The Woodlouse (John Butler)

@the-woodlouse

Half man half muppet. Also Arthur Dent. Late diagnosed Autistic oversharer. 'Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep?' and other creative/performance/musicy things. ‘Othering’ people is bad. He/him.

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The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· 28d

I just saw a message flash up on my phone screen out of the corner of my eye as I moved around the kitchen. Except it was actually light reflecting on this biscuit packet. I’m not sure what that says about me but I don’t think it’s good.

A rectangular bourbon creams biscuit packet sat on a kitchen worktop, partially eaten, so the remaining packet is very approximately the size of a small mobile phone when glimpsed in peripheral vison

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 15

This beautiful and beautifully weird local theatre has two weeks left to raise the funds to finally fully repair the 250 year old roof, to save the building and all the wonderful things it supports. If you can help, please do! www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/under-this...

Me on stage at The Lyric, holding hands and touching foreheads tenderly with Georgie (a life-size cardboard cut-out human). Behind us is a projector screen showing a view of a dawn sky viewed through a window with beads of condensation covering it. Either side of the small stage are gold painted pillars in front of red velvet curtains, with golden cherubs above the stage.

A view of the stage in The Lyric from behind rows of seats. The projector screen shows a big drawing of a pulsing love heart. Either side of the small stage are gold painted pillars in front of red velvet curtains, with golden cherubs above the stage. The walls around and above are covered in gorgeous red and gold flocked wall paper.

Looking out from the stage at the auditorium of The Lyric. The ceiling and one wall are painted red. The back and the other side wall are covered in gorgeous red and gold flocked wall paper. There are signs of water damage and peeling wall paper from where the roof has persistently leaked.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 8

The fan’s quite powerful up close, it seems. #windswept

A smiling beardy man in yellow T-shirt, with his greying hair standing vertically in the wind from a fan

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 8

“Noise makes chaos in my head”. A final clip from Not Weird. If you want you can stream the single everywhere, watch the whole video on YouTube, or preorder my album on Bandcamp download this and another track straight away. youtu.be/9Ddl5ef0WGA?... #NewMusicTracks

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 7

Penultimate clip from Not Weird vid, featuring a sort of Homer/hedge tribute but with teenage me with bad hair. About autistic masking and why it starts, and on letting everyone just be themselves. Full video, streaming & Bandcamp links here: thewoodlouse.co.uk/2026/07/01/n...

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 6

Whilst I definitely don’t miss the ‘only 7 hours of daylight in midwinter’ thing from living near Glasgow, I’m also not mad about this. Glad I’m only in a small town though, with no urban heat island effect to add a couple of degrees.

Screenshot of weather app for Bridport, SW England, showing daily temps for next 10 days of 26 to 30 degrees C

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 5

The final chorus (this time with wild slide mandolin) of Not Weird, out now. Album (Catastrophic Selfie) is out 5th August. Stream, watch video, download/pre-order album here: thewoodlouse.co.uk/2026/07/01/n...

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 4

Making a music video. Smart me looking like I’m singing in some seedy club, vs PJ’s & dressing gown me (not pictured) hanging out on the sofa. Backing singers (hopefully) sharing the frame on neutral background (time will tell if I got the positioning right)

Beardy man (me) in a smart blue suit and waistcoat with yellow tie and pocket square, against teal curtains. I’m playing a red and white electric mandolin and standing next to a black Vox amp.

View of a living room and camera. The camera screen shows it’s framed just on the sofa.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 4

Another snippet of Not Weird, this hiding in toilets to find some quiet space and regroup on a night out. Full vid on YouTube, stream single everywhere, pre-order Catastrophic Selfie (album out on 5th Aug) on Bandcamp and get two songs to download now. thewoodlouse.co.uk/2026/07/01/n...

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 3

Today’s snippet of Not Weird, my catchy and hopefully relatable song about the self discovery / life-reassessment from late autism diagnosis. Stream it everywhere, preorder album on Bandcamp and get instant download plus a 2nd track. Full vid on YouTube (links in reply skeet). #newMusicTracks

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jul 2

Not Weird is out now. Stream it, download it, watch it on YouTube. Links here: thewoodlouse.co.uk/2026/07/01/n...

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jun 30

The video for this is uploaded and will be on YouTube from midnight tonight. The Not Weird single will be available on all streaming services tomorrow (from midnight?). At some point after I wake up it'll also be available for download on Bandcamp if you pre-order the album (which would lovely)

A pen and watercolour drawing of a beardy man with messy hair (me) pulling a cheerfully geeky expression. The words "Not Weird" and "the Woodlouse" are written next to him.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jun 28

Ridiculous beastie appears to be asleep like this.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jun 27

A snippet of the vid for my single Not Weird which releases on Wednesday 1st. It’ll be on streaming services, or if you’d like me to ever get paid for making it you can download it by pre-ordering the Catastrophic Selfie album on Bandcamp (also from Weds).

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jun 24

Keeping the sun out is a lot easier than trying to cool the house afterwards. Wish I could do upstairs too, and that UK standard house design was actually fit for purpose. 25 degrees inside and rising, but rising much more slowly than without the blankets.

Blankets hanging over the outside of patio doors and a window, to stop the sun getting in, at the back of a modern semi-detached house.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jun 12

Latest drawings for the Not Weird video, coming soon. Might have done them all now, subject to adding some bits digitally. Might need more for the instrumental verse though.

Pen and watercolour drawing of a beardy man (me) clamping his hands over his ears as loud sounds surround him)

Pen and watercolour drawing of a teenage boy (me with off-centre-parted hair over his ears, a tie die T-shirt, and a forced grin)

Pen and watercolour drawing of a teenage boy in school uniform, with shorter, tidier hair than previous drawing and a somewhat worn-down expression.

Pen and watercolour drawing of
an explosion, stick figures running and saying “AAAH!”, and the word “BOOM!”

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Jun 3

New single Not Weird will be out on 1st July! Watch this space and follow The Woodlouse on your preferred streaming platform (searching “Woodlouse Do Zombies” usually finds me). New album to follow about a month later.

Screengrab from online music distributor, showing cover art (a drawing of a beardy messy-haired man with a goofy grin) single title “Not Weird” and artist name “The Woodlouse” with release date 01-07-2026.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 30

Got another 6 drawings done this afternoon for the Not Weird video (upcoming single from new album). Tempted to make this one my profile pic.

A pen and watercolour wash drawing of me pulling a cheerfully dorky face with a wonky and toothy grin. I have short brown messy hair and beard, a yellow T-shirt, and a blue hoodie.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 29

More ink and watercolour drawings of me pulling faces, and a glimpse of my teenage self not fitting it. All for Not Weird music video, coming soon…

Me looking forwards, pulling a weird face

3 teenagers. I’m in the middle with chin-length hair, a bright tie-died long-sleeved top, black jeans and black boots. I’m flanked by two teenage boys with short hair, white trainers, plain T-shirts, and light blue jeans and shorts.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 25

These are the drawings for one verse (they’ll be some bits and bobs added once I’ve scanned them).

Ink and watercolour drawings of a me (a middle aged beardy man in yellow T-shirt and blue hoodie) in various stages of surprise and contemplation, plus a drawing of a locked door.

An Ink and watercolour drawing of a me looking shocked (I am a middle aged beardy man in yellow T-shirt and blue hoodie), a drawing of stick figures playing out various stages of life, and a hand scrolling on a phone.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 25

Have finally started properly on drawings for music vid. 3 inked. Will colour them later. More ink drawing (and lunch) first. Only another 47-ish to go. Eek.

Two drawings in black ink sit on a desk. They depict me, a beardy dishevelled man in differing stages of realisation and puzzlement.

A band of ink drawings of stick figures stretches across the page, playing on swings or in mud, being bullied at school, climbing trees, being a teen goth, playing in orchestra, painting, climbing hills, making and firing pits, going through relationship nightmares and upheavals, making new friends, building with straw bales.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 20

I've been in a bit of a stuck state for a while, probably various phases/types of burnout. Feel unstuck now and ready to crack on with things, but a bit overwhelmed by the number of things to crack on with! Trying to remember this message, to proceed in a sustainable but productive manner.

A pink post-it note stuck to the wall above my desk, with "small bitesize chunks!" scrawled on it in large capital letters. The bottom of two plug sockets is just visible above, and a thcik white cable hangs down just to the right of the note.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 17

The first one was like the first pancake and will need redoing (drew myself with shrunken head again - I need to stop doing that!). Got too tight with drawing style too. At least I now have the correct ink for it all (this one was acrylic ink which it turns out I don’t like - behaves differently)

An ink line drawing of a a man with short messy hair and beard, holding up a pointy finger in recognition of something. His head is obviously too small for his body.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 15

It was blossomy and sunny up at the burial field where we put dad. Whenever I visit I hope he’d think the summer views make up for the north-facing slope. I mostly think he would. He died 14 years ago today.

A countryside view full of fresh leafy greenery. In the foreground a hawthorn bush arches over the scene from the left, with clumps of frothy white blossom against the green. Beyond that are rolling green feilds and distant woodlands diving down into and across the large valley, with patchy blue sky above.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 11

Gaming, 80’s style (most likely Manic Miner)

Me as a child in blue jeans and darker blue jumper, sat on my sister’s lap as she waits for her turn playing a very basic platform game, on a chunky cathode ray TV and a small black keyboard of a 28k ZX Spectrum

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 10

Proof that I have *always* been Arthur Dent

Me as a child (maybe age 10 or 11ish) with awful 1980s bowl haircut and a fresh face, standing in my dingy bedroom wearing a dark blue and yellow tartan felted dressing gown.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 9

I’ve just enjoyed a spectacularly tasty pitta sandwich up a very comfortable tree. #goals

Me looking pleased with my life choices, sat on a big bough of an oak tree. The bough is covered in soft green moss. Green leafyness is behind and below me. I am a middle aged man with short greying hair and beard, dress in a yellow T-shirt and burgundy hoody.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· May 1

Here’s some alluring photos for the vinyl geeks amongst you

Half a transparent red disc of vinyl is visible emerging from a black gatefold sleeve, with a pen and ink drawing of a bunch of ambling zombies (they all have pockets in their clothes by the way, even those wearing skirts). Text across the top of album reads “do zombies dream of undead sheep?”

A blood red vinyl disc held up to the sun so the light shines through it, the shadow of a hand fuzzily showing through.

The Red disc from previous photo sat on top of the album cover from the first, the drawing showing through the transparent vinyl.

Inside gatefold of the vinyl sleeve, showing lyrics printed in white on black background, with a photo of a man and a human-sized cardboard cutout puppet, and drawings of an undead sheep with blood dripping from its woolly mouth, and a very happy zombie holding up the head of the person it’s just killed, their body lying sprawled behind them.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Apr 24

The view from aforementioned stone throne

Blue sea stretching out into the distance beneath a. Lear blue sky, with the coast stretching and curving around to the right of the image

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse· Apr 24

I got fed up with everything today and went to hang out with the rocks further along the coast. And I FOUND A THRONE! I don’t generally think I (or anyone) should be enthroned, but when one with a view presents itself to me I’ll darn well make use it!