Four days of world-class fingerstyle instruction, hands-on workshops and intimate evening concerts in the stunning Tennessee autumn during peak fall colors.
Limited Availability. ONLY 20 SPOTS LEFT
Join artists & learners for a life enriching guitar retreat in the beautiful Tennessee autumn with Fingerstyle masters Thomas Leeb, Walter Rodrigues Jr. & Bill Cooley.
Special Guest Artists
Thomas Leeb
Austrian Fingerstyle Artist
Walter Rodrigues Jr.
Brazilian Fingerstyle Jazz & Arranging
Matt Thomas
Fingerstyle Guitar Champion
"The retreat was a perfect fit for me - it is one of the best experiences I've had in years."
- Dave W., Asheville, North Carolina
SPECIAL GUEST ARTISTS
Thomas Leeb
“What Thomas does on an acoustic guitar probably shouldn’t be legal.” - Guthrie Govan
Thomas Leeb played his first solo concert at the age of fifteen releasing his first acoustic guitar album at seventeen. He's a frequent performer at concerts and festivals in Asia, the Americas, and Europe, and has been featured in numerous guitar magazines around the world. His album, Desert Pirate, was voted one of the essential albums of the last 20 years by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
His peculiar guitar style owes as much to percussive techniques as traditional fingerstyle guitar - all with a sense of time and groove - earning him a loyal worldwide following.
Walter Rodrigues Jr.
...some of the most sensitive and sophisticated solo guitar arranging on the scene today. Brilliant playing and musicianship.
Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Walter Rodrigues Jr. was born into music. Fascinated by the sounds of Joe Pass, Walter soon started to work on his own Jazz fingerstyle arrangements. Settling in Miami, Walter worked with many notable musicians, including world renowned Arturo Sandoval. He's been featured in Fingerstyle360, JazzReview.com, FingerstyleGuitarists.com and Just Jazz Guitar magazine and is also a regular contributor of the Fingerstyle Guitar Journal.
Walter has become a highly respected solo Jazz guitarist on YouTube, with over 35 million views. His channel has become a worldwide reference for solo Jazz guitar.
Matt Thomas
International Fingerstyle Collective Guitar Champ
A master of the acoustic guitar, Matt Thomas brings technical wizardry as well as a vibrant and poetic music making experience. This has made him one of the most distinctive fingerstyle guitarists performing in the acoustic guitar arena today.
Matt won 1st place at the International Fingerstyle Collective Competition and 3rd place at the Walnut Valley International Fingerstyle Competition in Winfield Kansas. He has also been inducted into the Thumbpickers Hall-of-Fame.
Ron Block
Grammy Winning Guitarist for Allison Krauss & Union Station
14 Grammy Awards - 6 IBMA Bluegrass Awards - CMA Song of the Year. There is hardly an area of acoustic guitar playing that Ron Block hasn't done during his amazing career.
Ron has been the guitarist and banjo player for Allison Krauss & Union Station for over 20 years. He has toured the world and recorded on some of the most legendary Bluegrass recordings of this generation - including the iconic soundtrack to "O, Brother, Where Art Thou."
Along with Allison Krauss, Ron has recorded/performed with Dolly Parton, Clint Black, Brad Paisley, Bill Frisell and countless others. Learn more HERE.
Bill Cooley
"...so beautiful. Make that honest. No wait, powerful…..this is magnificent music-draws me right in." - Premiere Guitar Magazine
Bill Cooley has had a 40 year career as a working professional. Originally from Santa Barbara, CA, he moved to Nashville in 1985. A dozen years later he was called “one of Nashville’s most respected sidemen” by Guitar Player Magazine. He has toured and recorded with Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson and Hal Ketchum, in addition to Kathy. As a songwriter, he’s had cuts by Kathy and Reba, among others. As an arranger, Bill has played an important role on Kathy’s albums, including the last two, “Coal” and “Calling Me Home” where Kathy explored her Appalachian heritage.
Steve Krenz - Conference Host
Nashville guitarist, Steve Krenz has played guitar with numerous Grammy winning artists live and in the studio. A sought after guitar educator and speaker, Steve’s top-selling guitar instruction course, Gibson's Learn & Master Guitar won the Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Award for Best Guitar Instructional Material.
Steve has helped countless thousands of guitarists in almost every country in the world learn how to be a better musician through easy to understand, no-nonsense guitar instruction.
Steve is the founder of GuitarGathering.com which serves 35000+ YouTube subscribers and over 4 million views with guitar training and live streaming lessons.
Info & Lodging
All Meals & Lodging Included with Registration!
Location
All events, meals, and lodging will be at the beautiful Deer Run Retreat in the Lodge. Directions, photos and more can be found at the link below.
Lodging
Lodging will be in 8 beautiful lodge-style rooms with a total of 25 beds. There are two rooms that can accommodate a married couple.
You will be bunking up with new guitar friends in a variety of beds and bunk beds in very comfortable rooms. Each room with private bath and WiFi.
Unfortunately, there are no private rooms available.
If you have a preference on who you would like to room with, just let us know and we'll try to accommodate.
If you would prefer lodging off-site, our retreat hotel partner is the Holiday Inn Express - Spring Hill. A short 10 minute drive from the retreat. You are responsible for acquiring your own reservation.
There is no discount if you choose to room off-site.
Meals
Full breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks included with registration. Breakfasts are full, hot breakfasts with items such as eggs, sausage, bacon, fruit, french toast, coffee, juices. Lunches and dinners may include items such as lasagna, brisket, burgers, BBQ chicken. Delicious desserts to possibly include cheesecake, chocolate cake, fruit.
Gluten free menu options available - just let us know when you register.
Daily Schedule
Thursday October 26th
3:00pm Check In / Registration
4:00pm Welcome with Steve Krenz
5:00pm Group Fingerstyle Lesson
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Student Performances
7:30pm Evening Concert with Walter Rodrigues Jr.
Friday October 27th
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Morning Guitar Workout with Steve Krenz
10:30am Walter Rodrigues Jr Guitar Masterclass
Noon Lunch
1:00pm Workshops
2:00pm Workshops
3:00pm Guest Artist Masterclass
4:00pm Free Time / Jam Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Student Performances
7:30pm Evening Concert with Thomas Leeb
Saturday October 28th
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Morning Guitar Workout with Steve Krenz
10:00am Guitar Masterclass with Thomas Leeb
Noon Lunch
1:00pm Workshops
2:00pm Workshops
3:00pm Guest Artist Masterclass with Bill Cooley
4:00pm Free Time / Jam Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Student Performances
7:30pm Evening Concert with Matt Thomas
Sunday Oct 30th
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Masterclass with Matt Thomas
10:30am Pack & Check Out
Registration
Pricing
Registration includes admission to the retreat, all workshops and concerts, 3 nights/4 days beautiful accommodation and all meals.
- Early Registration: $1095 (Before September 4th)
- Registration $1195 (After September 4th)
Registration does not include:
- Personal Guitar Setups with Greg Voros. Prices are per instrument. $60/Acoustic $55/Electric (New set of strings included with each setup.)
With limited spaces available for this retreat, spaces are on a first come - first served basis.
Cancellation Policy
All Purchases are Final and Non-Refundable.
However, if cancelled before dates below, funds can be credited to a future Guitar Gathering conference or Fall Fingerstyle Retreat registration.
Before July 1st: Full Credit of Funds to Future Event
Before August 1st: 75% Credit of Funds to Future Event
Before September 1st: 50% Credit of Funds to Future Event
After September 1st: No Credit of Funds to Future Event
Got a Question?
Have a question or concern? Contact us at [email protected] with any questions you might have.
"Everyone felt like family...a wonderful group and setting...presented very well a totally new dimension to fingerstyle guitar...and what it takes to get there. In short everything was an incredible experience."
“This has to be the highlight of my guitar journey so far. I’ve never played outside of my house. It was a great experience to just be around other guitar players."
Event Sponsors
