Godfrey Daniels is a live music listening room in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1976, the venue has featured performances by some of the leading musicians in folk, blues, bluegrass, Cajun, Celtic, country, and other contemporary and traditional genres. Additional events at Godfrey's include storytelling, poetry readings, children's theater, comedy, and open mikes.[1]

Godfrey Daniels
Map
LocationBethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates40°36′38.52″N 75°22′40.98″W / 40.6107000°N 75.3780500°W / 40.6107000; -75.3780500
OwnerGodfrey Daniels, Inc.
TypeMusic venue
Genre(s)Folk, Blues, Bluegrass, Cajun, Celtic, Country, Jazz
Capacity90
OpenedMarch 19, 1976
Website
godfreydaniels.org

History edit

Godfrey's opened on March 19, 1976 in a former doughnut shop at 7 E. 4th Street on Bethlehem's South Side.[2] Its co-founders were Dave Fry, a local musician who had graduated from nearby Lehigh University three years earlier, and Cindy Dinsmore, whose father taught at Lehigh. Fry served as the club's first artistic director with responsibility for booking artists, while Dinsmore managed the house and also prepared baked goods and other homemade foods sold at the venue's front counter.[3]

Musicians edit

With seating capacity under 100, Godfrey's is best known among musicians and concertgoers for its intimate atmosphere.[3] Some of the many well-known artists who have appeared here over the past four decades include Tom Paxton, Townes Van Zandt, members of The Roches, John Gorka, Rosalie Sorrels,[4] David Bromberg, John Sebastian, Livingston Taylor, John Hartford,[5] Eric Andersen,[6] Tony Trischka, Norman and Nancy Blake, Red Clay Ramblers, Peter Rowan, Gamble Rogers,[7] Nanci Griffith, Guy Clark, Peter Tork, James Cotton, Stan Rogers,[8] Odetta, Chris Smither, and Bill Morrissey.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Katz, Austin (October 11, 2017), "Local nonprofit Godfrey Daniels highlights Bethlehem's music history", The Brown & White, Lehigh University, retrieved October 31, 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ a b Moser, John J. (March 7, 2015). "Bethlehem's Godfrey Daniels kicks off its 40th year". The Morning Call. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Mihalik, Pattie (October 26, 2005), "Godfrey Daniels! The 'listening club' celebrates 30 years of music, pioneering Bethlehem's South Side renaissance", The Morning Call{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ Moser, John J. (July 8, 2018), "Historic Lehigh Valley area music clubs: Godfrey Daniels and Deer Head Inn, two iconic venues that have existed for decades and are revered as listening rooms", The Morning Call, retrieved October 31, 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ Hay, Bryan R. (Fall 1986), "Things Really Percolate at Godfrey Daniels Coffeehouse", Lehigh Valley Life, pp. 16–17{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ Gehman, Geoff (1982), "A Folk Legend Who Is Not Afraid to Rock", Bethlehem Globe-Times
  7. ^ Sklarsky, Robert (October 1986), Godfrey Daniels: Positively 4th Street, Bluegrass Unlimited{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ Gehman, Geoff (March 22, 1996), "Godfrey Daniels still crazy after all these years", The Morning Call{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)