American Roots: Folk, Americana & Acoustic Guitar Retreat 2026
taught by Chris Quinn
NOW ON SALE!
Sunday 21st - Friday 26th June
Listen to some of our great testimonials below!
Five days immersed in the heart of American acoustic guitar
Join a group of like-minded guitarists for an inspiring five-night retreat exploring the sounds, styles, and techniques of folk, Americana, bluegrass, and old-time guitar.
Inspired by artists such as John Prine, Gillian Welch, Townes Van Zandt, Nanci Griffith, Tom Paxton, Doc Watson, Tony Rice and Molly Tuttle, this retreat is about understanding how this music works — and learning to play it with confidence, feel, and authenticity.
The Folk and Americana 2026 course promises to be a warm, welcoming retreat for confident beginners through to more advanced players. No pressure. No judgement. Just great music, great company, and five days of focused learning, playing, and shared musical experience.
🎸 Limited to just 12 players | 5 nights | Daily workshops, evening jams & final student concert
What’s included in the week
🎸Daily workshops covering Americana, folk, bluegrass & old-time guitar
🎸Flatpicking fundamentals and acoustic lead techniques
🎸Fingerstyle playing, including Travis picking and folk patterns
🎸Strong rhythm guitar and groove for solo and group playing
🎸Learning techniques through songs — not abstract exercises
🎸Evening jams in a relaxed, friendly environment
🎸A final student concert to celebrate the week
🎸A small, intimate group (maximum 12 players)
🎸A welcoming, no-ego atmosphere focused on enjoyment and growth
Roots Music Retreats courses are carefully designed to be relaxed, inclusive, inspiring and most importantly suitable for all levels of musician, from novice to advanced.
You'll receive exclusive access to online video tutorials with videos covering some of the main lessons taught on the retreat. So you won't forget any of the juicy stuff and can practice and continue learning when you get home.
National Press Reviews of teacher Chris Quinn:
BBBC Radio 2 Folk Show
"Fantastic!"
Guitarist Magazine
"Acoustic Mastery..."
Learn the language of Americana guitar
Folk and Americana guitar is more than a collection of songs — it’s a set of techniques, rhythms, and musical traditions that carry across countless styles and tunes. During this retreat, you’ll explore the building blocks that underpin American acoustic music, from old-time and bluegrass to more modern singer-songwriter traditions.
Everything is taught in a practical, musical way, using real songs as vehicles for learning techniques you can use again and again.
Technique taught through music (not exercises)
Each day features a series of structured workshops covering flatpicking, bluegrass and old-time rhythm, fingerstyle approaches including Travis picking, and the essentials of strong Americana style accompaniment.
Rather than just learning songs for their own sake, you’ll learn why they work — and how the techniques behind them apply to many others. This keeps the experience fun, musical, and deeply useful long after the retreat ends.
A supportive, immersive week — and skills that last
Roots Music Retreats attract a genuine mix of amateur players: some who sing, some who don’t; some who’ve never played with others before, and others who attend folk sessions regularly. The mix works beautifully. You’ll play every day, jam every evening, and finish the week with a relaxed student concert — entirely supportive and optional. You’ll leave focused and with a stronger rhythm, better fingerstyle control, a clearer understanding of Americana guitar, and a personal toolkit you can keep developing for months and years to come.
American Roots Retreat Schedule
(Exact 2026 schedules TBC but will be very similar!)
Sunday (hotel check in from 3pm)
4:45 pm - 5:30 pm Welcome drinks reception in the hotel bar
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Welcome group seminar / Workshop 1
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Dinner in the hotel restaurant
8:30 pm - 10:30pm Relaxed acoustic jam in hotel bar
Monday
7:00 am - 10:00 am Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Workshop 2
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Buffet lunch for all students
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Workshop 3
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm River walk through the quarry park with Chris!
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Dinner in the hotel restaurant
8:30 pm - 10:30pm Relaxed acoustic jam session in local pub, 2 min walk from the hotel
Tuesday
7:00 am - 10:00 am Breakfast in the Hotel restaurant
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Workshop 4
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Q&A with local Luthier JWJ
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Buffet lunch for all students
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Workshop 5
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Dinner in the hotel restaurant
8:30 pm - 10:30 pm Acoustic jam in the hotel bar
Wednesday
7:00 am - 10:00 am Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Workshop 6
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Buffet lunch for all students
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Workshop 7
7:45 pm - 9:00 pm Group curry at Cafe Safron, Hills Lane (additional cost)
Thursday
7:00 am - 10:00 am Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
10:30 am - 12:30 pm Workshop 8 "Pulling it all together / performance preparation
12:30 pm - 1:15 pm Buffet lunch for all students
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Rehearsals / performance preparation
3:30 pm - 4:45 pm Full concert rehearsal
5:45 pm - 7:00 pm Dinner in the hotel restaurant
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm Live concert in St Alkmund's Church
9:00 pm onwards - Celebratory jam in the hotel bar
Friday
7:30 am - 11:00 am Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
11:00am - Hotel check out
Goodbye's.. SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!
* ALL FOOD & ACCOMMODATION INCLUDED IN RETREAT PRICE
ONLY EXTRA COST IS THE BLUES RETREAT CURRY.
Acoustic Masterclass
Want to start learning with Chris today?
Visit AcousticMasterclass.com, the online guitar academy and global community of students learning all things Blues, Folk and Roots guitar! CLICK HERE
Chris at Kings Place London pre performance at the IGF London Guitar Festival
Chris with Martin Taylor
Chris with Andy Fairweather Low
(Eric Clapton's musical director)
