For recreational guitarists, there are few better ways to spend a weekend than with a good guitar, a group of like-minded players and plenty of time to simply play. Add to that dream scenario two of Australia’s finest fingerpickers and an acclaimed luthier and you’ve got a weekend that would be hard to beat. That is the thinking behind Acoustic Guitar Weekends, which returns to Saltbush Balnarring on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula from 13–15 November 2026.
Set beside the coast at beautiful Balnarring Beach, the three-day retreat brings together concerts, workshops, jam sessions, guitar displays and opportunities to connect with fellow musicians. The philosophy is straightforward: Play. Learn. Connect.
Following the success of its inaugural event in May 2026, the November gathering will be the second Acoustic Guitar Weekend, with organisers looking to build on a concept specifically designed for recreational musicians.
The program features two of Australia’s highly regarded guitarists, Nick Charles and Geoff Achison, along with master luthier Andy Allen of Andy Allen Custom Guitars and formerly Maton Guitars’ custom shop guru, who will be luthier in residence for the weekend.
Nick Charles is one of Australia’s most respected acoustic guitarists and storytellers, with a career steeped in blues, roots, folk and traditional acoustic music. Geoff Achison brings a different but equally compelling perspective, combining virtuoso guitar playing, soulful performance and years of experience as an inspiring educator.
Andy Allen is an acclaimed Australian guitar maker, having spent 30 years at Maton Guitars, where he became instrumental in establishing and developing the company’s Custom Shop in Melbourne. His work was driven by a desire to build highly individual instruments using distinctive designs and carefully selected Australian and exotic timbers, rather than simply reproducing production models. Allen became the builder of choice for a number of leading players, most notably acoustic guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel, for whom he created numerous custom and signature instruments. After three decades at Maton, he retired in 2023, with the company describing him as “arguably one of the finest guitar builders in the world” and noting that his instruments had become sought-after internationally by professional musicians, collectors and enthusiasts.
For participantsof the Acoustic Guitar Weekend, the emphasis is not simply on watching accomplished musicians perform, but on learning directly from them.
The workshop program is designed to give guitarists the opportunity to learn from some of Australia’s finest, with the professional musicians sharing their knowledge, experience and approaches to the instrument. Whether the focus is technique, musicality, performance, improvisation or developing a more individual voice, the workshops are intended to be practical and engaging rather than simply observational.
And while the workshops provide the structured learning component, the weekend also leaves plenty of room for simply enjoying the music.
Intimate concerts and showcases will feature throughout the event, allowing participants to experience the guest artists in a more relaxed setting than a conventional concert. The combination of performance and workshop creates an opportunity to hear the ideas being discussed in the classroom translated into music on stage.
Then there are the jam sessions, where the emphasis shifts from learning to participation.
The jams are an important part of the Acoustic Guitar Weekends concept, encouraging players to pick up their instruments, meet other musicians and experiment in a supportive environment. Rather than being focused on who is the most technically accomplished player in the room, the aim is to play, connect and be inspired.
That inclusive approach extends to the entire weekend. Acoustic Guitar Weekends is open to all skill levels, styles and ages, with organisers keen to make the retreat accessible to anyone who enjoys playing guitar. Participants don’t need to identify as professional or even particularly experienced musicians; the idea is to create a welcoming environment where recreational players can learn, share and make music together.
For Charles Allen of Acoustic Guitar Weekends, that sense of community is central to the event. “The intent of Acoustic Guitar Weekends is to provide recreational musicians an opportunity to workshop with quality professional musicians,” Allen explains. “We structure this as a three-day retreat.”
The retreat format is important because the concept goes beyond a conventional guitar workshop or masterclass. Participants have time to move between formal sessions, performances and informal playing, while the coastal location provides an opportunity to step away from the usual routines associated with music and everyday life.
Another attraction will be the guitar displays, giving attendees an opportunity to explore fine instruments and get closer to the craftsmanship behind them.
That is where Andy Allen comes in. As master luthier in residence, Allen will present guitar demonstrations, tonewood talks and Meet the Maker sessions, providing an insight into the construction and characteristics of acoustic guitars.
For players who have ever wondered why two guitars made from different woods sound and respond differently, or how the construction of an instrument influences tone, projection and playability, the luthier sessions offer an opportunity to get some answers directly from a guitar maker.
The presence of a luthier also reinforces the broader idea that an acoustic guitar is more than simply a tool for producing notes. The materials, construction, design and individual craftsmanship all contribute to the relationship between player and instrument.
Of course, music is only part of the attraction. The weekend promises great food, coastal surroundings and the opportunity to develop friendships that can extend well beyond the three days at Balnarring.
That social component is particularly relevant to recreational musicians, who can often find themselves playing alone at home or fitting their guitar around the competing demands of work and family. Acoustic Guitar Weekends provides a dedicated period where playing isn’t something squeezed into the spare moments of the day, it is the reason for being there.
“One of our drivers is to provide Australian musicians … guitarists, another opportunity outside of gigging, festivals and teaching,” says Charles Allen.
That philosophy is also behind the organisers’ plans to develop Acoustic Guitar Weekends beyond the November event.
“We intend to grow this brand and concept,” Charles Allen says. “We were encouraged by a very successful first event in May 2026 and this will be our second event.”
The success of that first gathering appears to have confirmed there is an appetite for an event that sits somewhere between a guitar workshop, music festival and social retreat. Rather than concentrating solely on performance or instruction, Acoustic Guitar Weekends brings all three elements together.
The result is a weekend where an experienced guitarist can refine their playing, a relative newcomer can pick up new ideas, and everyone can share a few songs around a jam session.
Really, that’s what the event is about. Not necessarily becoming a virtuoso in three days, but finding inspiration, discovering something new about the instrument, meeting other players and getting more enjoyment from making music.
With Nick Charles, Geoff Achison and Andy Allen leading the musical and instrument-focused program, Acoustic Guitar Weekends offers three days dedicated to the acoustic guitar — and to the people who continue to pick one up simply because they love to play.
Places are limited, so early bookings are recommended. For those of you with a guitar loving, special-someone in your life, what a great gift this would be for them.
Acoustic Guitar Weekends
13–15 November 2026
Saltbush Balnarring, Balnarring Beach, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Play. Learn. Connect.
