The Guitar Social

18/08/2026

Here’s some footage from the Guitar Social Olympics on the final day of our guitar retreat in France. As all athletes do, we opened up the games with Champagne. Then, full of French vigour, we set about eight games, including archery, catch the ball in the cup, and a game we will hopefully see in the 2028 Olympics: water fight.
Played against the clock, there could only be one winning team. The second video reveals who that team is.
You might be thinking, what has any of this got to do with guitar? The answer is nothing.

15/08/2026

One of my favourite parts of the day on a Guitar Social retreat is when people take themselves away to do some practice ahead of the evening’s music. At this point, there’s usually the smell of dinner in the air, and a sense of excitement as many get ready to share a song once we have eaten. If I ever retire, if I get good and old, it’s moments like this that I will remember most fondly.

14/08/2026

As far as locations to do a workshop in, this wasn't a bad one at all. Late in the day, while the sun sets, dinner cooking in the castle, and a mini workshop on open tuning.
We are playing Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan. The tuning is EBEG . The second video is a run-through, which I'll be posting in our attendees' WhatsApp group so they can practise this gorgeous song.
Why don't you give it a try?

13/08/2026

We are on day two of our retreat in France and having the best time. I’m here with my sister, Rachel — a Guitar Social retreat veteran here to help out — and 12 other très cool people. Rachael and I got to France a day early to set up the castle, and we stayed in a beautiful place with a pool up in the mountains. The next day it was to the supermarché to buy food and drinks for 14 people for five days and then to the most stunning castle, readying ourselves to meet our guests with drinks and food.
Yesterday we watched the eclipse, did some workshops, then played music into the night underneath a barrage of shooting stars. This morning we walked into the forest at 8am and as I write this, I’m about one hour from starting the afternoon’s music.
Having a great time and of course, I wish you were here.

🇫🇷

12/08/2026

07/08/2026

A few weeks ago we celebrated the end of the summer term by inviting over 100 people that had done courses with us on stage to play live with our in-house backing band. These are the photos I managed to take. Sorry to the musicians I missed; your performances, though not caught on camera, will go down in legend.
Many people were playing live for the first time in front of a big crowd. It takes oceans of courage to do that, and I'm proud of everyone that struck a chord, picked a string or sang a note.
I'm now doing Guitar Social retreats until the autumn term starts in September. I'd love to see you there.

21/07/2026

The Guitar Social open mic is back every Thursday...just not this Thursday. It was so fun to invite some people down for our return. See more of yoy NEXT Thursday

25-27 Curtain Road, Shireditch