Sessions and Sail Bluegrass/Americana 2026
Sept 13th-19th 2026
Price: £1695 per person, including all food, accommodation, sessions and workshops.
Join us aboard the Lady of Avenel for an unforgettable week of Americana music, combining sailing and musical sessions!
Ace musicians Theo Barnard and Pepita Emmerichs (Rain of Animals) will be sailing with us to deliver workshops, tuition and to lead sessions both aboard and ashore.
Voyage Description
Sessions and Sail offer another of our Americana/Bluegrass voyages. These differ slightly from our normal voyages, with the focus being on a more American style of music, which is very popular in Scotland and the UK. These sessions also work in a slightly different way.
Whereas a Scottish style session features tunes, or songs, that are generally started by one participant, with the rest of the group joining in to play that tune, Bluegrass sessions will instead see one person starting a tune/song, then giving everyone 'breaks' or solos. These may be passed around the table or around the group, with the tune/song leader choosing who is up next.
For more details on the varying etiquette of our Scottish and our Americana sessions, see the guide sheets on our website!
On this voyage we’ll sail from Oban, exploring the unique region around the south of Mull and the islands and coast of Lorne. Whether you're setting sails, steering the ship, or relaxing on deck while playing tunes as we sail along, this trip offers a perfect mix of music and maritime adventure. In the evenings, you’ll have the chance to participate in sessions aboard the ship or ashore in local venues, with plenty of opportunities for impromptu jams.
The Lady of Avenel offers a welcoming environment with comfortable accommodation in twin-berth cabins. No sailing experience is required, and the trip is open to all levels of musicians. Sign up now for a unique musical voyage blending the rhythms of Americana with the breathtaking scenery of Scotland's west coast.
Accommodation on board
You will be allocated a berth in one of our six double cabins. For solo travellers, cabins will be allocated on a same-sex basis; if two people travelling together wish to share a cabin, we recommend booking early to ensure availability.
There are two showers and three toilets in the accommodation; these are shared.
Meals are prepared in the modern upper deck galley; these are of a high standard and prepared by our own chef. Meals, tea and coffee are included in the price of the trip.
The upper deck saloon provides an ideal place to socialise and, with the tables cleared away, will be the perfect session space for the evenings we spend aboard. Should the weather be fair enough, we may be able to play sessions on deck.
Likely Itinerary
Day 1
Oban
Join your ship, the Lady of Avenel, at the North Pier pontoons in Oban; and enjoy lunch onboard as the rest of the group arrive.
At 2pm the Captain gives a safety talk, then we head out to sea, finding a good anchorage a 2-hour sail from Oban.
After a dinner at anchor, we all get to know one another over a few tunes around the Lady's saloon.
Day 2
Sail to Crinan
We depart our anchorage after breakfast, and sail south through the island-dotted Sound of Luing.
Our onboard tutors get a workshop or a session started as we sail down the Sound of Jura, arriving at Crinan mid afternoon;
In the afternoon there's a chance of a walk ashore, perhaps by the Crinan Canal; then after dinner onboard, we all head ashore to the Crinan Hotel, a cosy pub that's always keen to host a Sessions and Sail group for some tunes!
Day 3
Gigha
Today we sail on South, all the way to the community-owned island of Gigha.
Underway once more, we take the chance to learn some more about the sails and operation of the ship from the crew of the Lady of Avenel. Later, our tutors, Pepita Emmerichs and Theo Barnard, teach a tune or workship session in the Lady's saloon.
Late afternoon we arrive at our anchorage off Gigha; heading ashore after dinner we have the opportunity to go ashore and join local musicians for a session
Day 4
Sound of Islay
We sail from Gigha, headed for the spectacular Sound of Islay. Catching a favourable tide North through here, we get the tunes going again , either on deck or in the Lady's saloon.
At a stunning anchorage that evening, the session goes on after dinner.
Day 5
Colonsay
We sail to Colonsay and anchor off Scalasaig in the early afternoon.
Spend the afternoon ashore exploring Colonsasy, or aboard learning a tune or technique from our tutors.
The Colonsay Hotel is all ready to welcome us this evening for a session ashore;
After a high-energy session at the pub we head back to the ship at 11pm for a wind-down session back aboard.