Local musician Jack Godwin releases two Naramata videos detailing the community’s history and development in celebration of BC day

A songwriter is using his skills to tell Naramata’s history with two music videos brought out in celebration of British Columbia Day. 

The multi-year musical effort was started by Jack Godwin, who’s also known for his historical songwriting with The Brakemen. 

“It’s very much a project by the locals for the locals and if anybody else likes it, that’s fine. But calling it V0H 1N0 is a way of showing that it’s meant for Naramatians,” Godwin said.

“I wanted to have a song that talked about the community development, and it was during the lockdown that I thought I need to complete this.”

The Kettle Valley Brakemen is a folk/bluegrass band that Godwin started, the group uses songs to tell railway history, with special emphasis on the Kettle Valley Railway.

The band has been playing across southern BC for over 25 years. But Godwin decided to switch focus from train history into the history of his home.

“What I did was take the two songs and record them using local musicians, and put that out there for this community.”

His first song, Naramata’s call, details the history and origins of the area from the founder, JM Robinson’s perspective. Godwin wanted to share the history without the “mist of nostalgic memories” and look at it the “way it really was.” 

“The goal is to tell the story of our community to the people in our community.”

The second song, Naramta I’m coming home, started with Godwin thinking about coming home to Naramata after being on a road trip. After getting the ideas together, he also focused on the Naramata of today. The song has also become a traditional serenade at Naramata’s annual Farm Workers Dinner, with the volunteers leading and the pickers joining in. 

“I live in this community, I chose to live in Naramata and I wanted to celebrate this community in a way.”

To view the videos, visit: www.brakemanjack.ca and click on the Naramata Project.