Artie Godden

I perform for living and work consistently in music, theatre and live performance. I've sung across the UK, on remote islands in the Atlantic and romantic bars in Paris. Upon moving to London in January, I was one of the few selected performers to be awarded a busking license through audition with the Southbank Centre, the UK's largest arts centre. This allows me to perform daily to thousands of visitors by the River Thames, underneath the London Eye. My first instrument was the 'Cello (Grade 8 ABRSM) which I began learning when I was 7 or 8 years old. I played in classical orchestras for many years and learnt muscial theory (Grade 5 ABRSM). I began teaching myself guitar as a teenager and have busked regularly in the cities I've visited since then. I have since gone on to teach myself Banjo, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, and Harmonica. I was taught to sing at a young age by a choral director from the Hereford Cathedral, and spent years in choirs, bands and muscial theatre. As a composer and singer-songwriter, I release songs under the musical alias 'King Uther's Sons', and I am constantly re-inspired by musical legends such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Glen Hansard. However, my style often lends itself to more contemporary artists such as Newton Faulkner, Paolo Nutini and Damien Rice. Because of this mixture of skills, I am often employed for my musical ability, as well as my acting, in the theatre jobs I pursue. I have toured my own shows across the UK and performed in many different settings from the street, to the largest theatres in country. I have a degree in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Bristol, and have an excellent understanding of how events and performances are designed, created and managed. I bring this mindset when curating a musical set for your events, acutley aware of the amount of work that goes in to making sure your guests are happy, and everything is "just right." This aside, my main focus in playing at your event is to bring soul, skill, and passion. What the Spanish call, "El Duende". For those special days we want to remember and feel - music is often the key.