THE KNOYDART RETREAT has just launched a series of creative retreats in Knoydart, Scotland for Songwriters, Photographers & Painters. They launch with three Songwriting retreats in April, Jun and Oct 2020 with Photography and Painting opening in 2021.
Knoydart (aka Scotland’s last great wilderness) is the glorious peninsula on Scotland’s west coast and this extraordinary location was chosen for a reason. From the moment you step onto the peninsula you enter a treasured environment. Cut off from the mainland and only accessible by boat or a two-day hike, where better to unlock creativity.
The retreats are aimed at songwriters of a certain level and not towards beginners. Each retreat will be mentored by Writers in Residence, who are multi-platinum selling, award-winning, internationally recognised
songwriters and producers. Throughout the retreats, the Writers in Residence will share their experiences and approaches to their own songwriting and help to create the environment that will guide, encourage and challenge the writers to dig deeper into their writing abilities. The dates and Writers in Residence are:
Mon 27th Apr – Fri 1st May
NICK SOUTHWOOD (Adam Levine’s Lost Stars, Beyonce, The Wanted)
Mon 15th Jun – Fri 19th Jun
JON BODEN (Bellowhead, The Remnant Kings, legend of Folk & Traditional)
Mon 5th Oct – Fri 9th Oct
SHELLY POOLE (Paloma Faith, Janet Jackson, Jack Savoretti, Mark Ronson) & PAUL STATHAM (Dido, Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia)
Co-Founders Duncan Lewis & Janey de Nordwall come with a strong pedigree and passion for developing talent within the music and film industries.
Photo by Bobby Rogers for Walker Art Center, Minneapolis.
BAFTA winning producer Janey de Nordwall explained, “The aim of our immersive five-day retreats is to take creatives away from life’s distractions and to offer an environment that allows them to fully immerse themselves in their art by working closely with award-winning mentors throughout.”
Focussing on the Songwriting retreats, Duncan Lewis, who has 30 years in the music industry added, “Whatever their reason for attending, whether someone is seeking new inspiration, needing to reconnect with their own
songwriting, looking to collaborate or wants guidance to help break through a creative block, then our retreats will help to immerse them back into the art and craft of songwriting.”
Each attendee is offered the opportunity to have a one-to-one session with the Writer in Residence to talk in depth about their own song writing, any creative struggles they may be experiencing and to receive advice and
constructive critique. Those needing professional career advice will also be able to have a one-to-one with Duncan Lewis.
On the final night, an End of Retreat concert is hosted where the Writer in Residence and the attendees will perform their favourite songs that they have written during the week to a live audience.
Then add to the mix great food, conversation, adventure, BBQ’s on the beach, guitars and whisky by the fire, new friendships, laughter, walking in the hills, star gazing, the chance to see the Northern Lights, spectacular sunrises and sunsets and rainbows like you’ve never seen… this really will be an inspirational week in the wilderness for all.
Places at the retreats are limited to a maximum of 11 people and all attendees stay together in a big, fully catered house on the shores of Loch Nevis (meaning Heaven).
Registration and bookings now open via www.theknoydartretreat.com.
He discovered the gem when he was 12 years old and still has it now, claiming it to be why he fell in love with music. He likes to play disc golf when he's not writing about music. He is a one-of-a-kind individual who is always the first to bust out his air guitar on the dance-floor.
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