May 2026 – Country Guitar Retreat
08/05/2026 – 10/05/2026
12pm Friday – 12pm Sunday
We are excited to be running a Country themed guitar retreat. This three day, two night retreat is an homage to the great guitar players of country music including Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Merle Travis, James Burton, Johnny Cash and Luther Perkins, Maybelle Carter, Steve Earle, John Prine, Dwight Yoakam, Nanci Griffiths and many more (not forgetting Dolly!). Our new tutor Ashley Harding lives and breathes this music and his playing style is immersed in all strands of country and Americana music, both vintage and modern. Digging deep into his vast knowledge and skills, Ash will share the inside secrets for playing authentic sounding country chords, licks, riffs and runs.
This course is designed to bridge technique, theory, and real-world playing — helping you build a strong musical vocabulary and the confidence to move freely around the neck.
By blending rhythm, lead, and fretboard understanding, you’ll develop the tools to play authentically in Country and Americana styles and apply those skills across any genre.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This event is for anyone interested in improving their knowledge and skills of this important genre in both acoustic and/or electric playing. However all skills are transferable. The retreat is open to all abilities (except complete beginners). You will need to know your first position chord shapes at a minimum. Some experience of finger style playing would be an advantage but not essential. From relative novices to experienced players this course has something for everyone to get involved in.
Our tutor Ashley Harding, is one of the finest guitar players and singer songwriters on the UK Country Scene. Follow the link to listen to his brilliant albums on Spotify.
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, rail or bus.