The Sit Down with Charles Wesley Godwin
Back in May, West Virginia native Charles Wesley Godwin was in the UK for a short tour and to support Eric Church at this years Highways Festival at The Royal Albert Hall. It hasn’t taken long for Godwin to return to our shores as he is back this week to play The Long Road Festival before heading into Europe to play at Sound of Nashville Open Air in Köln and Tonder Festival in Denmark amongst others. This stop would also include his first ever London headline show at the Electric Ballroom in Camden and we headed backstage before the show to sit down with Charles
Welcome back to London.
Yeah, man, thank you.
You were here just a few months ago for Highways. Is it nice to come back so soon after?
Yeah, I'm enjoying it. When we were here at Royal Albert Hall, we rolled in that morning, and then we had to leave that night after the show to go to Manchester. My first time in London was really dipping in and out. I didn't get to see much or get a feel for the city at all. This time, we landed at Heathrow yesterday morning, so I got to hang out yesterday and walk around Kensington, which is really beautiful, and heard some opera music live for the first time. There's someone rehearsing up at some venue there in Kensington. We ate at a great restaurant, went for a run along the river this morning. So, this has been nice.
And then the sun is out this time too for you
I don't know if I bring it with me, but every time I'm in the UK, it's been sunny. I think I've experienced rain once out of a week and a half. Maybe I'm in good luck.
This time you're back for The Long Road Festival as the main highlight of your UK dates. Are you looking forward to now seeing a different side of our country scene with your debut being tough to beat at The Albert Hall?
Yeah. I mean, we've been doing a lot of festivals. I did a winter festival one time in Tromso, Norway. That was inside. There was a little bit of daylight and it's like a singer-songwriter festival that I did up there. This will be the first, you know, proper traditional festival overseas.
Your festival calendar has just been insane. Are you ready for summer to end or are you on your never-ending summer at the minute?
I love fall. I'm a big American football fan. I'm a die-hard. Mountaineers start up next weekend. It's my favourite weather and my favourite sport is in full gear. I'm okay with the summer ending as I’m a big college football fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Then I like the Steelers as far as pro goes.
Welcome back to London.
Yeah, man, thank you.
You were here just a few months ago for Highways. Is it nice to come back so soon after?
Yeah, I'm enjoying it. When we were here at Royal Albert Hall, we rolled in that morning, and then we had to leave that night after the show to go to Manchester. My first time in London was really dipping in and out. I didn't get to see much or get a feel for the city at all. This time, we landed at Heathrow yesterday morning, so I got to hang out yesterday and walk around Kensington, which is really beautiful, and heard some opera music live for the first time. There's someone rehearsing up at some venue there in Kensington. We ate at a great restaurant, went for a run along the river this morning. So, this has been nice.
And then the sun is out this time too for you
I don't know if I bring it with me, but every time I'm in the UK, it's been sunny. I think I've experienced rain once out of a week and a half. Maybe I'm in good luck.
This time you're back for The Long Road Festival as the main highlight of your UK dates. Are you looking forward to now seeing a different side of our country scene with your debut being tough to beat at The Albert Hall?
Yeah. I mean, we've been doing a lot of festivals. I did a winter festival one time in Tromso, Norway. That was inside. There was a little bit of daylight and it's like a singer-songwriter festival that I did up there. This will be the first, you know, proper traditional festival overseas.
Your festival calendar has just been insane. Are you ready for summer to end or are you on your never-ending summer at the minute?
I love fall. I'm a big American football fan. I'm a die-hard. Mountaineers start up next weekend. It's my favourite weather and my favourite sport is in full gear. I'm okay with the summer ending as I’m a big college football fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Then I like the Steelers as far as pro goes.
Tonight, you get your first London headline date. Were you always looking to do more around than just the festival date while you’re here?
I don't know. I mean, it's just I wanted to start. I have a lot of people that listen to me overseas here and there's been so much work for me to do in the U.S. over the last handful of years that honestly, I just didn't have the time to come over here. I was too busy, you know, building what I built back home. Now I'm to the point where I'm recording the new album, I played every city there is to play in the U.S. last year supporting family ties. It made sense. Now is the time to start coming over here and start putting in the work and building and growing an audience and then also coming to the folks that have been listening to me for all these years and finally coming to perform for them.
At the same time, you get Cologne next week as well for the Sound of Nashville Open Air event. The German fans are going to be totally different to what you see in the States and even here as they are on a whole other level of being attentive.
Yeah, I've gotten a little taste of that. I did six weeks in Scandinavia in 2020 and they're very much like that too. They're like, when you're not used to it, you're wondering like, are people enjoying this? Then afterwards people come up and like, I loved it. I get really worried they didn't like it, then they come to me and tell me it's absolutely amazing and they can't wait for more. They're going to go stream. They're going to go listen. They're buying the merch. I know to expect that now. Some of my guys, though, they might be thrown off by it. There's only one way for them to figure out how to react to it and that is to do it. Think in their head that these folks might be hating this and then hear afterwards, oh, we love this! We stop again in Scandinavia this time round so I’m sure we will get some of that and we’re her for two weeks hitting a lot of festivals and stuff.
You've also got releases coming out at the minute with your Hometown Series on YouTube. Is it a bit strange releasing that while you're not in the States?
No, that was just something fun. That's my hometown theatre and we hadn't done most of those songs as a live session yet. It was just a fun way to spend an afternoon in April! You know what I mean? I like making, I like creating. I like creating nice things. I have a great team of people to shoot that, and I like making stuff. So yeah, it's fine being here as it doesn't matter where I am, as long as it's coming out and stuff, that makes me happy. People are watching it, and people are liking it as well which is great. I like making stuff and I think they turned out really nice. Those are 100% just live takes and up on the YouTube channel for folks to enjoy for years to come.
I don't know. I mean, it's just I wanted to start. I have a lot of people that listen to me overseas here and there's been so much work for me to do in the U.S. over the last handful of years that honestly, I just didn't have the time to come over here. I was too busy, you know, building what I built back home. Now I'm to the point where I'm recording the new album, I played every city there is to play in the U.S. last year supporting family ties. It made sense. Now is the time to start coming over here and start putting in the work and building and growing an audience and then also coming to the folks that have been listening to me for all these years and finally coming to perform for them.
At the same time, you get Cologne next week as well for the Sound of Nashville Open Air event. The German fans are going to be totally different to what you see in the States and even here as they are on a whole other level of being attentive.
Yeah, I've gotten a little taste of that. I did six weeks in Scandinavia in 2020 and they're very much like that too. They're like, when you're not used to it, you're wondering like, are people enjoying this? Then afterwards people come up and like, I loved it. I get really worried they didn't like it, then they come to me and tell me it's absolutely amazing and they can't wait for more. They're going to go stream. They're going to go listen. They're buying the merch. I know to expect that now. Some of my guys, though, they might be thrown off by it. There's only one way for them to figure out how to react to it and that is to do it. Think in their head that these folks might be hating this and then hear afterwards, oh, we love this! We stop again in Scandinavia this time round so I’m sure we will get some of that and we’re her for two weeks hitting a lot of festivals and stuff.
You've also got releases coming out at the minute with your Hometown Series on YouTube. Is it a bit strange releasing that while you're not in the States?
No, that was just something fun. That's my hometown theatre and we hadn't done most of those songs as a live session yet. It was just a fun way to spend an afternoon in April! You know what I mean? I like making, I like creating. I like creating nice things. I have a great team of people to shoot that, and I like making stuff. So yeah, it's fine being here as it doesn't matter where I am, as long as it's coming out and stuff, that makes me happy. People are watching it, and people are liking it as well which is great. I like making stuff and I think they turned out really nice. Those are 100% just live takes and up on the YouTube channel for folks to enjoy for years to come.
We’ve spoken about this summer you’re having, but I guess 2025 is that kind of year that you don't want to end as you’ve done so much.
I've been enjoying it, man. It's been a great year. The EP was a lot of fun to release, we’ve started work on the next album, which I'm so excited about. I'm biased, but I think I get better over time, and I think I've gotten better. I’ve been around other songwriters and the experience and life and all that, I think I've gotten better. I'm really, really proud of what that's going to be. I've got a live album that we just put the finishing touches on a couple weeks ago, so that'll be, I think, coming second half of this year and then obviously we’ve played some really fun festivals, shows and headline dates. It's been a nice year. We're actually doing 25 less shows than last year, which means I had more home time. I had my third child about a month and a half ago. 2025 has been a great year.
And you've still got Eric Church dates to come!
Yeah, we're going to get to open up for Eric Church and play a lot of those iconic NBA arenas out in the West Coast. We got to do a run with the Avett Brothers, who they're the reason why I picked up a guitar this year. It's been a good year. Everything since I released music for the first time has been a blessing. It's all been pretty unbelievable.
I've been enjoying it, man. It's been a great year. The EP was a lot of fun to release, we’ve started work on the next album, which I'm so excited about. I'm biased, but I think I get better over time, and I think I've gotten better. I’ve been around other songwriters and the experience and life and all that, I think I've gotten better. I'm really, really proud of what that's going to be. I've got a live album that we just put the finishing touches on a couple weeks ago, so that'll be, I think, coming second half of this year and then obviously we’ve played some really fun festivals, shows and headline dates. It's been a nice year. We're actually doing 25 less shows than last year, which means I had more home time. I had my third child about a month and a half ago. 2025 has been a great year.
And you've still got Eric Church dates to come!
Yeah, we're going to get to open up for Eric Church and play a lot of those iconic NBA arenas out in the West Coast. We got to do a run with the Avett Brothers, who they're the reason why I picked up a guitar this year. It's been a good year. Everything since I released music for the first time has been a blessing. It's all been pretty unbelievable.
Has it been important to take time between your last studio album and this next project?
I think that's quite important to take that time. I needed the time, too. It was July when I got two songs that'll be on the album. I needed all this time to work on it. I wrote all last year. The EP came from songs that I wrote last year, but they didn't fit with the album, which is where the EP came from. It's all just a journey and creating which makes me happy. That's the part that I really love, is the writing and the recording and putting together this project, this piece of art. It has a coherent theme that, you know, is whatever was on my heart for two to two-and-a-half years. That's something I really love. It's all good.
And then that grind of live shows as well.
Yeah! Next year will be a crazy year again because the album years are extra busy.
Is it important to you to try to fit in these London shows? There's been people queuing out front for several hours already!
I'm going to have to fit in. I'm going to have to do that because it's just gotten to the point where there's so many people over here that enjoy the music. There are people over here that have their first dance, and they walk down the aisle to it too. They sing it to their children when they're born. This is a place I've got to come to, and I really enjoy it. It's really pretty. I like this city. In the future, I'd like to carve out a week or two before or after when I tour over here and then bring my family here and have it be an opportunity for my family to travel and see the world. We're definitely going to be regulars; it's going to become a part of every album cycle that I come overseas and come over here and perform for folks. It's one of the perks of the job because I'm gone from home a lot. There are some downsides, I miss my kid. My oldest had his first day of school yesterday and I wasn’t there and that sucks but the nice thing is getting to see the world and then getting to share that with them as they get older. I can’t wait to tour and then maybe stay over here a little bit longer and stuff with the family and then they get to see it all too. That's the upside of doing this for a living. I want to take advantage of that. I don't want to just grind it out in the U.S. only. I want to enjoy the perks of getting to do this for a living and have my family see the world.
Right now, we're sat in the middle of Camden, so it's the perfect place in London for souvenirs as well to take back to them to make it up!
Yeah, there’s a lot of trinket shopping on that street. I'd never been to Camden before today. I knew it had to be somewhere in London, you know what I mean? Because I'd been to Kensington and then I was in Soho earlier today and I was like, man, this place is like, you know, where's the I heart London stuff, like, where's that? And then I was like, okay, it's in Camden! I found it, it's cool!
I think that's quite important to take that time. I needed the time, too. It was July when I got two songs that'll be on the album. I needed all this time to work on it. I wrote all last year. The EP came from songs that I wrote last year, but they didn't fit with the album, which is where the EP came from. It's all just a journey and creating which makes me happy. That's the part that I really love, is the writing and the recording and putting together this project, this piece of art. It has a coherent theme that, you know, is whatever was on my heart for two to two-and-a-half years. That's something I really love. It's all good.
And then that grind of live shows as well.
Yeah! Next year will be a crazy year again because the album years are extra busy.
Is it important to you to try to fit in these London shows? There's been people queuing out front for several hours already!
I'm going to have to fit in. I'm going to have to do that because it's just gotten to the point where there's so many people over here that enjoy the music. There are people over here that have their first dance, and they walk down the aisle to it too. They sing it to their children when they're born. This is a place I've got to come to, and I really enjoy it. It's really pretty. I like this city. In the future, I'd like to carve out a week or two before or after when I tour over here and then bring my family here and have it be an opportunity for my family to travel and see the world. We're definitely going to be regulars; it's going to become a part of every album cycle that I come overseas and come over here and perform for folks. It's one of the perks of the job because I'm gone from home a lot. There are some downsides, I miss my kid. My oldest had his first day of school yesterday and I wasn’t there and that sucks but the nice thing is getting to see the world and then getting to share that with them as they get older. I can’t wait to tour and then maybe stay over here a little bit longer and stuff with the family and then they get to see it all too. That's the upside of doing this for a living. I want to take advantage of that. I don't want to just grind it out in the U.S. only. I want to enjoy the perks of getting to do this for a living and have my family see the world.
Right now, we're sat in the middle of Camden, so it's the perfect place in London for souvenirs as well to take back to them to make it up!
Yeah, there’s a lot of trinket shopping on that street. I'd never been to Camden before today. I knew it had to be somewhere in London, you know what I mean? Because I'd been to Kensington and then I was in Soho earlier today and I was like, man, this place is like, you know, where's the I heart London stuff, like, where's that? And then I was like, okay, it's in Camden! I found it, it's cool!
Heading into tonight, you’re close to selling this place out. Is this going to be a thing in five, ten years' time to call out on the stage who was there at Electric Ballroom as you make your way up through the venue sizes?
Yeah, I mean, if I can remember faces that long and stuff! I would love to keep on coming back and just keep stepping up to the venues as the sizes grow and grow. It's going to be a hard one to beat Albert Hall though, I'm not going to lie. That's a beautiful room. But I think it's a 6,000 cap which I do that in places over in the US. I think that's certainly attainable someday to come back here and us play a headline tour.
Well, we're glad you want to keep coming back because people here clearly keep having you.
Yeah, it's really cool, man. I like this city, I do.
Thank you so much for taking the time before the show and enjoy tonight.
Yeah, thank you, appreciate it.
CONNECT WITH CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | X | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
The Long Road Festival takes place at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire over the weekend of August 22nd to 24th where you can find ticket details and further information on their WEBSITE and you can be the first to know all updates ahead of the event by checking out their socials on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
Sound of Nashville Open Air will be happening over the same weekend (August 22nd to 24th) for our German friends at the Freideck Kantine in the beautiful city of Köln which will see Charles headlining on Sunday 24th August. Full details are available on the Sound of Nashville WEBSITE and you can also learn more about the event on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
Yeah, I mean, if I can remember faces that long and stuff! I would love to keep on coming back and just keep stepping up to the venues as the sizes grow and grow. It's going to be a hard one to beat Albert Hall though, I'm not going to lie. That's a beautiful room. But I think it's a 6,000 cap which I do that in places over in the US. I think that's certainly attainable someday to come back here and us play a headline tour.
Well, we're glad you want to keep coming back because people here clearly keep having you.
Yeah, it's really cool, man. I like this city, I do.
Thank you so much for taking the time before the show and enjoy tonight.
Yeah, thank you, appreciate it.
CONNECT WITH CHARLES WESLEY GODWIN
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | X | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
The Long Road Festival takes place at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire over the weekend of August 22nd to 24th where you can find ticket details and further information on their WEBSITE and you can be the first to know all updates ahead of the event by checking out their socials on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
Sound of Nashville Open Air will be happening over the same weekend (August 22nd to 24th) for our German friends at the Freideck Kantine in the beautiful city of Köln which will see Charles headlining on Sunday 24th August. Full details are available on the Sound of Nashville WEBSITE and you can also learn more about the event on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
