Bluescamp France

Come and join us in the south of France and continue your musical development that includes at least one gig to genuine French audience.

Located one hour south of Bordeaux and situated in a national park is the home and recording studio of Chris Penfold. Large grounds complete with outdoor pool offer a great setting to further your musical aspirations. In conjunction with our second venue in the centre of the village, 2 groups are able to rehearse separately and yet eat and socialise together.

During your weeks stay you will further develop your instrumental skills as well as group musicianship as you rehearse and prepare for your upcoming gigs. Honing the transition between songs, delivering backing vocals where appropriate, introducing solos to those who are confident enough to play them, identifying and making use of communication skills within the band whilst playing, learning how to involve your audience, dealing with problems, how to sound check without wasting time. Above all, you will develop your performance ability in front of an audience and realise the importance of having to visually entertain rather than just play through your set. You may be with people who you know or with complete musical strangers but either way you will have plenty of time to rehearse and also relax. Numbers are limited to 13 so you are guaranteed plenty of one to one time should you need it.

In between rehearsing you can sunbathe, jump in the pool or we organise trips out to see some local sights or even go to the beach.

Accommodation and venue

The property consists of two buildings. The main house plus studio with Gite. The main house contains a number of bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Gite consists of a large open plan area containing 5 beds of which two can be configured as doubles. The whole accommodation is on a shared basis but is flexible enough to allow for couples and separate female accommodation.

All food is provided including continental style breakfast, lunch and evening meal. Table wine is also include with the evening meal. For 2024, all meals will be taken in the village in what is in effect, your own restaurant for the week complete with French chef. Any specialist dietary requirements must be advised on booking.

A terraced area complete with sun loungers, BBQ and swimming pool are available to all and the grounds of the3 house are large enough for unplugged rehearsals in either groups or as individuals.

Surrounded by forest, there is plenty of access to tracks and pathways that can allow you to recharge away from the crowd and be at one with your own thoughts.

Venue for meals and second rehearsal space

Studio Gite

This is a recently renovated ‘Grange’ that contains all of the original beams and is clad in pine which is the traditional method of building for the area.

The studio consists of a control room and a good size live room. The live room has enough floor space for a band to set up and rehearse. The control room (when not used for recording) can also be used as a rehearsal space.

Above the studio is the large open plan Gite that contains single and double beds. There is a kitchen area at one end complete with all appliances. A bathroom containing a toilet and shower along with a washing machine are also located downstairs. Again this area can be used as a rehearsal area and there are also tie lines down into the control room for recording.