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

23^rd April 2026: Happy Birthday Derek: Bill telephone appontment with solicitor, beginning the death clean, Sheila missed Tai Chi, prepping for Costa etc. East Suffolk Morris The Dove Ipswich: St Georges Day: looked a bit thin on the ground for a while, but a full side and an excellent stand, capably led by Kevin.

22^nd April 2026: Sheila returns weary and begins to pack for next week's Costa del Folk. Bill working on a 'deathpack', To hospital for an iron transfusion.

21^st April 2026: Sheila to Poole to collect her van. Bill struggling with Email and other sites on Ipad. Two hours trying to restore. No human help-desk. Posted TT tune. Watched Ollie Robinson at select committee, far more credible than the PM!

20^th April 2026: Pootling.

19^th April 2026: Lazy Sunday. We played some tunes, slept,read,ate,watched tv, Sheila gardened.

18^th April 2026: Bill popped in to see Rowan, and also Ashley, (home alone with the children). Sheila enjoying sunshine in garden. Trianon Concert of English Music evening. Excellent. Conductor Adrian Brown was a couple of years ahead of Bill at Northgate school. (Mary D re-introduced us briefly). Steve, Charlie H and Ruth also there. Excellent, a great program well presented.

17^th April 2026: Bill knoodling on TT tune, had catch up calls with Holly and Sue B. Posted a video to the U3A FB page. Sheila Yoga, gardening and sorting her IT.

10.11.25