A Short History of Ruthin AllStyles Music Club
Founded on 31 October 1996 at the Feathers Inn, the club began life as The Feathers Folk Club.
It was the brainchild of Llinos and Campbell Finnie, two gifted local musicians who ran the club for a decade or more, setting the tone for warm, well-run evenings. Llinos, widely admired for her beautiful singing, performed modern folk with Mantra alongside John Rowell on bass and the late Bryn Roberts on guitar. Campbell balanced thoughtful contemporary folk with a keen taste for humorous ballads.
Early wanderings, 1997 to 2001
The original back room at the Feathers proved damp and dark, so on 2 January 1997 the club moved to the White Horse in Llanfair DC and adopted the name Ruthin Folk Club.
In April it shifted to the Glan Llyn in Clawddnewydd, returned to town for November and December at the Eagles Inn on Clwyd Street, then on the 15th January 1998, the Castle Hotel on St Peter’s Square became its final resting place of the 20th Millenium.
In 2001, there was a short spell at The Venue on Lon Parcwr, before a welcome return to the White Horse, where the club enjoyed almost ten happy years and built its reputation across the North Wales folk circuit.
Broadening the brief, new hands at the tiller
As the music widened beyond strictly folk, the name became Ruthin Acoustic Club. On 10 February 2008 John and Cathy Rowell took over for two years. John continued as a much-valued performer, with Raven, with the Tom, Dick and Harry band, and as a generous six-string bass accompanist for many others. To reflect the truly mixed repertoire, the club adopted its present name, Ruthin AllStyles Music Club, welcoming folk, blues, country, Americana, pop, and spoken word.
2010 to 2014, back in town, then the Cross Keys
At Christmas 2009, John and Ros Ryder took charge, and in early 2010 brought the club back into the town, spending another few months at the Castle Hotel, followed by what seemed a promising move to the Wynnstay Arms, where the whole restaurant and lounge were given over to the club on Thursdays.
However, a sudden closure forced a quick detour to Woodlands Hall near Bontuchel for three weeks, until on 21 July 2011, we found a welcoming home at Ye Olde Cross Keys. The upstairs room, with beams,a vaulted ceiling, and superb acoustics, served us well for three and a half years. During this period, Joe Lyon took on the running of the club, assisted by Chris Birchall looking after the website and Facebook page
2015 to 2020, The Feathers revisited
When the Cross Keys went up for sale in late 2014, the newly refurbished Feathers Inn invited us back to its function room. Joe later stepped down, and Chris and Jayne Birchall took the helm. To the present day, Joe remains a key figure in the running of the club, helping set up and generally assisting in the smooth running of club nights.
The Feathers team were wonderfully supportive, providing storage and making the space our own. The intimate atmosphere drew frequent comments about being like “Ruthin’s Cavern,” and audiences thrived.
2020 to 2021, the Lockdown Sessions
As Covid emerged in early 2020, Numbers attending club nights began to dwindle, and on Friday the 13th of March 2020, the decision was made to suspend our club meetings “for a couple of weeks”. (see Not To Be Sneezed At).
Determined to keep the music alive, Chris and Jayne presented a “Virtual Singers’ Night” on 19 March, live from their Garden Room, sharing videos sent in by members and friends.
The evening was a great success, and sensing the enthusiasm, Jayne and Chris sourced some broadcast software that would enable a slicker presentation, and the following week, on the 52nd anniversary of John and Yoko’s “Bed-in for Peace” they dressed up as the celebrity couple and presented the show from their bed!
The shows quickly became a Thursday highlight, with lively comment threads that kept the community connected. Between 50 and 120 people were tuning in on the night and by the weekend, each show would clock up over 500 views. Across 65 broadcasts, by 24 June 2021, a remarkable 2,643 videos were aired.
2021 to 2025, Roundhouse, Feathers, Roundhouse
With the news that our room at The Feathers had been earmarked to become a restaurant, July 2021 brought a move to the quirky circular Llanfwrog Community Centre, which became affectionately known as The Roundhouse. The space here was ideal for post-lockdown social distancing.
Then in February 2022, with plans for a restaurant put on hold, we were invited back to The Feathers in the interim. For how long, we didn’t know, but for the time being at least, we were back where it all started – at the club’s spiritual home!
February 2022 – The Feathers Part Three
Six months into the pandemic, the owners of The Feathers had told us that the function room that had been our home for six very happy years was to become a restaurant. Wind on a year and a half, through a pandemic that had long outstayed its welcome, and we get the news that the restaurant has been put on hold – albeit temporarily – and that the lovely guys and gals at The Feathers were happy to welcome us back in the interim.
So, Whoop and Double-Whoop! For how long, we don’t know but for the time being at least, we were back where it all started – at the club’s spiritual home!
October 2025 – The Roundhouse, episode 2
During almost four years back at The Feathers, the restaurant never materialised, but instead we were met with the news that the pub was now up for sale, complete with its planning permission for the function room, and we found ourselves house-hunting once again.
None of the remaining pubs in the town had suitable rooms available but we were delighted to discover that The Roundhouse had their warm, cosy, upstairs room available on Thursday evenings. Under the care of the new custodians, Katie and Paul, the venue had more than a just a facelift: there are new facilities, extra heaters, and a lovely atmosphere throughout.
September 2026 – The Old Courthouse
In September 2026 Ruthin AllStyles moved into its most impressive home yet, the beautifully restored 15th-century Old Courthouse on St Peter’s Square, right in the heart of Ruthin.
Today
Door money is £3, only our second rise in 29 years, and members can bring their own drinks, keeping a Thursday night both friendly and affordable. From 1996 to the present, the club has remained volunteer-run and proudly “all styles,” welcoming singers, players, poets, and listeners, and making space for everyone to share good music in good company.
Performers and Guests
It would perhaps be unfair to mention any of our regular or occasional performers here because there are so many, and it would be wrong to leave any out.
However, we also encourage new visitors to “have a go” if they should want to. And although the atmosphere has always been relaxed, when performers are doing their bit, the audience gives them full and quiet attention.
Every couple of months a professional singer or instrumentalist visits us, and it can be a great inspiration to the members to see these seasoned performers close up.
Past professional guest artists have included Kieran Halpin, Merry Hell, Nick Harper, Helen Watson, Mike Silver, Ken Nichol, Lindisfarne’s Rod Clements, and Phil Bates of ELO 2 fame.
We’ve also been lucky enough, over the years, to attract impromptu appearances by professional artists who have just turned up out of the blue and mingled with the regular crowd. So recently we’ve been entertained by Phil Cool, and also the incredibly talented, world-renowned jazz guitarist Gary Potter.