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).

We are happy to be called upon to play music, for listening or for dance. We do not self promote. This web-page succeeds a page which was active for more than twenty years before the host discontinued operations, which prompted a review of our online presence, and what we want it to represent moving forwards in time.

A feature of the previous web page which received mainly positive feedback were Bill's Diary Notes which he maintained between 2003/4 and 2024, ceasing contemporaneous publication with the demise of the website. They can be found here: Diary Notes

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

Always willing, even now.

These are windows into our world.....

Weekly Diary Notes

15^th April 2026: Sheila still wobbly. Bill: opticians appointment, prescription has changed significantly in last six months, Ordered from specsavers after price comparisons in the town. Two pairs, higher quality than Boots for two hundred pounds less than one pair from that store! New TT tune is Pig Ankle Rag, an old favourite of ours. Feedback from song and supper that generally enjoyable with notable exceptions, (one person's view).

14^th April 2026: Sheila stilll wobbly. Bill to U3A session pm but neither of us up to Song and Supper tonight. (Neither is Holly). Posted TT sketches.

13^th April 2026: Sheila: still unwell. Gp prescribed and for review. Bill Covid booster. East Suffolk Morris: Barham: A reasonable stand, if a bit ragged. (Both music and dance) An hour playing standing proved pretty draining for Bill, so came home before the singsong.

12^th April 2026: Sheila on her way back from Poole, leaving the van there as she is feeling unwell, with a form of vertigo? Bill to Ash & Nat's wishing Jasmine happy birthday, (yesterday). They went to the Holi on Alexandra Park, Bill gave that a miss, more colourful than he can cope with! Sheila home but still dizzy.

11^th April 2026: Happy Birthday Jasmine: Sheila in Poole, having a good time . Bill knoodled a bit, popped in to the Chorus Cup at Blaxhall for a while. Completely different from its genesis at Felixstowe Folk Weekend, Now a destination in itself and a marketing tool for Blaxhall Ship. Packed and claustrophobic. The pretence of maintaining a tradition by parroting music which was a recreation almost a century ago felt almost fraudulent. Depressing as it may feel, seen in context, the ubiquitous 'open mic' nights are probably closer to the old singing nights, Watched a program about the search for Paul McCartney's 'lost' bass. Disassembled an expired pc.

10^th April 2026:Sheila in Poole, Bill pootling on TT tune, part completed sketches, had hoped to go to Hadleigh Folk Club, but...the night drive and available energy disallow. (Hopefully this will improve as the chemo brings bloods into balance!) Fairly low mood this evening, lots to obsess about and not enough bandwidth! Drafted letter to James S re will!

9th April 2025:Sheila to Poole in a charabanc for son Will's 50^th celebrations. Bill knoodling, Angel Woodbridge sesson: Andy and Heather John Malcolm Mike and Bill. One person comprised audience for some of the evening. Very enthusiastic. Always interesting to see what tunes come out, sometimes the art is in recognising a familiar tune played in an unfamiliar way!

8^th April 2026: Sheila gym, foot massage, Bill picked up his repaired mandolin from Colin F who did a great job restoring a serious (unexplained) ding. Another customer was picking up a guitar and we chatted about music, gigs etc which put Bill in a nostalgic mood for playing out to an audience, which is a limited and intermittent activity at present. Led to a refresher 'session' of 'suitable' material. Watched this month's Folk Album Chart program, usual reservations!

7^th April 2026: Sheila to lunch with friends, Bill posted TT sketches. Posted a Dave Shepherd set from 2024, on what would have been his birthday.

6^th April 2026: Sheila gardening, we watched Katie Howson's recent interview with Mel Biggs , fscinating and informative. Bill posted the extended movie from Saturday, not entirely favourably received! Listened to 'Genevieve plays Folk'.

5^th April 2026: Bill popped in on Ash's family, and Rowan. Met Alana for the first time, lots of local and musical links! Bill & Sheila played a spot at the Sober Mic, (Salt of My Tears, Where Re You and Meet Me where They Play the Blues'), sensibly gave the Woolpack session a miss this time.

4^th April 2026: Bill having bad day with side effects of medication, but managed to join musicians for East Suffolk Morris hour long busk on Cornhill. Flaked for the rest of the day!

3^rd April 2026: Sheila gym, working on house. Bill had a wander in Ipswich.

2^nd April 2026: Sheila: Tai Chi, Bill knoodled on TT tune and prepped Medlars videos.

1^st April 2026: Sheila gym, and working on house. Bill had a chat with Louise R posted Melnet videos, Listened to balance of podwireless, watched some of the Folk Album of the Year awards. Began processing Medlars sets from U3A Concert.

31^st March 2026:Bill dentist, Sheila with Max a.m, music, and Jorja pm cake making. Bill knoodling on Melnet prospective tune. Posted TT : 'Midnight on the Water', first learnt from Dave B On ESMM's trip to Tawan. (1997?) Listened to 'Podwireless'. Bill declined to rouse at an early hour tomorrow to play for a R- Suffolk interview/demo to promote Saturday's events on the Cornhill.

30^th March 2026: Sheila swam, Chi Gung, Fiddle class, knoodled on concertina and fiddle. Bill swam, dropped damaged mandolin with Colin for repair.. ESM Practice: running through programme for next Saturday's show.

29^th March 2026: a slow Sunday. Bill prepped /posted some videos., Sheila knoodled on concertina and played some fiddle. Bill visited but missed Ash and Rowan.

28^th March 2026: Sheila coming to grips with the concertina. (May need wrist straps for support). Bill had thought to go to Halesworth Day of Dance, but decided against, an hour and petrol each way with no personal investment in the event since Sheila stopped playing for Pretty Grim. For the sake of half a dozen videos of the few sides among the 26 that he might enjoy, no contest! He can catch them elsewhere later in the year.

10.11.25