Django On The Island 2026

The UK’s premier boutique Django weekend.

2nd - 5th October 2026

An annual retreat for violinists and guitarists interested in working on the music of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli and their musical legacy.
Set at The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight (UK). A beautiful setting with luxury accommodation, or options to suit all budgets, and great food and drink.
There is a focus on real world guidance and help to musicians in the form of workshops, guided jam sessions and group practice.
Dedicated workshop and performance spaces.
Small group sessions of no more than 8 students, personal 1-1 feedback, and genuine support from professional jazz musicians.

A Typical Day

Morning:
You wake up in your comfy cottage and make yourself breakfast with the provisions from the Garlic Farm. If you’re camping, head to the communal yurt for breakfast, or visit the Garlic Farm restaurant, open from 9 AM.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Start the day with a workshop focusing on techniques to improve your playing.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Follow up with a session exploring creative approaches to improvisation.

Lunch:
Take some time to relax and have lunch. Cook in your accommodation, visit the Garlic Farm restaurant, or drive to the nearby pub just two minutes away.

Afternoon:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Join a workshop exploring harmony and its application in your playing.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Group workshop — getting everyone together to develop ideas and play as a whole group.

Evening:
After a break, join the guided jam session to play and refine ideas with others, led by the tutors.

8:00 PM: End the day with a concert in the Garlic Farm restaurant. Arrive early if you’d like to have dinner before the music begins.

After the concert you can guarantee jam sessions into the night.

Book your place

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The Tutors

Matt Holborn - Violin

Matt is an improvising violinist based in London. He performs with The London Django Collective, The Already In Berlin Band and his own jazz quartet. As a composer he has collaborated with and written music for The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Domenico Angarano, Hull Jazz
Festival, Elaha Soroor and the Spitalfield Music. As an educator he has worked extensively with UK Jazz education organisation Tomorrow's
Warriors.

Harry Diplock - Guitar

Harry Diplock is jazz guitarist from Devon based in London. Now at the forefront of the jazz scene in the UK and co-founder of the London Django Collective, Harry has played all over Europe at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Torino Jazz Club, 606 and The Green Note as well as being regularly played on TSF Jazz Radio, BBC 3 and Jamie Cullum’s Radio show.

Sol Grimshaw - Guitar

Sol is from the Isle of Wight, is a jazz guitarist inspired by Django Reinhardt. Trained at the Purcell School and Guildhall, he’s performed internationally and at London’s top venues, including Ronnie Scott’s and the Barbican. Despite his busy career, he enjoys returning home to the Island’s peaceful charm.

Jon Thorne - Double Bass

British double bassist and producer Jon Thorne first emerged in the late '90s lending his distinctive sound to electronica outfit Lamb. He has since shared a stage and recorded with acts as diverse as Robert Plant, Charlotte Church, Laura Mvula, Donovan, Jesca Hoop, Eska, Kathryn Williams, Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage and Justin Sullivan. He appears on the Grammy nominated album Singularity by Jon Hopkins.

Food & Accommodation

The Garlic Farm has 7 beautiful self-catering cottages and individual rooms are available to book within these properties. All rooms are private some with ensuite bathrooms and others with shared bathrooms according to different budgets. Also available are luxury yurts that can be shared between friends as well as campervan and camping pitches.

Each accommodation option has access to fully equipped kitchen facilities giving you the freedom to choose whether to cook for yourself or make use of the renowned Garlic Farm restaurant onsite which serves delicious breakfast and lunch menus each day.