They began attending The Tom Topping Band weekly folk concert nights at the Black Horse pub in West Kirby.   A venue where many friends were to be made and wonderful nights of music and comedy to be enjoyed.

Subsequently, moving away from his amateur theatre activities with the Wirral Theatre Company, John became a folksinger/guitarist when he was invited to join the local band Brass Tacks.   For quite some years they became a part of the residency at the Parkgate Boat House pub, run by legendary folk singer, Eddie Morris.

John eventually had to leave this arrangement but, coincidence occurred again when it was not long before the then licensee of the Rake pub, Little Stanney (a Hungry Horse establishment) asked him if he knew anyone who would like to run a music night.    Accepting the offer immediately, the resident band Vocal Point was formed consisting of John, his wife Angela and his sister Sue Farley.    The folk club was so popular that when offered improved larger premises his Hungry Horse Club moved to The Whitby Club, Ellesmere Port.

John and Angela at the time were also the organisers of the Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival (later to become the Wirral Folk Festival).    Government Covid restrictions meant that the 15th festival could not proceed unfortunately but when life returned to something like normal, John and Angela continued to provide weekly folk and acoustic entertainment for their folkie friends at the Whitby Club.    The club continues to be one of the most popular in the north west region and November 2024 will see the club celebrating its 18th anniversary with Vocal Point the principal entertainers each week.