Ruthin AllStyles Folk & Acoustic Music

🗓️ October 6th, 4:01 pm

🎵 A Pinch and a Punch for the First of the Month 🎶

…although technically, of course, that could result in a court appearance on an assault charge. Fortunately, on this occasion it simply led to a dozen minstrels appearing at The Old Courthouse.

The charges? Pinching some wonderful songs from bygone decades of folk, country, Americana and beyond, then punching out some rather fine renditions for an audience in what was a comfortably full room.

Also entered into evidence were plenty of original songs, including three from Alan Thompson, who this week had his sister Linda alongside him adding those lovely harmonies. It was Linda’s first visit to our impressive new venue.

It was also wonderful to see Maria back at the club after a difficult few months, and even better to hear her singing again. Accompanying Canada Phil, the pair turned in a fine set despite Phil still shaking off jet lag after spending the summer in Alberta.

Phil wasn’t the only Canadian connection... Keith Price emigrated to Toronto some years ago, yet he always makes a point of visiting the club during his biennial trips back home. This time he soon had the audience joining in with a couple of traditional, ring-dong-dilly-dong folk songs.

Geoff Durno also looked in on us following recent eye surgery, to entertain with his excellent traditional folk style. The rest of the line-up featured Colin, Rhodri, Paul Mann, Joe Lyon, and Chris, resulting in a lovely eclectic mix of varied musical genres.

The last spot of the evening fell to Neil Martin, after which he was joined by half a dozen of us for a rousing finale jam of Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Let’s do it all again this Thursday, 8th October, with music from 8.00pm. Doors open from 7.15pm.
🎸 Bring an instrument, bring your voice, or just bring your ears! 👂

And, as always, the pictures from last week are waiting in our Rogues’ Gallery:
birchallphotography.com/AllStyles ... See MoreSee Less

Ruthin AllStyles Folk & Acoustic Music

🗓️ September 23rd, 10:26 am

🎵 A Brilliant First Night at The Old Courthouse 🎶

Well, that couldn’t have gone much better!
We deliberately didn’t over-publicise our move to the magnificent 15th-century Old Courthouse on St Peter’s Square, thinking that a fairly quiet first night, with perhaps ten or so performers, would give us a chance to bed in and get to grips with the sound.
In the event, we ended up with almost double that number.
We needn’t have worried, though, because the acoustics in the hall were excellent. There are one or two tweaks still to make to the mixing desk setup, but on the night everyone remarked on just how good it sounded.

With around 30 people in the room, it was what you might call comfortably full, and the atmosphere was terrific.
After a quick soundcheck courtesy of Steve Jukes-Hughes, it was down to Tom, Dick & Harry to get the evening underway, with Raphael adding to their distinctive sound with his superb harmonica playing.

Alongside a healthy clutch of regulars, we were joined by Mick Hoyle, making his first visit from the coast. And after sitting in the audience a time or two in recent weeks, we were delighted to see John Smith finally take to the stage armed with a guitar. He delivered a couple of rather tasty songs too. The dark horse!
Then, someone we don’t see nearly enough of, Alan Thompson, treated us to two of his fabulous self-penned songs. Perhaps we’ll see him back with his sister Linda one of these fine days. We do miss those wonderful harmonies.

It was a cracking first evening in our new home, brought to a close in fine style with a fabulous finale from the TD&H band.
Can’t wait to do it all again this Thursday, from 8.00pm until 10.45pm, with doors open from 7.30pm.
🎸 Bring an instrument, bring your voice, or just bring your ears! 👂
And, as always, the pictures from last week are in our Rogues’ Gallery:
birchallphotography.com/AllStyles ... See MoreSee Less

Ruthin AllStyles Folk & Acoustic Music

🗓️ September 17th, 12:26 am

🎵 Bye Bye Roundhouse, Hello Courthouse
🎶
Much as we have enjoyed our last, almost twelve months at Llanfwrog Community Centre, we were delighted to discover that The Old Courthouse is now available for us to hire for our Thursday evening music nights.
This magnificently restored 15th-century building, with its oak-panelled walls and beamed vaulted ceiling, will without doubt be the most impressive venue Ruthin AllStyles has had in its 30-year history.
Standing proudly on the beautifully remodelled St Peter’s Square, right in the centre of town, The Old Courthouse served as a bank for almost 100 years before being bought by Ruthin Town Council in 2019 and sympathetically refurbished as a community facility.
We couldn’t ask for a more inspirational setting in which to meet and make music.
The venue is wheelchair accessible. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are available, and you are, of course, welcome to bring your own cold drinks. The main Market Street car park is just beyond the Castle Hotel / Wetherspoons, around a two-minute walk away, and there are also some nearby free on-street parking spaces.
A map is available on our website:
ruthinallstyles.co.uk/how-to-find-us/

We look forward to welcoming you to our first Acoustic Thursday at The Old Courthouse, from 8.00pm until 10.45pm, with doors open from 7.30pm.
🎸 Bring an instrument, bring your voice, or just bring your ears! 👂
And, as always, the pictures from last week are in our Rogues’ Gallery:
birchallphotography.com/AllStyles ... See MoreSee Less