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, (2024).
Bill is maintaining the Diary Notes, updating about a week 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
Saturday 7th September 2024: A grand day out at Bungay Folk festival. Just for a wander and to see what we could: Different Accents are a band in bluegrass/honky tonk style including friends Sue and Steve from the Tattingstone and Orwell Bluegrass community, also 'lorry'Dave from Pris F's session back in the Campsea Ashe days. After lunch we enjoyed 'Pearl in the Egg' playing historic music on period instruments unamplified in Trinity Church. We caught some of 'Tin Giants' , badly amplified and mixed in st Mary's, (sorry Harry, it was awful). Matthew and Stephanie were more enjoyable, a workmanlike duo with some interesting musical ideas. We then caught Mossy Christian at the Fisher Theatre. (solo as Megan has COVID). An excellent performer with interesting material, fine melodeon and concertina styles. We met friends along the way but the event is rather Norfolk centric and difficult to navigate at times. Home and watched the Mozart prom, pretty amazing. Good end to the day.
Friday 6th September 2024: Sheila shopped, gardened, went to yoga, felt tired. Bill sorted next week's TT tune sketches. Thinking of going to Bungay tomorrow, (energy permitting), gave Hadleigh FAC a miss, John Ward a very rapid rebook, but Bill saw him at FolkEast as well, sorry to miss Terry Hiscox. Just a step too far on this evening. Bill posted the remaining Belchamp Morris video from FolkEast, interesting take by Mike G in conversation last evening, and clear to see why a former East Suffolk Man might think of returning to the fold, but dissuaded by distance and clashing practice nights. (Always welcome). Bill posted 'La Dame Blanche' on guitar as a knoodle for the day.
Thursday 5th September 2024: Sheila swam, Bill swam, picked up some tunebooks in a charity shop, (Northumbrian 3 & 4 and green and yellow pipe books). Started on new TT tune, we also had a tune session to start the day. Sheila Pretty Grim practice, Bill with ESMM at Newbourne Fox. An excellent stand with the full band back in actioin, two melodeons, two accordions and a fiddle, with a good sing song to follow.
Wednesday 4th September 2024: We attended Crawford Mair's funeral. A fond farewell, we didn't go on to the 'afterwards' at Eyke. Rowan's dog Arkan has died having been a huge friend and support through a very difficult time for his master. The new TT is a wry retort to recent 'user' engagement with the page, the Irish reel, Speed the Plough. We had a tune and song practice this evening.
Tuesday 3rd September 2024: Happy Birthday Sheila: swam, we went for a light lunch at the Deben cafe on the boat at Melton. First time for both of us, very nice. Bill sorted banking problem, infra, watched to Mel Biggs interview with Saul Rose. Excellent, ( Saul Rose: Folk & Drugs & Morris Dancing | Chatterbox with Mel Biggs S1E9 (youtube.com) , and listened to 'Genevieve Plays Folk'. Posted TT tune, and the final two videos from FolkEast, 'Rumburgh Morris' and John and Lynne Ward'
Monday 2nd September 2024:Sheila gym, Bill had a wander in Woodbridge before swimming. Posted Melrose Dance Quintet YT video from FollkEast. Couldn't access online banking, faily digicard. Failed by the call centre so referred to branch. (Good job it is still there!) Popped in on Ash and Nat.
Sunday 1st September 2024: Sheila tired after a sleepless night, Bill, posted melnet TotM., and a starter for 10 on Theme of the Month
Quote from an interview with Eddi Reader, '
What is one thing about the musical industry that you wish more people understood?
'Well
it is a way to fund your life , to try to own your work and establish
a connection to live and work. Don’t allow illusion to tempt
you. Other people will support your love for your work.
Also
that singing in the centre of a stage doesn’t automatically make
you a centre-stage confident, self-assured person. Sometimes it just
means your musical choices are like having a Kes-like bird on your
shoulder and you just want your classmates to see her because you
have pride in her.
'
Feeds into reflections on playing music and performing in the market place. Jazz aside, pleasing 'the people' with a repertoire can be constrictive to exploration and development. Bands like Leverett purport to to pesent an open dynamic based on their musical relationship and mutual understanding, not really the same thing.
Woolpack Session: Bill solo, Sheila tired. Socially good to catch up with friends not seen for a while, .musically less so. In general terms becoming an evening to miss. Competitive shanties and uninteresting tunes. Hey ho. Back to the online community...
3.9.2024