folkbluesnbeyond

What we do 

WITHOUT A NET: Bill Johnston solo, Bill Johnston and Sheila Darling duo. Acoustic music and song across a broad range of styles encompassing traditional folk, blues, bluegrass, old time, country and classic contemporary. Suitable for pubs, clubs and smaller venues, community occasions, support act and festivals.

FANCY FOOTWORK: British Ceilidh and country dance. Bill Johnston with caller, or working with a caller of your choice. Bill has over twenty five years experience of playing for traditional social dance. Squeezebox sunshine without frills.

COMBINATIONS: A mixture of dance, music and song with Bill, Sheila and caller. Packaged to please.

 CEILIDH BAND: 'Instep'  Bill Johnston, John Thistlethwaite and Edward Morgan with the caller of your choice or our selection. Contact Edward on 01473 735300 for 'Instep' bookings.  Live music to dance to, played with vigour.

http://www.instep.culpho-hall.co.uk/

SOMETIME BLUE: Edward Morgan Bss/Graham Mole hmnca/Bill Johnston gtrs & vcls play acoustic country blues and whatever else comes to mind with the available instrumentation and a transatlantic flavour. Follow the link and tab to Sometime Blue at

http://www.culpho-hall.co.uk/  for mp3's of our first practise together.

 Bill is also a (very very) occasional member of Washday Miracles Ceilidh Band and stands in with Ducking and Diving about once a year!

History(highlights):

1995 East Suffolk Morris Taiwan (Trade fair) (Bill), East Suffolk Morris Arras France (Bill). 1996 East Suffolk Morris Odoorn Folklore Festival Netherlands (Bill),Chameleonic Morris Men Yehiam Castle Renaissance Festival, Israel (Bill)

Bill and Sheila get together in 1997

1997-2008 Everyman Folk Club as residents (Bill and Sheila)

1997 Chameleonic Morris Men Telsai Lithuania (Bill), 1999 Ipswich Blues Day (Bill), Chameleonic Morris Men Akhisar, Turkey. (Bill), 2001 Chameleonic Morris Estonia Festival Baltica (Bill), Chameleonic Morris Men Ceyrac France (Bill),   Leiston Cold Fair (Bill& Sheila). 2002 With East Suffolk Morris. The Hague. (Trade fair) (Bill and Sheila), Bildeston Bluegrass Day (Bill & Sheila),  Chameleonic Morris Lithuania (Bill) Leiston Cold Fair (Bill & Sheila).  Manor Ballroom Ipswich :Peppery Productions (Bill with Holly Johnston support Oyster Band).2003 East Suffolk Morris Carcassonne (Bill) , Bildeston Bluegrass Day (Bill& Sheila), Seriously Hot Weekend :Peppery Productions (Bill and Sheila),  Chameleonic Morris  Umbertide Festival Umbria (Bill),  Walton Folk Weekend (Bill and Sheila),  Manor Ballroom Ipswich Peppery Productions (Bill with Holly Johnston support Eliza Carthy),  Big Music Night Bramford (Bill and Sheila),  O'Sheridan's Irish Bar Carcassonne (Bill and Sheila with motley morris friends). 2004 Arras Spring Trip East Suffolk Morris (Bill),  Ipswich May Day Celebrations Alexander Park Acoustic Tent (Bill & Sheila), ,  East Suffolk Morris Tour (Bill) & Bildeston Bluegrass Day (Bill & Sheila),  Steamboat Tavern  Folk Weekend ('Ducking & Diving'),  Lutsk  Festival Ukraine (Bill with Chameleonic Morris),  A Musical Evening in aid of Culpho Church restoration fund, (Sheila). Rendham White Horse Beer & Music Festival (Bill & Sheila),  Walton Folk Festival (Bill & Sheila), Norwich Arts Centre Acoustic Showcase,  Truckstop Orwell Crossing Lorry Park A14 .2005 ESMM Spring Trip Valencia,   St Patrick's Night White Horse Inn Rendham,  St Georges Night White Horse Rendham,  Acoustic Stage Alexandra Park Ipswich ,  Bildeston Bluegrass Day,  Chameleonic Morris Men in Mongolia (Bill),  Rendham White Horse Beer Festival,  September Walton Folk Festival, Big Music Night Bramford Victory Hall,  Black Cat Arts Norwich. 2006 ESMM (Bill) Tour Breschia (Italy), Rendham White Horse St George, Alexandra Park Ipswich May Fair.Bluegrass Day Hadleigh, 43^rd Beskidy Highlanders Week of Culture Poland  (Bill with Chameleonic Morris Men). TheWhite Horse Rendham.Beer Festival (Bill), Vimoutiers Foire de la Pomme, (Bill with ESMM), Jezzer's Musical Evening, St Mary Magdeline Hall, Highfield Approach, Ipswich. 2006 New Years Ceilidh Clopton Village Hall, 'INSTEP' ,  2007 Midwinter Bluegrass Day, Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich, Capel St Mary Church Social (Bill & Sheila), East Suffolk Morris Men Spring Trip Oporto Portugal (Bill), Orwell Crossing Bluegrass Festival (open mic Bill & Sheila),Ipswich Trades Council May Fair Acoustic Stage (Bill & Sheila),Bluegrass Day HadleighGeorge (Bill), Thaxsted Morris Ring Meeting (Bill with ESMM),Henley Community Centre Folk Night, (Jezzer and friends inc Bill), Kentwell Hall,(Instep), Holton St Mary Community Association( Instep),Great Bricett Summer Celebration: (Bill Cameo appearance with Holly), Rendham White Horse, Beer Festival (Bill & Sheila),  Chameleonic Morris Men Umbertide Perugia (Bill), Big Music Night 13, Jezzer's Charity Music Evening, Ipswich Victim Support Farewell Party, New Years Eve Dance at Clopton (Instep). 2008 Midwinter Bluegrass Day (Bill n Sheila), Thorpeness Dance Club Ceilidh: (Bill with Washday Miracles), Copdock PTA Barn Dance (Instep), Orwell Bluegrass Festival (open mic Bill n Sheila and Jezzer n Bill), ESMM Trip to Nordlingen Bavaria (Bill), Alexander Park May Festival Acoustic Stage (Bill n Sheila), Rendham Field Family Day  Ceilidh (Bill with Ducking and Diving, caller Phil Smith)).Demon Barbers support slot Corn Exchange Ipswich. 2009 ESMM Spring Trip to Malta, (Bill with ESMM) Support Jackie Oates Sproughton Church Hall, (Bill n Sheila), Big Music Night 16 (Bill as member Dark Hollow), Orwell Bluegrass Festival (open mic & informal), Ipswich Trades Council May Fair Acoustic Stage (Bill & Sheila), Big Music Night 17 (Bill n Sheila)

We  play regularly at informal sessions and acoustic music events in Suffolk.

If you know of a venue that would like us to play, let us know or put the proprietor in touch with us.