23rd - 27th May 2025 Ashington, West Sussex UK
*Early Bird Price available until 1st Feb
Three days of singing in the beautiful West Sussex Downs, sleeping under starlit skies, with evening cocktails, fabulous food and great company.
We call it Three Days in May, but it’s almost four really. You arrive on Friday afternoon and we start at 6.30 with an introductory session before your first dinner prepared by our lovely chef Erika, whose food is worth the ticket on its own!
In the evening we light a fire and share songs and tunes and chat under the starry skies of The South Downs.
All your food is included so that we can eat together, and not have to worry about food supplies and cooking.
This means we can fully immerse ourselves in the ambience and the music.
After breakfast in the morning, we have our first singing session and continue to lunchtime with a coffee break.
By and by we re-convene for and afternoon of more songs and tips about harmony and group singing.
You don’t need any experience - we learn everything by ear and you’ll find your leaders - Roger and Sue - very experienced and patient. We like to be encouraging and supportive. The whole idea is to have fun, so no-one gets too serious about it, even though you might find yourself challenged from time to time.
You have free time before cocktail hour to go for a walk, practise or even have a snooze,
until you hear the voices serenading you again.
Dinner, evening session - do bring an accompanying instrument if you like.
And so to bed.
And it’s still only Saturday!
Sunday we can do it all again, and Monday too, like some perfect groundhog day.
Maybe we’ll do an informal concert on Monday night to show off the collaborations with your new friends.
Tuesday we share our breakfast and reluctantly toddle off home with new friends and lovely musical memories in our head.
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Did I say cocktails?
Well, I'll bring a bottle or two, and if you have a favourite tipple you'd like to share, we'll manage quite a reasonable bar.
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Questions?
Questions?
Why not try our Glamping option?
Love singing - but don't like to camp? Book a luxury bell tent with a real bed!
(Not quite ready yet - please email and we'll update you as soon as it's sorted)
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Manor buildings - actually a farm and campsite - is home to our friends and hosts, Chris and Patrice and where they put on gigs and other musical gatherings throughout the year.
The camping field offers great views across the valley and is a fantastically inspiring venue for our event, so accommodation will be your own tent or camper.
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The Venue
The Music
It's mostly Americana / Bluegrass. We're both fans of this style of music, and lots of people are already familiar with it in some form - from folk to country to pop.
Bluegrass has strict rules about vocal parts and it provides a very good way in to learning how harmonies work and how to make your own - as well as providing a good basis for creatively breaking those rules!
The Tutors
Roger Jackson is a film & TV composer and has played with bands and produced recordings for many years. He writes songs and loves playing guitar.
He is one of the country’s top community choir leaders, and runs workshops at festivals and choral gatherings. Listen here to Roger's music.
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Sue Pomeroy is a member of The Rye Sisters, and a gifted teacher, who has taught at the famous Sore Fingers Summer School and is a talented singer song-writer (woman of a thousand songs) who has also written and performed with Roger as part of the former Woodberrys band.
Click on arrows to see the image gallery
Example Programme
Fri Arrive late afternoon. 6.00 Drinks reception, songs and dinner.
7.00 Dinner Evening Session
Sat Self-serve breakfast - Toast, cereal, fruit, Tea & Coffee
Session 1: 9.30 - 12.30 Say hi to your voice, learn a song
Lunch - A light meal - Soup, Quiche, Salad...
Session 2: 2.30 - 4.00 Introduction to songwriting / Elective
Practice time / Teatime
Singing re-cap and Cocktails 5.30
Dinner 7.00 Evening Session
Sun Breakfast
Session 1: 9.30 - 12.30 Morning chorus - learn songs and sing
Lunch
Session 2: 2.30 - 4.00 More singing! Elective options TBA
Practice time / Teatime
Singing re-cap and Cocktails 5.30
Dinner 7.00 Evening Session
Mon Breakfast
Session 1: 9.30 - 12.30 Morning chorus - learn songs and sing
Lunch
Session 2: 2.30 - 4.00 Yet More singing!
Practice time / Teatime
Singing re-cap and Cocktails 5.30
Dinner 7.00 Evening Session
Tues Breakfast
Fond farewells and head for home.
The Food
We have a fabulous chef, Erika, who will concoct gorgeous homemade nourishing lunches and dinners just for you. That’s the plan. We’ve done it before and it worked rather well. No trying to create Sea bass and homemade hollandaise in a non-stick pan on your precariously balanced camping gaz contraption. Oh no 'cos that would be stressful. We’re not doing stress.
Book a Bell Tent and Camp in Style!
We're just doing a deal with glamping providers and when that 's done you'll be able to book your glamping directly with them. Just email us if you're interested in this and we''ll let you know when it's ready to book.
If you’re not a natural camper, try glamping! - We will provide you a beautiful bell tent, put it up and install a comfy bed (not airbed). All you have to do is fall asleep! You can stay on site and enjoy the evening sessions with the other guests. When you go home, they come and take it down.
The Cost
£395 - Includes camping fees, tuition fees and full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner). For next year please note: Early bird is £380 before 1st Feb!
NB. Because Three Days in May is a small event, we need to get sufficient numbers to run it before we pay the balance of our overheads. Please tell your friends to book before 1st Feb so that we can go ahead!
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Grab an early bird booking price now!
Come solo or bring your friends too!
"Beautiful place, lovely people, great teachers - amazing!"
"Roger & Sue are both great teachers - patient and supportive, setting a fun tone..."
"I didn't expect this quality of delicious food at an event like this - Fantastic!"