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

22^nd January 2026: Bill swam,listened to 'The Folk Club'. Looked at new TT tune. Sheila Tai Chi.

21^st January 2026: Sheila to coffee with a friend and then local fiddle group. Bill sorted some 'M' tunes for next month's Melnet. Listened to 'Classic Folk'

20^th January 2026:U3A The George Wickham Market: selling itself as a folk venue, £3.50 to park (daytime, £4 ofr a teabag and hot water, diy room layout in the upstairs room, good acoustics but.... 29 in the space a bit of a squeeze. The group made the best of it, (not helped by Bill feeling rough. Song and Supper,some very over saute'd potatoes. Bill still rough so we abandoned ship.

19^th January 2026: Each swam. Sheila Chi Gung & online fiddle group, Bill ESMorris practice

18^th January 2026: The flight inclusive Costa Ibiza offer arrived, an excellent linE-up with lots of Americana including Albert Lee. We've been getting a bit 'trad' lately. We've put our bid in! Bill digitised a couple more Vinyl discs, (yet to process).

17^th January 2026: Sheila Gym, Bill completed sketches for TT, posted Kentish Hops and Mike Acott from October's U3A Concert. Sorry to hear that David C is unwell. RSVP'd to Ian M for his 80^th with the Hosepipe Band.

16^th January 2026: Sheila swam, Tai Chi and Art Class, Bill added a few TT sketches to the mix.

15^th January 2025: Sheila massage and Tai Chi, Bill swam, listened to Classic Folk and also an Urban Folk Quartet CD which was an excellent impulse buy. Two sketches completed.

14^th January 2026: Sheila swam, Bill digitised a couple of EP's and started thinking about next week's TT tune.

13^th January 2026 Rainy, RiP Vic Harrup who died in December. A singing friend from the Butley Oyster session, a long time ago now. Bill posted TT sketches, refreshed some songs on guitar and concertina. Sheila visited a friend for the afternoon.

12^th January 2026: Sheila swam, and had a music session with Max. Bill swam (briefly), listened to 'Genevieve Plays Folk'. Discovered the title for a tune learnt from Don Wallace decades ago. East Suffolk Morris practice: six men and five musicians! Bill danced a couple until the numbers resolved. Brief discussion of recruitment and plan for remaining practices.

10.11.25