Folkbluesnbeyond
Bill Johnston and Sheila Darling have enjoyed a low profile presence in the East Anglian Acoustic Music world for more decades than they may admit to. We are active members of local folk clubs and dance sides, and have performed in public solo, as a duo and in bands. Our musical lives are mainly recreational at this time, (2025).
Bill is maintaining the Diary Notes, updating a week or so at a time, see below.
Bill also maintains a separate musical web presence on Facebook, the only space at present where his Tuesday Tunesday sketched tunes initially appear, along with other musical bits and bobs. https://www.facebook.com/folkbluesnbeyond/ If you are not FB phobic have a look...Linked FB sites relate to the U3A Folk Music Group, Facebook , and Bill's most recent band, '3 Men in a Shed Suffolk' Facebook and earlier barn dance band 'Instep, Facebook.
Bill was also a member of John Goodluck's 'Bards of the Heath' : Facebook
There is a 'Folkbluesnbeyond' Youtube channel with more than a thousand videos, music or folk related. folkbluesnbeyond - YouTube
Also on Bandcamp. One upload at present, a blues tape from a time when Bill was hungry to perform. Bandcamp. Bill's 1990's Blues Archive
Bill has been making biographical notes, which may be of interest and will be a continuing work in progress until it isn't. Bill Bio (The link redirects to dropbox and is safe)
These are windows into our world.....
Weekly Diary Notes: (for the full archive follow the link above
28th September 2026: Sheila sorting her accounts. Bill to Felixstowe on the bus. Bought a couple of pairs smaller trousers, (losing weight and girth). Sorted possible Melnet tune. Low energy but pacing self. Also posted 'Woodland Revels' on concertina. Sheila Chi Gung and online fiddle group.
27th September 2026: Laurel popped in for a brief visit on her way home. Lovely to see her and doing so well. Bill posted a ten year old 'Winderslide' to YT. Taking things steadily today. We played a few tunes and looked at 'Adele Blanc Sec', potential Melnet tune. Sorted another Flowers and Frolics video for later posting. A slow day but, maybe that's how ;life must be.
26th September 2026: Bill extremely weary. Slept most of the day. Keith's funeral is on 22nd October at Wrabness, feels a step too far at the moment!. Sheila very patient. Looking at Melnet options for this month, discover Mel Biggs charges 67.50 for a single tune lesson! Cheaper to drive see her, and pay in person? Holly popped in for a cuppa en route to Theatre. Bill sorted some of the Flowers and Frolics videos.
25th September 2026: Happy Birthday Ashley: Sheila swam, Bill feeling pretty ropey, weak all day. Posted Arthur Knevett first video from EATMD, Had a knoodle on TT tune, we had a bit of a sing song. Sheila: Yoga. Bill listened to this week's 'Classic Folk'. Everyman Folk Club: Sailor Swift with Pete Morton. Bill flaked out at half time and we came home. Smallish audience but didn't deserve more. Not sure of the point of the show.
24th September 2026: We are both weary, Bill in chemo and Sheila caring over the odds!. Sheila to Ladies Panto group for U3A Xmas Party, probably the last time the group will meet, hoping not. Bill knoodling on TT tune, started to process. Familiar but hard to revisit for some reason. Uploaded Arthur Knevett videos from EATMD for later posting. Listened to remainder of Genevieve Plays Folk, And some JJCale.
23rd September 2026:Sheila Gym and visiting a friend for coffee. Bill had a wander in Ipswich, picked up a couple of books, but most of the charity shops were shut, City of Culture 2029, hmm. Noticed that youtube subscribers are now up to 1300! (Mel Biggs is on 2000). Hardly a mega social, but for a niche channel, not bad. Not monetised but can't avoid the ads, sorry. Folkbluesnbeyond YT We have booked to see Trackdogs at the John Peel Centre in November. They are on an anniversary tour. Baskery are coming in November 2027, another must see. Listened to Genevieve Plays Folk. Pump disconnect, now a week away from hospital, next stop 2nd October. New TT tune is Roslyn Castle. A favourite from Bards of the Heath days.
22nd September 2026: Sheila swam. Bill managed the first night with his 'pump'. Sorry to hear the KeithG (ESMM) died in the early hours. Lots of memories with East Suffolk and Chameleonic. Bill'nSheila quick brush up on a couple of songs for U3A later today. Laurel popping on for a cuppa on Sunday, (coming down for Ash's birthday tea with Di. Found a clip of Bill singing Flash Company in 1996, edited to FB for fun and posterity. U3A Folk Music Group: Westerfield Swan: An enjoyable afternoon, sorry to hear that Jezzer has a diagnosis, we may cross paths in chemo, Sheila sang 'Gipsy Girl' and 'Salt of my Tears', Bill sang Bob Pegg's 'Dancing Song' tacitly thinking of Keith.Bill posted TT sketches.
21st September 2026: Bill 9:00 until 16:00, first chemotherapy session at Ipswich Hospital. Sheila came along for couple of hours on a split shift basis. Fairly complicated day and sent home with a slow release pump and carrier bag of medication, steroids, anti nausea etc. The cold is still intrusively there, but Lauren, (nurse), was fairly sanguine about it. As Bill leaving Steve D said hello, on his way in. So far so good! Bill prepped TT tunes.
20th September 2026: Sheila gym. Message from Mick to the men thanking them and vowing to slow down. What I saw of yesterday's dancing was looking slightly manic from a distance! An impressive pace. Holly came to lunch. Good catch up. Bill's cold is probably going to preclude chemo tomorrow. He spent the evening sorting video from Saturday.
19th September 2026: East Anglian Traditional Music Day Stowmarket: Our day comprise, Tom and Barbara Snape with an illustrated talk about Broadside Ballads, very enjoyable and Tom is an extremely accomplished melodeon player. We then listened to Arthur Knevett, the highlight of our day as he sang traditional songs in the 'good old way'. In the old style EATMD he would have had a full house at Edgar's Barn, here an audience of about a dozen, including the Snapes, Mike Norris and us! We enjoyed Flowers and Frolics, particularly the cameo performance by Peta Webb and Ken Hall, a vigorous set. We then moved on to Nick Hart presenting English Folk Songs. An accomplished guitarist and singer who remembered his words, Rather shambolic with aimless chat. Pursuing a successful career but floor spot material and presentation. We had thought to stay for the 'folk club' in the evening, but a two hour gap and the promise that it would be rather highly organised put us off. Bill's Blood tests from yesterday coming in showing that he continues to be severely anaemic! Rod Ward confirmed that Sheila's damaged violin is effectively a 'write off'. Glad we made the effort. We caught sight of East suffolk in amongst the dance sides, and Bill felt no connection with the side's involvement with the day. Bill has a head-cold, not good news!
18th September 2026: Sheila swam. Bill to hospital where PICC line installed. Met Kathryn who was teacher at Clifford Rd Nursery until retirement a couple of years ago, recognised Bill after thirty years and remembered Ashley and Laurel, shares a hairdresser with Richard C, accompanying her husband, (having a PICC service). Helpful chat. Nurse Joanna excellent and proficient. We had a great chat. Dropped in on Rowan briefly, and also on Ashley and his family, delivered his birthday card early as not sure how next week might unfold.
7.9.26