IT’S a long way from Sussex to the Mississippi Delta but one local musician is bridging the gap and belting out his own Bexhill Blues.

Bill Fellows is an experienced actor who’s appeared in a stream of the best of British televison including Downton Abbey, Broadchurch, Hebburn and Wolfblood.

But he’s also been strumming a guitar all these years and ready to go public with his music including first song Bexhill Blues, an affectionate nod to the town he’s made his home.

It is a limited edition available at Music’s Not Dead in Devonshire Road in advance of an upcoming EP with The Poor Relations which will be released on June 10 for download. Called The Tyranny Of Cool the EP is a collection of his own heartfelt tough but tender songs through Coldstone Records which was co-founded by Dylan Barnes, and mixed by Dennis Dicker.

The Bexhill Blues is a first step into moving outward with music instead of playing for himself as he has since a teenager just starting out and at drama school. Originally from Middlesbrough, Bill’s life since has been one of constant work and he knows he’s been lucky to flourish in a notoriously difficult profession.

He is this week rehearsing in London for a premier of Pastoral at the Soho Theatre with Anna Calder-Marshall which he describes as a sci-fi horror and which opens in mid-May. He has also been filming King Of Sands on location in Lebanon.

“I do seem to work a lot,” he said. “But I am aware that could stop at any point. I have so many talented friends who spend years out of work. I think that is going to happen to me - maybe next year. But I’ve also got my music which I have been doing privately for 20 odd years, never played with anyone. I did think - what’s the point, but why not make a debut at the age of 56?” Working on his songs he also found encouragement locally from musician and producer Jeff Topp as well as Music’s Not Dead. He writes songs “all the time”, drawing lyrics from many sources including overheard conversations or throwaway comments. Bill said: “I’ve been an actor since I was 23 and of all of a sudden going with this new venture. It’s quite a daunting prospect because you’re open to all criticism as an actor so this is as well is a double whammy. But my son is 14, and he likes a couple of tracks, so that means something.”now

Bexhill Blues is avaiable to buy now  from itunes and other digital stores worldwide.