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

Ruthin AllStyles Folk & Acoustic Music

🗓️ September 9th, 9:56 am

🎵 A Baker’s Dozen 🎶

Thirteen minstrels gathered at The Roundhouse for last week’s Acoustic Thursday, making for another fine evening of music, friendship and a few surprises along the way.

It was Colin’s turn to get the evening underway with the three-song “soundcheck session”. The rest of us then settled into our usual two-song floor spots, with Neil, Jeff Jones, Tom and Lynda, and Chris following on.
Next came Phil, a visitor from Mold, making his first appearance at The Roundhouse, although he had previously joined us at The Feathers before lockdown. Phil treated us to some lovely self-penned songs, accompanying himself on electric piano.
Glyn soon had everyone joining in with her catchy a cappella songs, while Penni wove her usual Penni magic into the room in her own inimitable style.

It was also great to welcome back Paul Mann, who returned with a fabulous set of songs. Could he become one of our new regulars? We certainly hope so.
Then we heard from Richard Ruthin, accompanied by Tom, followed by a little bit of Elvis from Jen, before Steve Jukes-Hughes took us up to raffle time.

After the break, our trusty random generator shuffled the list and drew Phil, Penni, Paul and Neil to perform one more song each, with Steve delivering a fine finale to round off the evening.

We look forward to this week’s Acoustic Thursday, starting at 8.00pm as usual, with doors open from 7.30pm.
🎸 Bring an instrument, bring your voice, or just bring your ears! 👂

Pictured here are Phil L, from near Mold and Steve Jukes-Hughes sporting his James Taylor look!
And, as always, more pictures from last week are in our Rogues’ Gallery:
birchallphotography.com/AllStyles ... See MoreSee Less

Ruthin AllStyles Folk & Acoustic Music

🗓️ September 1st, 5:51 pm

🎵 A Perfect Ten 🎶
What a great evening that turned out to be!
We had ten performers on the night, and there was plenty of variety from start to finish. Steve Jukes-Hughes was on top form with his dazzling resonator guitar - dazzling in more ways than one 😎 - while Colin was kept busy not only with his own solo spots but also jumping in several times to accompany others on harmonica and cajón.
Joe Lyon was in a mellow Merseybeat mood, and our very own Mr Blues, Brian Peters, was back with a lively set in his own inimitable style.
As always, we love to welcome visitors, and we were delighted to have Paul Mann from Llanarmon making his AllStyles debut.

There were also several musical tributes during the evening. Jeff Jones performed a song in tribute to Dolly Parton, while Pete and Cath paid tribute to Glen Hansard with a lovely version of “Falling Slowly” from his Oscar-winning film Once.
Chris followed this with the moving song “I Can See God”, which was sung by Glen’s brother, Gary Hansard, at Glen’s funeral earlier this month.

What a year it has been for losses in the world of music, with names including Neil Sedaka, Country Joe McDonald, Bonnie Tyler, Glen Hansard, Dolly Parton and Tim Curry among those sadly remembered. Most had enjoyed long lives and remarkable careers, but Glen Hansard’s death in a motorcycle accident at the age of just 56 felt especially cruel.
We have also heard the sad news of the passing of Merseyside folk singer Gerry Ffrench, who will be much missed at venues around Cheshire, the Wirral and beyond.

Despite the sadness behind some of the tributes, the evening itself was wonderfully upbeat, full of fantastic music and warm company. It all came to a head in the finale, when half a dozen performers joined Neil Martin for a lively jam-session version of “Call Me the Breeze.”
We look forward to settling into the Autumn season of Acoustic Thursdays, starting 8.00pm as usual (doors open from 7.30pm) 🎸Bring an instrument, bring your voice, or just bring your ears 👂
Meanwhile, you can catch up with more pictures from last week in our Rogues’ Gallery with one quick click: birchallphotography.com/AllStyles ... See MoreSee Less