As the year tilts toward winter and the clocks go back, join award-winning author/storyteller Daniel Morden for an afternoon steeped in folklore. Hear tales gathered from misty hills, moonlit crossroads, and the timeless storytelling traditions of these islands.

Join BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Maddie Morris, described by Jim Moray as “leading the next generation of socially conscious songwriters” on their autumn tour for an intimate and thought-provoking live experience.

A comedy-drama directed by Bradley Cooper and loosely based on the life of the British comedian, John Bishop. The film follows a middle-aged couple in New York whose twenty-year marriage is ending. Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and impending divorce by seeking purpose in the New York comedy scene while his wife, Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she has made for family. 

Oliver Bullough is an award-winning author and journalist who writes about financial crime. His latest book, Everybody Loves Our Dollars, tells the story of the world's efforts to stop money laundering, and the reason why they've failed.

Described as “one of Wales’s leading composers” by Wales Arts Review, Claire Victoria Roberts is a vocalist, violinist and composer taking traditional Welsh song in a new direction.
In collaboration with virtuosic strings, she performs folk songs and traditional music from both Wales and Argentina (where, in Patagonia, there is a Welsh- speaking community.)

Folk memory, legends, place names, the landscape around us -- all are whispered histories of our distant, deep past, not of our ancestors from one time alone but of all who have lived and left traces in history´s river, filling the time and space between their time and land and Radnorshire today.   Silver from distant Suns is a programme of music and poetry that give voice to those ancient people -- today's folk legends -- and their times.

Calling all local musicians and those who like to support them. Come and join us for an open mic night at Presteigne Assembly Rooms. All welcome to perform in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere – first come, first served.

The Velvet Violin returns with a relaxed, cabaret style evening with Whiskey Moon Face as well as Little Rumba, rather than just a picture of them on the website (sorry about that) and of course the legendary Velvet Violin Quiz.

Mike Sardina is a Vietnam veteran and mechanic performing covers on stages across 1980s Midwest America, dreaming of something big. He meets Claire Cartwright, a hairdresser and fellow covers performer with similar ambitions. While neither is a songwriter, they both revel in entertaining audiences, and form Lightning and Thunder, a Neil Diamond tribute experience.

An unforgettable session of humour, history and hwyl (Welsh for 'fun' but also, curiously, for 'sail') where we will range through the centuries exploring the only former Roman colony to keep its own language, the tragic fate of the lost letter K, discover which English king was really called Harri ab Edmwnt ab Owain and how a lovebite changed the world.

Award-winning writer and broadcaster Myfanwy Alexander has just published her seventh novel. She won a Sony Radio Comedy Award for the long-running Radio Wales series 'The LL Files,' adapted her own novel 'Bloody Eisteddfod' into the first ever co-production between BBC Radio 4 and Radio Cymru and is half of the Wales team on Radio 4's 'Round Britain Quiz.'

An evening of Parisian-flavoured music at Presteigne Assembly Rooms, with quartet Swing from Paris.

2026 Festival composer-in-residence Michael Zev Gordon discusses his life, career and music with conductor, singer and composer George Parris.

Carwyn Graves’ book, Tir, has been called a ‘love letter to the Welsh countryside’ and is a unique exploration of the deep connections between Welsh culture, language and landscape.

Bright Star (2009) is a biographical romantic drama, based on the last three years of the life of poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and his romantic relationship with Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Jane Campion’s screenplay was inspired by the 1997 biography of Keats by Andrew Motion, who served as a script consultant on the film.

Classified PG (suitable for any age, but parental guidance is advised).

The Piano (1993) is a historical romance starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel and Sam Neill with Anna Paquin in her first major role. The film tells the story of a mute Scottish woman who travels with her young daughter to a remote part of New Zealand after an arranged marriage to a settler. While the story echoes Jane Mander’s 1920 novel The Story of a New Zealand River, Jane Campion has also cited Wuthering Heights and The African Queen among the film’s inspirations.

It features a memorable soundtrack by composer Michael Nyman.

Classified 15 (suitable for those aged 15 and over)

Composer, educator and Festival Vice-President Thomas Hyde leads an engaging panel discussion with composers Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Electra Perivolaris, Lynne Plowman, Claire Victoria Roberts and Mathilde Wantenaar. They talk about their new violin and piano works – musical responses to Prokofiev’s charming Five Melodies, originally imagined as soprano vocalises and later reworked for violin and piano by the composer himself.

In the Cut (2003) is a taut psychological thriller starring Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kevin Bacon. Adapted by Campion from Susanna Moore’s novel, the film focuses on an introvert New York English professor who becomes personally entangled with a detective investigating a series of gruesome murders in her Manhattan neighbourhood.

Classified 18 (suitable only for those aged 18 and over)

Dr Sioned Davies introduces us to Lady Charlotte Guest, one of the most formidable women of the 19th century.

Three leading poets – Samantha Wynne Rhydderch, Michèle Roberts and Mari Ellis Dunning – will read from their most recent work in what promises to be a lively and enjoyable event.

Music Lessons is a book about the cathartic power of music. For award-winning author and composer Stephen Johnson, there have been moments when music has confronted him with life-changing insights.

Acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter Adam Beattie ‘Uplifting Reveries Of Love’ (Mojo Magazine) and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan ‘Startling odysseys’ (The Guardian) embark on a double headline tour of the UK this spring/summer in celebration of their new music releases. 

To mark the 70th birthday of Composer and pianist Adrian Williams and the 75th birthday of Mezzo Soprano Marion Rowlatt. The programme will include the world premiere of Williams’ Clarinet Sonata and works by Finzi, Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Betty Roe interspersed with readings from Adrian’s memoir. With Peter Cornish, clarinet, Leila Basletic, piano and Ruth Watson, oboe.

The Great Divinator: Touched by Spirits

Fake Moustache! Real Mindreading!

Expect impressive mind reading and outrageous audience participation in this unique evening of comedy Victorian seance and spooky paranormal happenings from multi award-winner and member of the Magic Circle Katie Tranter (The Magician's Table, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Doctor Who).

One of the UK’s most exciting guitarists, Remi Harris is joined by double bassist Tom Moore and rhythm guitarist Chris Nesbitt to present an enthralling evening of Gypsy Jazz and Blues. Combining musical virtuosity with passion and flair, the trio features Remi on a variety of acoustic and electric guitars playing an eclectic mix of original compositions, jazz standards and new arrangements of his favourite tunes.

A relaxed, cabaret-style evening with special musical guests, a good dose of humour and an obscure musical quiz to keep you on your toes. While the content varies, The Velvet Violin delivers quality musicianship and a night to remember.

Ursula Martin never thought she would walk 3,700 miles around Wales, but following a cancer diagnosis it seemed like the only reasonable thing to do. Her best-selling book One Woman Walks Wales, documented this journey, but it was only the start of Ursula’s ambition. In an epic test of stamina, Ursula has since embarked on a 5,550 mile walk from Wales to Ukraine and back again, stopping off in countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Italy, France and Spain. In her new book, One Woman Walks Europe, she brings to life challenging landscapes and the people she met along the way

Germa Adan is a Haitian-born composer, vocalist, and string musician whose music traverses Haitian, American, and British folk traditions, the rich sonic languages of the Afro-diaspora, and the improvisational spirit of jazz. Her acclaimed album Borderlines & Bloodlines was named one of Folk Alley’s Best Trad Albums of 2023. With performances at Manchester Folk, Sidmouth Folk, and Birmingham Symphony Hall, Germa creates immersive, soul-stirring music that resonates across cultures and generations.

A family favourite beloved by children and adults. Coco follows the story of Miguel, a boy who dreams of becoming an accomplished musician despite his family’s generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel travels to the land of his ancestors - the stunning and colourful Land of the Dead. (2017  105 mins  PG)