Tony Bird is unique in today’s folk music scene, fusing African styles with Western traditions of folk, blues, and rock, creating a unique sound that is at once polyrhythmic, percussive and melodic. Growing up in Malawi in southeastern Africa, Tony was inspired by the wild beauty of the bush land near his family home and by the vibrant multicultural music and stories he heard around him. His lyrics spring from these experiences, colored by intimate observation and a poet's gift for image. It is easy to see Bird as a bridge between black and white cultures, expressing his music from the perspective of one who has experienced the splendors and terrors of Africa. Tony remains committed to exposing all that he's seen.
Tony has two marvelous albums on Columbia, with a new one on the way featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo and members of Paul Simon’s band. Tony has rich roots here in Godfrey’s, packing the place with each visit. Tony Bird returns, and this show will prove to be special for us all.

www.artmakers.com/nighteagle/bird.html

We are going to raise the roof of the IceHouse on a cold February Saturday night. Here’s an evening of great vocalists, crafty musicians and music that soars from blues to gospel to swing to R & B, put together by the Lehigh Valley’s own Bev Conkin. (You can dance at the IceHouse, by the way.)
Bev will team up with Lea Gilmore for a rolling set of gospel and blues. Lea is an award-winning singer, classically trained pianist, and civic activist whose music has made a difference in a real way. And, on this special evening, jazz pianist Eric Byrd will accompany the ladies. Eric has toured with Wynton Marsalis and Charlie Byrd, among others,  and both Lea and Eric have just returned from a tour in France together.

www.LeaGilmore.com/

www.EricByrd.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Also on the bill are Lehigh Valley faves: The Girls (Bev Conklin, Sarah Ayers and Lori Donovan). Be prepared to enjoy some swinging blues with fine and powerful vocals and that certain humorous edge and life-long wisdom that comes from hanging out with men. Yes, women get the blues, too!

www.BCAndTheBluesCrew.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Magical Mary Wright from the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild will be delighted to present her favorite stories for the enjoyment of the whole family. There may be no greater gift to children than a good story that sparks imagination and carries them to times and places they could visit no other way. Join your children on this journey by coming to our storytelling sessions and let your sense of wonder wander through the landscapes of fantasy.
Our Children's Series will continue on the first and third Sundays at 2:00pm, through March of 2007, leading up to our Storytelling Festival at the very end of March. A keep tabs on our activities go to

www.geocities.com/lvstorytellers

The spawning ground for new artists! Open Mike features a grab bag of regional talent. During each 3-song/15-minute set, you may hear anything from guitar pickers and budding singer-songwriters to pianists, fiddlers, comedians, poets, and storytellers. Many a notable act started here. Watch history in the making! Sign-up is just before 7:00 p.m.

Old-Time music is the real thing: music the way it is supposed to be, played for the sheer joy of swapping songs and having a good time. Come to our own back porch session and bring your guitar or banjo, fiddle or mando, bones, what have you. Just for the fun of it!

Something special happens when creative contemporary musicians meet the rich roots of American folk music; the music regains its original power and continues to grow and amaze. Ollabelle captures this very essence. From their haunting reworking of the bluegrass standard "High On A Mountain"— a song written by the band's namesake, legendary rural songstress Ola Belle Reed, to their latest album Riverside Battle Songs, the band draws from a deep well of gospel, blues, bluegrass and country, with subtle vocal and instrumental interplay, and an evocative palette of acoustic and electric textures to create singularly expressive music.
"Ollabelle came together because of these musicians' love of this music, without thought of success or career or any of the other trappings of the modern professional music business. It has great value to our culture, adding new life to a tradition that is an important part of who we are. But mostly, they sound great. They sing great and they play great, and they are wonderful people." -T-Bone Burnett. 
The band is Amy Helm on vocals and mandola; Byron Isaacs on vocals, bass, and Dobro; Tony Leone on vocals, drums, and percussion; Fiona McBain on vocals, and acoustic and electric guitars; Glenn Patscha on vocals, keyboards, and accordion.

www.Ollabelle.net/ -    Listen to sound clips

& 

8:00 pm - Sold Out!

Watch out! Here come those Canadians - Tanglefoot, a thunderous live band with a reputation for spectacular vocal harmonies. It is also a band of adept songwriters who specialize in portraying the Canadian experience. Intelligent, well-written folk-influenced songs played with hell-bent, rampaging abandon… that may be why Tanglefoot was once described as "Stan Rogers meets Van Halen." And after more than twenty years of performing, this Canadian roots institution is stronger than ever with an impressive new addition of Sandra Swanell’s violin and viola. The lads (and lassie) of Tanglefoot always make Godfrey's a stop on their southern tour, warming up the club on a cold February night.

www.TanglefootMusic.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Small Potatoes is the big name for a wonderful folk duo that has garnered attention at Musikfest, Falcon Ridge, the Philly Folk Fest, and the rest of the folk scene. Rich Prezioso and Jacquie Manning are adept at Irish tunes, raucous blues, touching original songs, and witty country tunes that make them a veritable folk festival unto themselves - as they say, “eclecto-maniacs.” Dirty Linen says: “One of the most polished, inventive and entertaining shows on the folk circuit.” This is one of those acts that every time they perform here we say “why isn’t this place sold out?” They are just that good; all you have to do is hear them once and you will see what we mean. Just trust us on this one!

www.SmallPotatoesMusic.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Learn the fundamentals of storytelling. Our workshops are meant for beginning adult tellers. This workshop is conducted by Charles Kiernan. Learn how to tell a story and avoid the common pitfalls of storytelling.

www.geocities.com/lvstorytellers

We always love it when our friends come to Godfrey’s and bring their own friends. It’s even more fun when those friends are the performers. Justin Solonynka has been a favorite here for many years, mostly as a solo artist on vocals and piano. This time he’s part of the group “What Four”, joined by Hope Wesley Harrison and Jenny and David Heitler-Klevans, otherwise known as Two of a Kind. Their song topics range from llamas to lime JELL-O to living on earth. Otto Bost, host of WDIY-FM’s “Acoustic Eclectic” says: “WHAT FOUR is a group of four uniquely talented musicians who sing intelligent, witty, and uplifting songs. They blend their classical, contemporary, and traditional folk influences together as seamlessly as they blend their powerful four-part harmonies.”
Come as a friend, and bring a few friends with you!


www.TinyLightsMusic.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Godfrey’s is pleased to present storytelling. Join us and the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild for this special night. Bring a story to tell!

www.geocities.com/lvstorytellers

Godfrey’s is always proud to welcome the return of our friends Lou and Peter Berryman, masters of silly and yet philosophical music! Accompanying themselves on guitar and accordion, they use melodies rooted in folk and Broadway styles to carry their incredibly clever poetry, which drips with satire and even-handed social comment. Their songs of the perils that await kids who say the “F” word or don’t eat their vegetables, as well as other gems, have been enriching the repertoires of Anne Hills, Claudia Schmidt, Garrison Keillor, Michael Cooney, and others for years. But nobody does their songs better than Peter & Lou themselves!

www.LouAndPeter.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Small Potatoes is the big name for a wonderful folk duo that has garnered attention at Musikfest, Falcon Ridge, the Philly Folk Fest, and the rest of the folk scene. Rich Prezioso and Jacquie Manning are adept at Irish tunes, raucous blues, touching original songs, and witty country tunes that make them a veritable folk festival unto themselves - as they say, “eclecto-maniacs.” Dirty Linen says: “One of the most polished, inventive and entertaining shows on the folk circuit.” This is one of those acts that every time they perform here we say “why isn’t this place sold out?” They are just that good; all you have to do is hear them once and you will see what we mean. Just trust us on this one!

www.SmallPotatoesMusic.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Jamie Masefield of the Jazz Mandolin Project and collaborations with jamband heroes Phish, has been busy with a new and startlingly brilliant trio, again breaking the boundaries of acoustic music and jazz itself. Frank Vignola is one of the most highly sought after acoustic guitarists on the planet, touring with the likes of David Grisman, Mark O’Connor, Les Paul, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ringo Starr, and many more. Bassist Gary Mazzaroppi has toured with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, Buddy Rich, Stan Getz, Clark Terry, and too many others to mention here. Together, they’ve distilled all the elements of big band, bop, blues and bluegrass and compressed it into an incredible sonic experience. This is a concert for the new century in acoustic music. Don’t be late!
MaMaVig : Ma = Masefield, Ma = Mazzaroppi, Vig = Vignola.

www.JazzMandolinProject.com/mamavig.html

Most magical Larry Sceurman from the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild will be delighted to present his favorite stories for the enjoyment of the whole family. There may be no greater gift to children than a good story that sparks imagination and carries them to times and places they could visit no other way. Join your children on this journey by coming to our storytelling sessions and let your sense of wonder wander through the landscapes of fantasy.
Our Children's Series will continue on the first and third Sundays at 2:00pm, through March of 2007, leading up to our Storytelling Festival at the very end of March. A keep tabs on our activities go to

www.geocities.com/lvstorytellers

The spawning ground for new artists! Open Mike features a grab bag of regional talent. During each 3-song/15-minute set, you may hear anything from guitar pickers and budding singer-songwriters to pianists, fiddlers, comedians, poets, and storytellers. Many a notable act started here. Watch history in the making! Sign-up is just before 7:00 p.m.

Swing is back - big! This is the night: Western swing, big band Dixieland, and more. Bring sheet music. All instruments welcome.

Named for the sort of complexion you get from the neon nightly beer lights, Tavern Tan play live American Music. This is the sound that used to be standard in taverns, pubs, bars, juke joints, dancehalls, and the local dive in every town and city in America...before the Karaoke machine was created and the theme restaurants took their ugly hold. With members that have played (individually or collectively) at Gun Clubs, Honky Tonks, Festivals in Europe, New York Studios, down In Memphis Tennessee at Sun Records, and opened for various BIG GAME like The Neville Brothers, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker (R.I.P.), and R.L. Burnside (R.I.P.), this is the sound of original roots rock ’n' roll. The sound of a small portable drum kit with the guitar amps along the back wall. The sound of Tavern Tan.

This will be a night to remember, folks! Cliff Eberhardt is a well-recognized artist on the American music scene. A reviewer recently stated: “Eberhardt is in the same songwriting league with Springsteen and Dylan.” Heady words, indeed! Drawing on rock, blues, and folk traditions, Cliff presents shattering, deeply personal glimpses of an inner world. His songs, sung with a voice that is uncommonly rich, possess a spare, lean, almost haiku quality. He is an engaging performer and a singer of unfettered soulfulness, an urban troubadour with a modern-day wit and outlook. A new CD is scheduled for release in April, and this is a great opportunity to be the first to hear Cliff's new songs live in concert.   Eberhardt is one of the most original songsmiths currently on tour, a highly intelligent and articulate artist whose penetrating and profound lyrics are sometimes overshadowed by his extraordinary guitar playing.   Opening for Cliff will be Joey Mutis III of The Electric Farm

www.CliffEberhardt.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

www.TheElectricFarm.com -    Listen to sound clips

Longtime friends and wayfarers, Norm Williams and Bob Mallalieu, are joined by the fine company of Amanda Parker, Carol Lehrman, and John James to comprise Wayfarers & Co. This exciting group performs gospel music and old-time songs on traditional instruments such as guitar, hammered and lap dulcimer, fiddle, flute, mandolin, harp, and banjo. In addition, they present stirring a cappella arrangements of traditional music. They return to Godfrey’s after their wonderful “Vacant Chair” CD release party here last January.

www.WayfarersAndCo.com/ -    Listen to sound clips

Born of the folk rock movement of the late sixties, Jonathan Edwards scored solid gold with his bouncy, feel-good hit “Sunshine (go away)”, but that’s only the tip of the musical iceberg. In his prolific 35-year songwriting career he has covered everything from love songs to children’s music, and he’s also known for creating “Cruising America’s Waterways” which was turned into a PBS special. He brings a sparkling country morning feel to every song and every performance. We all need some Sunshine in our lives today, and here’s where to find it.

www.JonathanEdwards.net/ -    Listen to sound clips

Opening at Jonathan's request will be the incredibly talented and prolific Sara Hickman, whose lifelong quest for social justice is amply expressed in her music.

A low-volume get-together for swapping songs and riffs with other blues players. Hosted by Tavern Tan featuring Doug Ashby, Tom Axcel, Andrew Brubaker, and Dave Joachim.