NASHVILLE

GUITAR IMMERSIVE

Featuring Chris Eldridge and Guthrie Trapp

September 22th-27th 2024 *

*Includes a free ticket to the Sonora Campout - September 27th-29th

There are 16 available spots, first come first served

Faculty

  • CHRIS ELDRIDGE

    Guitarist Chris Eldridge, a member of the acclaimed band Punch Brothers and the bluegrass supergroup Mighty Poplar, has been at the forefront of acoustic music for over a decade. Influenced by his father, Ben Eldridge of The Seldom Scene, Chris developed a deep love for acoustic music and studied with legendary guitarist Tony Rice. He has collaborated with a diverse cast of musical luminaries, released critically acclaimed albums with Punch Brothers, and has also released two highly praised duo albums with jazz guitarist Julian Lage. Eldridge was recognized as Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Music Association in 2019 and is a Grammy Award winner.

  • GUTHRIE TRAPP

    Guthrie Trapp has emerged as a world-renowned guitar star over the past two decades. His career began in Nashville, where he quickly gained attention playing with honkytonk legend Don Kelley. He later joined Patty Loveless’ touring band, contributing to her albums Mountain Soul 2 and Dreaming my Dreams.

    Trapp's reputation soared when Dobro master Jerry Douglas invited him to join his band. Together, they toured the world, performing at major festivals and venues such as Bonnaroo, Radio City Music Hall, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Trapp has collaborated with numerous musical luminaries, including Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Alison Krauss, and Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top.

    As a solo artist, Trapp has released acclaimed albums like Pick Peace and Life After Dark, and he leads the Guthrie Trapp Trio. An influential guitar educator, Trapp teaches through ArtistWorks and TrueFire, with a popular YouTube channel boasting over 70,000 subscribers. His enthusiastic and approachable teaching style has made a significant impact, sharing his deep knowledge and passion for guitar with the world. Trapp's career continues to evolve, inspiring guitar fans globally with his extraordinary talent and dedication.

  • SURPRISE GUEST

    We have someone special in the works.
    Stay tuned.

Reserve Your Spot

OUR CLASSROOM

Carter Vintage Guitars

Our classroom for this expedition will be a private lounge attached to Carter Vintage Guitars in the heart of downtown Nashville. This iconic music shop is the stomping ground of every touring guitarist who passes through Nashville and their collection of vintage instruments is jaw dropping.

STUDIO SESSION DAY

Sound Emporium Studios

On Thursday, we’ll spend the day with seasoned session musicians in one of Nashville’s most famous recording studios. Artists like Allen Stone, Gillian Welch and The Smashing Pumpkins have recorded some of their most iconic records at Sound Emporium.

We will spend the first half of the day shadowing a real recording process to see how the pros do it, and then we’ll get to record something together as a class.

Check out this video of Rick Beato at Sound Emporium:

LIVE SHOW

The Ryman Auditorium

When it comes to Nashville venues it doesn’t get much more historic and infamous than the Ryman.

We’ll spend an evening checking out a live show there mid week.

There are 16 available spots. First come, first served

Immersive Workshops

You’ll learn from Nashville guitar masters, diving deep into the techniques and styles that make this city the heart of American music. We’ll explore the roots and the branches of various musical genres, focusing on the subtleties of feel, improvisation, expressiveness, repertoire, rhythm, and ensemble playing.

Through immersive, interactive, hands-on workshops, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the guitar and the many cultural currents that contribute to Nashville’s rich musical heritage, making it a true hub of innovation and tradition in the world of music.

Sample Itinerary

9:00am - 10am   Breakfast

10:30am – 12pm  Masterclass - Studio Guitar Playing

12pm – 1pm   Lunch and Open Jamming

1pm – 2:30pm   Masterclass - Country blues vocabulary

2:30pm – 5:30pm Facilitated Jamming and workshopping Learning Labs

5:30pm – 9:30pm   Dinner + Exploring Nashville

11pm Quiet hours

What’s Included

Included:

  • 5 nights accommodation in Nashville

  • Visit the Ryman

  • Carter Vintage Guitar Tour

  • Recording session day

  • All workshops, masterclasses and labs.

  • Daily jams

  • All breakfasts and lunches – we will do our best to accommodate any dietary restrictions and preferences.

  • Welcome dinner on the 22nd and finale dinner on the 27th.

  • 1x Concert ticket

  • Free ticket to the Sonora Campout the weekend of September 27th-29th

Not included:

  • Airfare

  • Dinners (23rd-27th) - We will venture out into the city for dinners, we recommend exploring the many incredible dining options in Nashville

  • Transportation to and from the airport.

  • Transportation within the city.

  • Travel Insurance: We have a no-refunds policy, so we strongly recommend that everyone gets personal travel insurance. Insuremytrip.com offers a variety of policies that will protect your investment. If anything comes up, you will be allowed to resell/gift your spot to a friend or someone in your network.

There are 16 available spots. First come, first served

INCLUDES A FREE TICKET TO

THE SONORA CAMPOUT

September 27th-29th

Wooten Woods, Tennessee

On Friday afternoon, we’ll drive out to Victor Wooten’s iconic Wooten Woods Retreat Center where we’ll be joined by close to a hundred Sonora students and the entire Sonora Mentor team for a weekend of live masterclasses, community and of course, a lot of jamming. You definitely won’t want to miss this.

There are 16 available spots. First come, first served

YOUR HOSTS

SPENCER HANDLEY

Spencer Handley is a Nashville Based musician, ethnomusicologist, student, educator and technologist. He is the CEO of SONORA, where he builds mastery paths intended to guide musicians on the gratifying path to self actualization

As an ethnomusicologist and self declared music nerd, his studies have brought him all over the world and steeped him in the folk music traditions of Brazil, Argentina, Ireland, Spain, Nepal, Appalachia, and Indigenous Music of the Northern Amazon.

Sonora Expeditions emerged out of his deep passion for this form of musical exploration and his desire to offer this unique and soul nourishing experience to others.

In a previous life, Spencer served as a Product Engineering Leader at Patreon.com, where he worked to help artist make a sustainable living.

Jayme Stone is a musician, composer, instigator, producer and educator. Stone, a “consummate team player” (Downbeat), has developed a process of trawling for understudied sounds in the more arcane corners of the world to see how they’ll land in his musical universe. His many collaborators have included Margaret Glaspy, Tim O’Brien, Julian Lage, Dom Flemons, Bassekou Kouyate, and more. He has made a surprise album every two or three years—seven total. Albums like Africa to Appalachia, a polyrhythmic tale of two continents; the Lomax Project, which re-imagines songs collected by American folklorist Alan Lomax; and AWake, where Stone breaks new ground as an experimental indie-pop songwriter and producer. 

Career highlights include winning two Juno Awards, three Canadian Folk Music Awards; being featured on NPR, BBC, and the CBC; and performing thousands of concerts at places like the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers, Library of Congress, Bumbershoot, Rockygrass, Celtic Connections, Vancouver Folk Festival, Lotus Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, Montréal Jazz Festival, and more. As an educator, Stone has taught workshops and masterclasses at universities and music camps and has been on faculty at Rockygrass Academy, Rocky Mountain Song School, Sierra Fiddle Camp, Silk Road Global Musician Workshop, and more. 

https://jaymestone.com/

JAYME STONE

There are 16 available spots. First come, first served

Nashville

Our upcoming retreat will take us to Nashville, widely recognized as the heart of country music and often dubbed "Music City." The city's musical legacy began in the early 20th century with the rise of the Grand Ole Opry, a radio show that became a national sensation and helped cement Nashville's status as the epicenter of country music. Over the decades, Nashville's music scene has flourished, blending country with bluegrass, folk, rock, and pop. Historic venues like the Ryman Auditorium and the honky-tonks of Broadway have witnessed countless iconic performances, while the city's recording studios have produced hits that span genres. This rich tapestry of musical influences and innovation makes Nashville a perfect destination to explore the roots and future of American music.

ACCOMMODATION

We will be staying in a stunning home in the heart of East Nashville

There are 16 available spots. First come, first served

Commons

  • Living Room

  • Kitchen

  • Living Room

  • Patio

  • Records

Rooms

What are SONORA Expeditions?

Cultural Immersion

Sonora Expeditions are a deep dive into local musical traditions. You'll experience music not just as a universal language, but as a local dialect that tells stories of the land, its history, and its people. Sonora Expeditions invites you to live the music as the locals do, enriching your spirit and broadening your musical horizons.

This Nashville expedition will be a deep dive into the heart and soul of one of the worlds most infamous music cities, under guidance of some of it’s best and brightest musicians

Musical Growth

Sonora Expeditions are not just a retreat, but a crucible for honing your guitar skills. With the guidance of seasoned musicians and local masters, you'll explore guitar techniques intrinsic to each region's musical identity. Our curated workshops and interactive sessions are designed to challenge and inspire, propelling you to new heights of musicianship. Whether you're exploring new playing styles, learning exotic scales, or finding new inspirations, every day is a stride towards musical mastery.

Community

Music is a journey best shared, so community is at the core of our camps. Our traveling music retreats are a congregation of like-minded guitar enthusiasts, coming together to grow, explore and stay inspired. As you explore the world's musical landscapes, you'll form lifelong bonds with fellow adventurers sharing the same rhythm of curiosity and passion. The camaraderie built during late-night jam sessions, communal meals, and nightly live music creates a nurturing learning environment.

There are 16 available spots. First come, first served

 FAQs

  • We offer a special arrangement for non-playing partner / observers of registered participants. The partner / observer rate of $900 entitles them to housing, meals, observing classes and tickets to all concerts during the workshop.

  • We offer a commuter discount of 20% which includes meals and event tickets.

  • We recommend you have a grasp of the basics in order to feel comfortable. That includes barre chords, the pentatonic scale, the ability to read tabs and some basic music theory.

    We will cater to your level during the event.

  • You can bring electric or acoustic. If you bring electric, we will provide small portable amps. We recommend acoustic if it’s comfortable for you.

  • Prices range from $3700-$4400 depending on your room selection, book a call to check availability