October 2025 – Blues Jam Retreat

17/10/2025 – 19/10/2025

 12pm Friday – 12pm Sunday

We welcome back Master blues man Adam Franklin, for another course of essential blues. This three day two night retreat is subtitled ‘Inside The Blues’’ as Adam will be giving us the ‘inside secrets’ for playing authentic sounding blues chords; licks, riffs and runs.  Brush up on the language of blues and pick up tips on how to jam with other players, in any key. This event is for anyone interested in improving their knowledge and skills in acoustic blues playing, but it’s also transferable to electric guitar players. From relative novices to experienced blues players this course has something for everyone to get involved in. So come join in the jam and lift some new licks to add to your lick library! 

Over the course of the retreat participants will learn to play blues chord progressions in different keys, moving on to learn how they can be used effectively in duo, trio and group performances.  

Techniques we will be looking at will include;

Playing rhythm back up and keeping good time.

Bending notes (which ones and when to use them)

Creating a good fill/lick

Open’ tunings

Using a capo when playing with others.

Adapting learnt skills for playing in different keys 

The retreat is open to all abilities. Those new to a blues jam situation will be well catered for but there is plenty of scope for beginners, intermediate and advanced players to get involved and learn something new. Some experience of finger style playing would be an advantage but not essential.  

Our tutor is the one and only Adam Franklin , simply one of the best acoustic blues players in the UK. Follow the link to his website to learn more about Adam and listen to his recorded output. 

The venue and location is the lovely Chiseldon House in Wiltshire, on the edge of the Cotswolds close to Oxford. Easily reachable from anywhere in the UK by road or rail.