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

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.

27^th March 2026: Sheila yoga and art, Bill working TT tune, Everyman Folk Club George Sansome Matt Quinn: Spectacular. Great arrangements and outstanding playing. A guitar masterclass in DADGAD and CGDGAD , and mastery of the mandolin fretboard coupled with stunning vocal harmony arrangements. George came to say hello, he says he enjoys Bill's TT sketches. Bill flattered that he is even aware of them! Sheila has an English concertina on approval from Mike A.

26^th March 2026: Sheila swam. Our double bass was eagerly bought by a local, (but international), film maker for a personal project which has been percolating a while. He says he'll let us know when we can see the outcome. Bill swam, knoodled on TT tune. Rachel McShane and the Cartographers at Southwold Arts Centre. Support was Hannah Scott, an 'I' 'Me','My' songwriter, who seemed keen to sell her stories, write from life but there is a presumptuosness that your story carries a general appeal. She seems to be doing well nonetheless. Rachel's trio are all established high class musicians in the genre. Choice of material a well worn furrow, and arranged for performane in in a currently fashionable (gloopy) style, where the material sometimes becomes lost in amongst the clever bits. Enjoyable, but …. Bil suspects the standards set by the 'Moscow Drug Club' last week will take some beating, but that's jazz! Colin F has arranged to mend Bill's inexplicably 'holed' mandolin next week.

25^th March 2026: Sheila meeting surveyor at house, Bill began to edit videos from yesterday's concert.

24^th March 2026:A free morning, we played some tunes and refreshed this afternoon's songs. U3A Concert.With 'The Medlars' Very enjoyable, with Joans Tea and Cakes at the interval . Sorting the videos may take a week or so. Our set, 'Salt of My Tears' and 'Where are You' seemed to go well. The Medlars sets were extremely good. It is clear why they are being booked and rebooked at traditional clubs and festivals nationally. The floor spots generally were of a high standard. Rob has indicated a wish to stand down as group leader, and indicated that he is unlikely to promote another U3A Folk Music Group concert, so the future of the group is unclear beyond the short term unless somebody comes forward to fill the breach.

23^rd March 2026: Bill finally got the turntable working properly. Thank you to Paul G for changing the capacitors. The last brick in the wall was the fiddly reseating of the spring on the speed selection switch. Sheila working at her house. We ran through our songs for tomorrow's floor spot at the U3A concert. East Suffolk Morris practice. A fruitful evening with David T determined to work on the 'short' list of dances . We have a prominent booking in Ipswich in a couple of weeks! Bill enjoying playing concertina, the melodeon taking a back seat for the moment.

10.11.25