The Sons of the Never Wrong Weekend Retreat returns! This time they are joined by Honorary Son, Jonas Friddle. Come spend a weekend with the Midwest’s beloved folk and friends. Indulge in workshops ranging from songwriting and harmony to recording and creativity inspiration, all in the natural beauty of the White Oak Savanna. There will be performance opportunities, concerts and a chance to scratch your artistic itches in a supportive and restorative environment. Open to both seasoned musicians, newbies and even non musicians who simply want to explore and demystify the creative process. Camp on-sight or find a local B&B or hotel. Dinner will be provided on Friday night, lunch and dinner on Saturday and a Sunday brunch.
Price: $375
-
Please note this is subject to change.
MEALS;
Friday Dinner - Spaghetti Dinner with Side SaladSaturday Continental Breakfast
Saturday Lunch - Soup and Salad with Grilled Cheese
Saturday Dinner - Grilled Chicken/Tofu, Kimchi Collard Greens, Bread, Rice and Peas
Sunday Continental Breakfast
Sunday Brunch - Bacon, Eggs, Fruit, Pancakes, Breakfast Potatoes
(This is our working schedule, there may be a few edits before the retreat starts).
FRIDAY MAY 30
4- 6pm Dinner meet ‘n greet
Get to know your new songwriting tribe.
6-7:30pm Star Talk
Dr. Luke Leisman helps us starts the weekend with inspiration from the stars. Bring your notebooks to gather ideas for the work ahead.
7:45-9:30pm Starting Songs with Art & Science w/Deb & Sue
Work with Deb to create a artwork inspired by Luke’s talk. These pieces will then be tied to Sue’s writing prompts from her class “LIGHTNESS” using science writings & Luke’s talk, to create a 4 line verse for a new song.
9:30-11pm Feedback Open Mic
Sons start off the night with 1 song, then Jonas shares a song, then Sons invite you to play the main stage: sign up, tune up, bring a song to stage for loving feedback.
SATURDAY May 31
7am - Continental Breakfast
7:30am-9am (Early Bird Session) Improvisation for Singer Songwriters with Sue.
Free up your lyric, melody, performing options, & writing with simple in-class exercises. Using Sue’s wildly popular 11 point improv checklist, you dive into vocalise, jump writing, and expansive performing in this interactive class.
9-11am Intro to Banjo for Guitar Players
Add a new instrument to your arsenal! Jonas will take you through the basics of transferring your guitar skills to the banjo. 4, 30 min sessions will be offered during this time. Each session will accommodate 4 students. Sign up for a time slot by the coffee station.
10 – 11:30am Idea Book Making with Deb
Deb will guide folks through the process of building their own mini song-zine from a single sheet of paper. Participants can personalize and decorate their “books” with beautiful cover papers and upcycled collage materials that can then inspire written ideas, poems and songs. All materials will be provided, but feel free to bring along your own special photos or other flat, glue-able imagery to include.
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch
12:30 – 1:45 Songwriting Through the Backdoor
A Sons songwriting workshop, and an intriguing peek into 3 different songwriting constructs. Starting out the class with a mini-live performance of 3 songs, each writer steps to the fore to offer up specifics, insight, and notes for their own craft. Stories are shared, song outlines are revealed. A mini in-class writing prompt to close.
2:00 - 3:15pm Three Notebooks
Jonas Friddle breaks down his method for generating consistent content from any source. In addition to breaking down the Three Notebooks method, we will apply it to lessons learned from Friday night’s astronomy lesson.
3:30 – 4:15pm Home Recording & Sound Q&A with Bruce
Have a fun discussion with Bruce about home vs. studio recording. Bring questions about your work and how to proceed with a new album. Talk tech, equipment, editing and performance techniques
3:30 – 4:15pm One on One Spots
Sign up with any staff member for a 15 minute one-on-one consultation. Bruce, Deb, Sue, or Jonas will sit with you and address your personal, creative queries.
4:15 – 5:30pm Everything is Music
Sue’s new listening, creating, workshop turning Cage’s 4’3” into a mini, performance-art experience.
6-7 Dinner time
7-8:15pm Harmony Through the Backdoor
Known for their soaring, original harmonies, Sons offer this unique harmony workshop. They start out by sharing a song, breaking it down, and teaching the class their tips & tricks. Sons demystify the harmony building process and invite students to try the ideas on for size. Some principles discussed in-class will be song-building, breaking tradition, common-notes, and arranging. Q & A to follow.
8:30-10pm Feedback Open Mic
Sons start with 1 song, then Jonas does 1 song and & then ALL are invites to play the main stage where you will; sign up, tune up, bring a song to stage for loving feedback.
10 -11pm Night Sky Walk and Talk with Luke
Wrap the day looking at the stars.
SUNDAY JUNE 1
7 am Continental Breakfast
7:30-8:30am (Early Bird Session) Dynamics for your Singing & Writing Voice w/Sue
Schooled in jazz & mentored by Corky Siegel, Sue will share ideas & expand your dynamic choices as a performer & a writer through a series of in class prompts using your own work or covers! Each attendee will perform anew using one of the dynamic principles to close the class.
8:30-10am The Art of the Jam
Jonas leads an example jam to demonstrate the core elements that make any social music gathering a success.
10 - 10:45am One on One Spots
Sign up with any staff member for a 15min one on one consultation
10 – 11:00 Guitar Maintenance
Bruce shows us how to care for our instrument.
11:30 – 1pm Lunch & Feedback Open Mic
Time to share what you wrote for feedback. We all eat lunch while listening & performing at open mic.
1:30 – 2:45pm Staff Concert - gather in the barn and enjoy a concert from Jonas & Sons.
