A cozy creative getaway for songwriters & music appreciators, at beautiful Touch of Nature in the heart of the Shawnee forest!
Date: Fri. Feb. 28th - Sun. Mar. 2, 2025
Location: Touch of Nature, 1206 Touch of Nature Road, Makanda IL
Feedback circle with Faculty lead Hope Dunbar
At our 3rd Annual Little Grassy Winter Songwriter Retreat, you'll fill your cup with a weekend filled with Song Circles, Workshops, Performances, Open Mics, Concerts, Feedback from working songwriters, Hiking, Yoga, Breathwork & more.
Connect with fellow creatives, test your songs on a supportive audience - or write your first song ever!
All levels are welcome.
Our faculty are working songwriters & artists, mostly in the singer/songwriter, folk & Americana genres. (This does not preclude songwriters from other genres attending.) We value live performances, human connection, & are working on building a vibrant community of songwriters in our area.
Presented by Poss Music Works, NFP, a 501(c)3 nonprofit promoting homegrown music & musical experiences in downstate Illinois.
FACULTY & PROGRAM
Our faculty members include Hope Dunbar, Katie Dahl, Hugh DeNeal, Terry Klein, Greg Klyma, Wil Maring, Curt Carter, Tom Connelley, Bill Poss, Erin Goldstein & more!!
Programming will take place mainly Friday & Saturday, starting with coffee & connections in Freeberg Hall at 8 am and workshops starting about 9:30am.
Workshops, Song circles, Feedback circles, and Panel discussions will take place throughout both days, with breaks for lunch and dinner together in Freeberg Hall.
The day will begin to wind down after our evening meal, and in the evenings we will enjoy more song circles, participant & faculty open mic options / song swap performances, and a faculty concert Saturday night.
Sunday we'll have brunch together and hang around for song circles, singalongs, discussions & farewells.
TICKETS
$275 weekend passgives a participant full access to all workshops, performances, feedback sessions, etc, plus 5 meals Fri-Sun (Lunch & Dinner Fri & Sat, Brunch Sunday)
$175 student pass ($100 discount) available - please get in touch with proof of school registration (current school ID, High School thru Masters Program) to access. (possmusicworks@gmail.com)
NOTE there is a registration cut-off to allow us to calculate headcount for meals. Register by Friday Feb. 21, 11:59pm CT.
LODGING
Lodging at Touch of Nature, a fully accessible summer camp, is available as part of this program. We have attempted to simplify your registration by offering combined weekend pass + lodging ticket options.
We also offer an optional add-on to arrive Thursday evening and stay Thursday night, so you are ready for the program start on Friday morning.
Touch of Nature is approximately 15 minutes from Carbondale. There are vacation rentals or hotels a short distance away, if you choose to stay offsite during the retreat.
Note
if you are sharing lodging, one person can purchase a "Weekend Pass + (Lodging Option)", and roommate(s) can purchase a plain "Weekend Pass - NO LODGING" for themselves ($275). Every participant sharing a room does not need to buy a lodging option. (We thought that was obvious, but you'd be surprised what people ask.)
Example:
Participant 1: Buys "1 Weekend Pass + Hotel Room"
Participant 2: Buys "1 Weekend Pass - NO LODGING"
HOTEL-STYLE LODGING
Hotel-style room in Little Grassy Lodge
Little Grassy Lodge is Touch of Nature's onsite Hotel. Hotel-style rooms are fully climate-controlled, outfitted with 1 full bed or 2 twin beds, TV, microwave, and coffeemaker, and each room has a private bathroom. Linens & towels included. (limited rooms available, this usually sells out fast!)
Weekend pass ($275) + hotel room Fri-Sun ($150) - $425
+ optional add-on hotel room Thurs ($65) - $490
DORM-STYLE LODGING
A (very stylish) twin bed in a rustic dorm-style room in Shawnee Lodge
Shawnee & Morris Lodge are Touch of Nature's "rustic lodges," or dorm-style lodging. Each room is climate-controlled and has 2 twin beds. Separate Men's & Women's community showers & bathrooms are located in each building. Linens & Towels are NOT included, so bring your own bedding, towels, shower shoes, toiletries, etc.
10-person camp cabins are a great way to enjoy the camp experience!
If you're not afraid to rough it just a little with a couple of your besties, our 10-person cabins offer an adventure with hints of summer camp! Each cabin has power, lights, and is semi-climate-controlled with window unit. (It can still get cold!) Each cabin is equipped with 10 twin-size bunks. Men's & Women's Bathhouses with restrooms & community shower rooms are a short walk away. Gather up your crew and make a weekend of it. Linens & Towels are NOT provided, bring your own warm bedding, towels, shower shoes, toiletries, etc. Don't forget a headlamp or flashlight.
Note: if you are interested in finding a roommate for a dorm-style room or gathering a group for a 10-person cabin, we have an established Facebook group, Little Grassy Winter Songwriter Retreat at TON where you can get to know fellow participants and discuss sharing lodging or transportation.
You may also register via check by sending a check for for the listed amount of your pass & lodging, to Poss Music Works NFP.
Mail to Poss Music Works NFP 1915 South Banker Street, Effingham IL. Please include a note with your full name, email, phone, and any information we need to know such as dietary restrictions. We are unable to hold lodging so don't delay.
You can email possmusicworks@gmail.com with any questions.
Poss Music Works NFP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. As an organization with limited volunteer staff and admin power, we have a "no-refunds" policy.
Date & Time
Feb 28, 2025 9:00 AM - Mar 2, 2025 3:00 PM
Venue Details
Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center
1206 Touch of Nature Road Makanda, Illinois 62958
Poss Music Works NFP
Poss Music Works is a 501c3 NFP with a mission to bring and foster music and culture to the Downstate Illinois area, with Effingham, IL as ground zero. We present music festivals and one-off music shows featuring national and regional original music touring acts. We present the Moccasin Creek Festival in June and the Summer Sundown Music Festival in September at The Stage at Lake Sara in Effingham IL.
Poss Music Works aims to instill an interest in, and love of, great Americana music in the regions youth. All of our festivals offer free admission to patrons 15 and under. We provide youth open mics around the region and we are attempting to partner with communities to present ‘youth music shows’ featuring young performers, for young patrons in a family friendly, alcohol free environment.
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