Saturday Evening Headliner: The Good Family

Posted on April 7, 2016

The idea of forming The Good Family band took root when a pair of musician brothers invited their parents to join them on a musical romp throughout Scotland, England and Wales. At some venues they were described as Canada’s answer to the legendary Carter Family. Since then, the band has blossomed to include even more of this talented lineage.

No strangers to the stage and studio, some members of The Good family hail from two of Canada’s premier acts. Bruce and Larry Good are two-thirds of Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees and multiple Juno Award recipients The Good Brothers. Travis and Dallas Good are members of Juno and Indie award winning band The Sadies.

Rounding out the family is Margaret Good, wife of Bruce and mother of Travis and Dallas. Margaret is also a veteran performer who appears on several recordings by both The Sadies and The Good Brothers. She also sang on Ronnie Prophets’ “Grand Old Country” which aired on CTV for two seasons, backing such artists as Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Mel Tillis and Dolly Parton to name just a few.

The Good Family talent pool does not end there, with niece and cousin D’Arcy Good adding yet another dimension with her amazing fiddle and outstanding vocals.

And just when you think it can’t get any better, Sean Dean and Mike Belitsky of The Sadies provide a killer rhythm section.

The Good Family’s debut album consists of country ballads, bluegrass, and folk rock all written and performed by the family. Two of the songs are co-writes with Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo. A guest musician who makes an appearance on the album is their close friend, the late great guitarist Terry Clements of Gordon Lightfoot fame, who recorded his part way back in 1978. How this was achieved is an interesting story in itself. The album was mixed by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies.

It is said that sibling and family harmonies are unique, and The Good Family drives that point home. They play an eclectic mix of music featuring acoustic and electric guitars along with banjo, autoharp, dobro, fiddle, mandolin and rhythms that will keep you grooving and shouting for more.