Charles Wesley Godwin Makes The Most of His Telluride Bluegrass Moment
For continuing coverage from the 50th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, follow Saving Country Music on Instagram.
From the Appalachian Mountain of West Virginia, to the Rocky Mountains of Telluride, Colorado, Charles Wesley Godwin’s music resonates off the peaks and fills the valleys with the music of the people. On Thursday (6-15), Godwin was one of the artists chosen to help open the legendary Telluride Bluegrass Festival on its 50th Anniversary—a bucket list moment for any artist who cites bluegrass as an influence.
“I’ve never played a place more beautiful, and I’ve played The Ryman,” Godwin said from the stage. Charles and his band The Allegheny High turned in a rousing set of Appalachian country music, with Godwin admitting he probably didn’t have the guitar chops to hold his own with some of the flatpickers set to take the stage. But he made up for it with his songwriting that won over the notoriously distinguishing and attentive Telluride crowd.
Godwin turned to a cover song to finish his set though—his signature take on “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Godwin also mentioned during the set that he has a new album coming out, probably in January, and played a new song he’s been featuring live called “Family Ties.” Godwin recently signed to Big Loud Records.
But Godwin wasn’t done performing on the weekend after the left the stage. The primary mode of transportation in Telluride is the isolated mountain town’s gondola system, taking folks back and forth to the Mountain Village portion of town. Godwin saw an opportunity for a picturesque and distinctly Telluride moment to take a gondola ride, and record a version of his song “Over Yonder.”
“Over Yonder”
— Charles Wesley Godwin (@CharlesWesleyG) June 16, 2023
From the gondola at Telluride joined by my boys @AlTorrence, Eric James & Max Somerville. Enjoy!
📹 @catanzareet pic.twitter.com/OZ1j5TTPQB
June 16, 2023 @ 7:43 pm
Chills.
June 16, 2023 @ 9:46 pm
That’s Gold Trigger……….fuckin G O L D!!!
June 17, 2023 @ 5:59 am
Really cool. Can’t wait until the new album is released. Have to wait a while, but I’m sure it will be worth the wait.
June 17, 2023 @ 2:57 pm
I’m sure he’s sorry for the wait
June 17, 2023 @ 6:34 am
I liked what I heard online from him but then I recently saw him open for Cody Jinks. He and his band blew Jinks off the stage IMO. He came out to Hardwood Floors with an attack that you don’t hear in the recording version and after one song, I was blown away. Much of the crowd knew all the words too. He’s another Sturgill/Childers in the making. Excited to see where he goes from here!
June 17, 2023 @ 11:33 am
I have seen him a couple times at Bucks Bar & Grill. A crowded dive bar with about 120 other people, and you could hear a pin drop when he was singing most of his songs. That was a good thing. Tennessee Jet has a slogan that says STFU and Listen To The Music. Bucks is normally pretty respectful of that maxim, but never to this degree. It was haunting listening to him sing. Hearing Cranes Of Potter in that setting was amazing.
June 18, 2023 @ 6:37 am
See CWG in venues when you can, the rub he got from Zach Bryan and his own accolades will have him headlining festivals sooner than later. His band always brings it and it’s a damn good show