher-inResidence is just the chap to do the beefing. So when some far-sighted publisher finally sees sense and brings out my edition of Philosophers’ Christmas Carols you’ll be able to sing little gems such as this: While shepherds watched their flocks by night all seated on the ground, Immanuel Kant, no less, called by and spoke some words profound: ‘Those sheep’, he asked, ‘on yonder hill, those sheep are REAL, you think?’

‘Great Scot, one of the shepherds sighed, the old fool’s on the drink’.

‘Of course they’re real’, the young man said, ‘I feeds ‘em day and night’.

‘Quite so’, said Kant, ‘but are they real when once you’re out of sight?’

Which brings me to tell you about the disappearing elephant: not elephants as a species - although that’s a genuine concern - but the one that disappeared in Dudley in 1957. In fact it didn’t disappear at all, but you could have fooled me. One minute it was there, large as life, and the next minute, just a puff of smoke later, no elephant.

A friend of my father, a member of the Magic Circle, had allowed me to attend a private display of illusions held in Dudley Hippodrome, next to Dudley Zoo. That elephant sparked a life-long fascination with magic and illusions, an interest maintained, oddly enough, by my involvement with joined-up philosophy. Of course I fully realized at the time that it’s not in the nature of elephants to disappear; in some parts of the world maybe, but not in Dudley. What I didn’t know then, but do know now, is how the illusion was performed. It’s done in exactly the same way that an aircraft, or a tank, or a building can be made to ‘disappear’. All of which illusions I have seen.

If only certain PEOPLE could be made to vanish! If only we could have Contract Magicians paid to ‘deal with’ our problems. I for one could easily keep such a Magician in full-time employment for quite a while, but it would be unwise to name names. Perhaps there could be a loyalty card? Pay to have nine people vanished and you get the tenth one free. What joy!

vanished [he may have been a very odd man indeed but unhinged he was not]. No, his suggestion was much more perplexing and, in its day, novel . He thought that we can never know what anything is really like, only how it appears to us. The world conforms to our senses, not the other way round. So according to him appearances we have by the lorry-load, but reality - well, that’s beyond our grasp. Now and always.

Which brings me to today’s topic for your consideration: are things just as they seem, or might they really be very different? We are talking, dear roaders, Reality.

Physicists tell us that even physical objects which appear solid are actually not solid at all but are in rapid chaotic subatomic motion. We need to be extremely cautious about assuming that we know what’s what.

So, with Christmas approaching we know [WARNING: Broad Sheep readers under six should stop reading at this point] that Santa is not - how can I put this? - real.

He’s just a commercial ploy for shops to rake in our cash.

We also know that your keenness to spend Christmas with some gruesome far-off relatives is simply because last year they inflicted themselves on you.

But here’s a jolly little Christmas thought for you to unpack during the grim proceedings: what if those ‘facts’ we tend to nurture about time, space, the supremacy of the human species, the importance of wealth, our place in the universe, etc. - what if they’re not quite as real as they seem? I most certainly hope they are not. Enjoy the magic!

Nadolig Llawen! Happy Christmas!

Philosopher-in-Residence

New collection of overheard conversations

JUST a few more WORDS ROGER KITE

The thing about illusions, of course, is that you know full well that what you think you’re seeing is not what is actually happening: the elephant did not vanish, the woman was not really sawn in half, the man did not produce twenty doves out of thin air. None of these things really happened, but they looked for all the world as if they had. That’s magic for you. Magic nourishes our ability to speculate about what is real and what is unreal.

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But knowing how to make an elephant vanish is simplicity itself, child’s play, compared to knowing what, if anything, is left of those pesky sheep once the shepherd has gone away and taken his eyes off them..

To be accurate, Kant wasn’t suggesting that the sheep

Available in Presteigne at The Rowan Tree, Winnie’s Newsagents and The Workhouse Gallery. Grandad’s Shed at Kington and The Thomas Shop at Penybont. Price £4.

grass roots Green Events

Wed 2 December BROMYARD GREEN PARTY FORUM Falcon Hotel, Bromyard, 7.30pm.

Sat 5 December TREEMENDOUS TREES Join Reserves Officer, Doug Lloyd on a guided walk taking in the veteran, rare and notable trees. Doward Carpark (Forestry Commission), starting at 10am with an option to finish at 1pm or continue until 3pm. £10 full day, £8 HWT members, morning only £5, £4 HWT members. Booking essential, 01432 356872, www.herefordshirewt.org Mon 7, Tues 8, Mon 14 & Tues 15 December GARDEN PLANNING WITH TIR COED Planning the landscaping and gardens around the museum and theatre buildings. CARAD, Rhayader, free, 01597 810561.

Tues 19 January FOSSIL FUELS, ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT With Paul Olver. This beginners course highlights our energy options and how the unrestricted use of fossil fuels can cause long-term climate change. Ewyas Harold Baptist Church Hall, 7.30-9.30pm, seven week course, £49, 01981 241084. WEA. Tues 26 January HEREFORDSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST Mountain Flowers, a talk by Roger Smith. Kington Primary School, 7.30pm, 07866 178957.

Every Tuesday TODDLE TIME For children aged five and under and their carers.

Onny Meadows, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 10.30am-11.30am, bring your wellies!

(With indoor alternative if wet), 01588 676060.

Local Environmental Groups

Knighton Tree Allotments Trust (KTAT): Christine Baker 01547 529990.

Presteigne Freegle (formerly Presteigne Freecycle) Terry Wells 07766 097600 www.freegle.in/presteigne Transition in Hay-on-Wye, Stephen Ainsleigh Rice, 01497 820332 and tthayonwye@googlemail.com Hereford Christian Ecology Group, meets occasionally for talks and outings. 01432 279740.

Green Party Forum meets every 3rd Wed at The Falcon Hotel, (bar), Bromyard, 7.30pm.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, www.herefordshirewt.org enquiries@herefordshirewt.co.uk 01432 365872.

Transition Ledbury Paul/Beverley Kinnaird 01531 634788 or transitionledbury@googlemail.com.

Transition Leominster, Regular meetings, contact Ann Ashley, 01885 420473 or Anne Adams, 01568 780886.

Knucklas Castle Community Land Project (KCCLP), secretary Jamie Richie, 01547 520263, www.knucklascastle.org.uk, info@knucklascastle.org.uk Hereford Carbon Rationing Action Group www.carbonrationing.org.uk - Vey Straker - T: 01432 840955 - M: 07961 125470 - vey.straker@virgin.net Kington Local Environment & Energy Network (KLEEN) meets regularly 2nd Thursday of every month, 7.30pm, The Oxford Arms, Kington. Planning local action, supporting initiatives, open to all. Contact kleen@momentary-lapse.co.uk Teme Valley Environment Group - Anne-Mary Davies 01547 528833 Will O’Leary - 01547 528792 amdskyborry@hotmail.com www.tveg.org.uk Transition Presteigne meets first Thurs of every month, (except Jan, April & Aug), Radnorshire Arms, Presteigne, 7.30pm, 01544 267768 or email transitionpresteigne@gmail.com Ludlow LA 21 - David Currant - 01584 875501 davidcurrant@phonecoop.coop, www.ludlow21.org.uk Shrews. Friends of the Earth - http://www.shrewsfoe.org. uk- Frank Oldaker 01743 260971 frankoldaker@yahoo.co.uk Herefordshire Friends of the Earth - Paige Mitchell 01432 277857 - www.herefordshirefoe.org.uk co-ordinator@herefordshirefoe.org.uk Lightfoot Enterprises - The Old Primary School, Church St, Bishop’s Castle, Tel 01588 630683, E mail info@lightfoot.org.uk, www.lightfoot.org.uk Herefordshire Action for Mammals (HAM) Dave Smith, 7 Primrose Close, Hereford, HR2 7QX. 01432 266937 davetreesmith@aol.com https://sites.google.com/site/herefordshiremammals/ Abergavenny & Crickhowell Friends of the Earth www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk - Barry Greenwood 01873 852245, bgreenwood@ntlworld.com LLES – Llanidloes Energy Solutions - www.lles.co.uk Diana Berriman - 01686 411128 - office@lles.co.uk Brilley Mountain Eco - (Brilley and Michaelchurch Environment Group) - Peter Davies, 01497 831376, peterandgilldavies@hotmail.com Golden Valley Environment Group - Vanessa Hembling, 01981 550377, golden_valley@mail.com, www.goldenvalleyenvironmentgroup.org.uk Transition Hereford - Charlotte Lake 01432 343577 www.transitionhereford.org Rea Valley Environmental Group (ReaVEN) Aims to promote sustainability and environmental concerns throughout the Rea Valley. reaven@live.co.uk.

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust - 01597 823298, info@rwtwales.org, www.rwtwales.org Presteigne Freecycle for Presteigne and surrounding area, groups.yahoo.com/group/presteignefreecycle.

For other areas www.freecycle.org Upper Onny Wildlife Group. Meetings at The Crown Inn, Wentnor, Bishop’s Castle. Richard.keymer@yahoo.co.uk

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complementary therapies Disclaimer. We would like to emphasise that these listings relate to COMPLEMENTARY medicine practitioners. 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 RANGE OF THERAPIES AVAILABLE IN LEOMINSTER including Indian Head Massage; Aromatherapy Massage and Reflexology. Humphrey Clement Bsc MFHT offers an holistic personal approach using organically sourced products where possible. On-site Chair Massage available for groups or in the workplace. To enhance your mental or physical wellbeing call 07702 038063 for a consultation or email healing.rose@icloud.com www.healing-rose.co.uk ACCREDITED COUNSELLOR REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND CLINICAL SUPERVISOR, offers supportive, non-judgemental, face-to-face, skype and telephone sessions to individuals, couples and groups. Richard Lewis MSc Integrative Psychotherapy, Post-Grad Dips - Consultative Supervision and Children and Young People. BACP Sen. Accred., UKCP Reg. 01547 510360.

A is for ACUPUNCTURE with Joanna Bruce RGN, B.Ac, M.B.Ac.C. Traditional Acupuncture for pain management, acute and/or chronic health problems. Phone for free initial discussion on 01568 709142. Stoneleigh, Kingsland, HR6 9QS. registered and insured with the British Acupuncture Council since 1986.

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 ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE in Hereford. Individual lessons and small groups with Ann Rowan MSTAT. BA. ARCM, 01432 279536.

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ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE in Leominster HR6 8QJ. Individual lessons with Janet Jameson MSTAT. 01568 613467.

ALLERGY &/OR FOOD INTOLERANCES? Find out the complete picture by having a blood test to help you make the best choices for your health. Enquiries: 01568 709142.

AROMATHERAPY & REFLEXOLOGY TREATMENTS OFFERED IN LUDLOW. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants, which have a number of properties, that may, when used, help improve overall emotional health.

Reflexology can be a wonderfully relaxing treatment that in turn may help relieving everyday tension. Both treatments may aid you in your overall sense of well being. Contact Emily Baker BA Hons, MIFPA, MAR and CNHC registered, on 01584 529053 or 07775 652993.

HILARY FOXWELL BTAA, AHSC, GWCG. Recovery, self-maintenance, health & well-being for your individual needs. Bowen technique treatment for muscle, skeletal, nerve, respiratory, intestinal conditions. Alexander technique tuition to retrain muscle action, breathing, body-mind reactions. Energy and emotional healing release for stress, grief, old trauma.

Practitioner since 1984. Clinics in Tenbury Wells and Tenbury Wellness Centre. 01584 819010.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY for depression, anxiety, panic, stress, OCD, relationship problems and more!

Couple counselling, relationship counselling and individual counselling for most issues. Sessions held in the Presteigne area, Leominster and Hereford. Contact Gail Venables on 01544 350384 or see www.cbtgail.co.uk. MBACP (Accred).

CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPY Specialist in treating & assessing children & young people with mental health or behavioural issues or dealing with distressing situations. I also offer support to parents, carers and adopters (providing them with a space to think separately about their children) or work with parents/carers and children together. I am also able to help mothers and babies with attachment issues. I can provide supervision to other therapists, consultations and training to professionals. I can provide services at the Family Place in Hay-on-Wye and Hereford, I can provide services throughout the area. ACP accredited. Valérie Mortin BSc. 07961 885646 or Email: vivalavie@yahoo.com COUNSELLING IN LUDLOW area. Talk in complete confidence, with warmth and without judgement, with Julia Walling BA(Hons), PGCE, Dip.EH.P.NLP (BHR), MAC. In private practice for 25 years, I am trained in a wide variety of therapies and combine them to meet your needs. Clients consistently report improvements in wellbeing within a few sessions. Panic/anxiety specialist. Short and long term for individuals, couples and families. 01584 874636 07796 596451 julia.walling@btinternet.com and www.juliawalling.co.uk CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY with Jess Pailthorpe RCST. Safe, effective, light-touch treatments to help you heal & repair.

Muscle/joint problems, stress, anxiety, fatigue, trauma….Clinics in Leominster, Kingsland and Hereford. Phone to talk or book: 07981 866 667 / www.touchtreetherapy.co.uk CRYSTAL THERAPY Touchstones School of Crystal Therapy provides fully accredited training in Crystal Therapy in Mid Wales. Principal Lauren D’Silva is Chair of the Affiliation of Crystal Healing Organisations (ACHO), she is fully qualified and experienced teacher, therapist and author of Touchstones Manual for the Crystal Therapist. Whether you want to learn more about crystals for your own enjoyment and well-being, or work as a Crystal Therapist, Touchstones has a course for you.

Lauren is also available for Crystal Therapy sessions and can offer Hypnosis and Colour Therapy. Call 01597 822749 or visit www.crystal-therapy.co.uk EMOTIONAL THERAPY: Anne Cummings MFETC (Adv Dip) offers this safe, effective therapy to help adults and children heal their 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 sufferers of panic attacks, anger, stress, bullying, low self-esteem, bereavement/ loss, anxiety and attachment issues. Centres in Powys/south Shropshire. See also www.thewritetofeel.com for forthcoming workshops and talks.

EXPERIENCED THERAPIST based in Bleddfa. Treatments for:- Back, neck and joint pain, weight issues, including hypno gastric banding) fears, phobias, stress, anxiety, addictions, alcohol and nicotine dependency etc. Contact JAN LLOYD B.Ed Hons, DHyp, CPNLP, DEMDR. Bowen Therapist (ECBS and US Bowen trained), Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master and Teacher. 01547 550215 or email oghanlloyd@msn.com

YOGA IN PRESTEIGNE

Group classes and individual tuition Marie Hudson 01544 260352 www.theyogapractice.org.uk

HEALING in Bishops Castle. Soul Healing can help you create Positive Change by removing energy blockages which may be causing physical, emotional or spiritual difficulties.

Contact Philomena Houlihan-Wood B.A. (Dublin), Cert.

E.S.H., Dip. Counselling (Wales). Tel: 01588 638242.

Email: philomena@soul-healing.net. Web: www.soul-healing.net MASSAGE THERAPY WITH MARIAN HARDIMAN (MTI, CNHC, MLDUK). Remedial, Sports, Holistic, Indian Head Massage. Organic Facial and Manual Lymph Drainage.

Clinics in Presteigne (The Retreat) and Llandrindod Wells (Rock Park) or at your workplace or event. Contact: marian@ silvanmassage.com, www.silvanmassage.com, 07816 981454.

JENNIFER HODGE DO Registered Osteopath. Cranial Osteopath. The Old Rectory, New Radnor 01544 350241.

HOMOEOPATHY Sandy Underhill RSHom. Homoeopathy is a system of medicine which involves treating the individual with highly diluted substances, given mainly in tablet form, with the aim of triggering the body’s natural system of healing.

Based on their individual symptoms, the homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to each patient. Clinics in Llandrindod Wells, Kington and Presteigne. 01597 851021.

HOMEOPATHY : My name is Shayna, I have worked as a registered nurse for 23 years and am now a registered Homeopath. I work in the Newtown and Montgomeryshire and am happy to visit you at home should you prefer. Following a consultation to determine your unique ailments, be they physical, mental or emotional, a remedy will be carefully selected to match your specific disease. The remedy prescribed will help to stimulate your body’s natural ability to heal itself.

I am very approachable and welcome any interest whether to ask questions or simply to book an appointment. Please contact Shayna Cashmore RN LicWSH RSHom. 07528 774 032.

LEOMINSTER NATURAL HEALTH CENTRE: Qualified therapists offer acupuncture, structural re-alignment, medical herbal medicine, remedial and holistic massage, reflexology, ear candling, reiki, psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour and couple counselling, hypnotherapy, health kinesiology, nutrition at the Leominster Natural Health Centre, Community Centre, Leominster, 01568 616411, www.leominstercommunitycentre.com.

MARIE HUDSON. Yoga classes in Presteigne and Titley.

One-to-one tuition available for individual needs. Registered Association for Yoga Studies practitioner. Registered with Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council for Yoga Therapy. 01544 260352.

MASSAGE THERAPY Injuries, stress, relaxation. Claire Williams I.T.E.C. / N.I.M. 01544 267172. Clinics in Presteigne, Ludlow and Hereford.

PHYSIOTHERAPY, CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY, REFLEXOLOGY & YOGA with Hermione Evans, Chartered Physiotherapist at Radnor Physiotherapy. For all back and neck pain, headaches, sports injuries, RSI, stress related illness and more. To discuss your needs or to make an appointment, please phone 01544 350691 or email contact@radnorphysiotherapy. co.uk or view www.radnorphysiotherapy.co.uk PSYCHIC READINGS: Clairvoyance, Tarot & Astrology (tape inc). Gifted & compassionate reader with over 20 yrs professional experience. Personal and telephone readings (pre-booked) available. ROWIE 01432 820684.

Experience Ukraine

Socially responsible tourism and handmade crafts from Ukraine. www.experienceukraine.co.uk 07963 090838

REFLEXOLOGY Helping to relieve stress, regulate hormonal imbalances, sleep and eating patterns. Aid the release of toxins and restore energy levels. Over 20 years experience - Jo Davies ITEC 01544 267100 or 07876 796885. Clinic in Presteigne, home visits available.

SIAM SMILE TRADITIONAL THAI MASSAGE BY (GAN) JANYARAK MORRIS. Stressed out? Neck and shoulders tension from too much time on computer? Low back pain? Or just want to pamper yourself? I can help! I am qualified in Traditional Thai Massage, Reflexology-Foot Massage, Facial Massage and Aromatherapy. Certificates recognized by the Ministry of Education in Thailand. Ground Floor, 3 Broad Street, Knighton LD7 1BL. Tel: 07538 572123 or (eve) 01547 550249 www.siamsmilettm.webs.com SPIRITUAL HEALER Naturally gifted in releasing emotional grief in present and past lives. 25 years professional experience with physical and mental health. Private healing sessions and talks given. Gillian Williamson, MNFSH. Field House, Kinnerton. 01547 560874.

SPIRITUAL MEDIUM - Emily Baker, clairvoyant, clairsentient, and clairaudient, spiritual art, offering individual or party bookings. For more information call Ludlow 01584 529053 or 07775 652993.

Workshops

WORKSHOP LISTINGS - Single listings are free.

Year round, ongoing workshops will cost £40 per year for inclusion in the magazine and website.

December INTRODUCTION TO ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE Discover how to train your mind-brain-body to help you in everyday activities & experiences. Whilst you are working or playing, you can apply the 5 principles to reduce excess tension, enhance flexibility & prevent discomfort or pain. This 5 week course (small group) will provide you with awareness & understanding. You are able (amazingly!) to change your responses by using these simple tools, putting you more in charge of your life. Enquiries & booking (also future dates/times to suit you?)please contact Hilary Foxwell 01564 819010.

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.rowanmconegal.co.uk or 01531 670075.

YOGA CLASSES AND ONE-TO-ONE LESSONS An integrated and holistic approach to working with movement, breathing and mindful, restorative practice. Classes in Moccas, Hereford, Eaton Bishop and Peterchurch. 1:1 sessions at Hereford Centre For Natural Health, Belmont, Yeleni Support and Therapy Centre, Hereford. Contact Nicky at www.nickyjaquesyoga.co.uk or 07817 268689 for more info.

TAI CHI MOVEMENTS FOR WELLBEING A simple sequence which can promote physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. This enjoyable form of movement meditation can enhance creativity and help realise true potential. One to One sessions available at Grange Court in Leominster and in Hereford. Contact Carol Florence Graham carol.florence@tmwtraining.com or phone 01432 507703 or 07765 851480.

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Thursdays (term time) TAI CHI & CHI KUNG EXERCISES With Jenny Sayer. Classes for beginners. Good for mobility and relaxation whilst reducing stress and promoting health.

Appletree Studio, 15 Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, 6-7pm, £5 per session, 01584 876175.

Fridays WALKING THE LIGHT Friendly small Spiritualist meeting with a guest medium every week. Appletree Studio, 15 Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, 7.30pm, £4 per session.

Lifestyle Financial Consultancy Ltd Est. 2001

Chartered Independent Financial Planner Here to help you find the right Mortgage Whole of the Market Advice First Time Buyers – Buy to Let Remortgages Commercial – Equity Release

Tel 01432 276877 www.lifestylefinancialconsultancy.co.uk

Registered Address: Imperial Chambers, Widemarsh Street, Hereford, HR4 9EP Your Home may be repossessed if you Do Not Keep up Repayments On Your Mortgage