Event

Godfrey and Tod

The Foothills Bluegrass Music Society is proud to present Godfrey and Tod in Concert January 26 2019

Godfrey & Tod are a traditional acoustic duo from Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Treaty 7). Through their performances on guitar, resonator, mandolin and 5-string banjo, they bring the past to life in songs and stories. A Godfrey & Tod concert runs the gamut of the old-time repertoire - from the cowboy songs of Alberta to the ballads of Appalachia; from ragtime mandolin to banjo breakdowns; from well-worn fiddle tunes to the intricate parlour guitar styles of the 19th century. Much of their songs are learned from the crackling sounds of 78 records and classic field recording collections. Their music echoes with the sounds and styles of pre-bluegrass folk masters like Hobart Smith, Clarence Ashley, Wilf Carter, The Romaniuk Family, The Dallas String Band, Dock Boggs, E. C. Ball and many more. By combining their surnames, they tip their hat to songster duos from the early days of recording, groups like Burnett & Rutherford and Darby & Tarlton.
Nathan M. Godfrey has performed solo and as a sideman on stages throughout North America, the UK, Ireland and Sweden with the likes of Petunia (of Petunia and the Vipers), Tomi Fujiyama and John Cohen (of the New Lost City Ramblers). In addition to music, Nathan has also been a shepherd, a baker, a farm worker, a journalist and a traveller.Mike Tod is a seasoned storyteller and scholar of folk music. He's the host of "The Folk Song Hour" on CJSW 90.9 FM, a woodworker and an ethnomusicologist.
Mike has conducted a unique study of the history of folk music in Alberta, resulting in a book on the topic and a yet-to-be-released 2-disc set recorded on the historic tape machine of Canadian folklorist Edith Fowke.
Between songs Godfrey & Tod tell stories that paint a picture of the numerous characters that've enriched the musical traditions of North America. While they're deeply rooted in the sounds of the past, they keep the music moving forward, winning over new audiences one by one