Centrum Stories | Fiddle Tunes | Brandon Godman

For Brandon Godman, Fiddle Tunes is a rare convergence of craft, community, and sound. As both a luthier and a fiddler, he spends the week moving between jam circles and repair benches — adjusting bridges, fixing soundposts, and helping musicians unlock the fullest voice of their instruments. At the same time, he dives into the music himself, sharing tunes, learning new ones, and becoming part of the rhythm that animates Fort Worden all week long.

“What is really special about Fiddle Tunes is #1 it’s a celebration of the fiddle — you kind of pick your adventure, and there are many adventures to have that don’t even appear on the surface.” — Brandon Godman

Founder of The Fiddle Mercantile in San Francisco, Brandon brings decades of experience in violin repair, restoration, and performance to the Fiddle Tunes community. During the festival, he becomes a vital presence: the person players seek out when their instrument needs care, and a fellow musician when the evening jams spill into hallways, stairwells, and porches.

This is one story from Centrum Stories: Connected by Community — a video series sharing the voices and journeys of Centrum artists and participants.

FEATURING:
Brandon Godman, Patrick McGonigle, Kendl Winter, Jere Canote, Chris Cooper, Greg Canote, Kevin Wimmer, Cameron Fontenot, Rhys Jones, Nokosee Fields, Riley Calcagno, Nandi Forrest, Emily Mann

MUSIC BY:
"The Appalachian Trail" by Hunter Quinn, "The Rose Waltz" by the Foghorn String Band

PRODUCED BY:
Poetic Future

LEARN MORE:
centrum.org

ABOUT FIDDLE TUNES:
Sunday, June 28 – Sunday, July 5, 2026
Founded in 1977 as the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, this weeklong immersive workshop celebrates fiddle traditions from around the world. Participants learn directly from master musicians, discover cultural roots through music, and build lifelong relationships within a vibrant global community.

Workshops, band labs, classes, dances, concerts, open jams, hat parties, gumbo nights — every moment contributes to the experience. While the fiddle is at the heart of it all, instruction spans banjo, guitar, mandolin, accordion, piano, bass, clogging, and more. It is a place where every hallway hums, every door opens to a new sound, and every participant finds their own musical adventure.

ABOUT CENTRUM:
Centrum nurtures creativity and builds connection through the arts. For more than 50 years, we’ve brought artists, learners, and audiences together at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington. Through workshops, residencies, and performances, Centrum fosters experiences that change lives and strengthen community. 501(c)(3) nonprofit | Tax ID: 23-7348302

ABOUT THE SERIES:
Centrum Stories: Connected by Community is a short film series produced by Poetic Future, capturing the heart of Centrum’s workshops through authentic, human-centered storytelling. Each episode follows one artist’s journey of learning, creating, and connecting in a community where art and inspiration thrive.