Blues guitarist Chris Vincent hosts retreat at Hotel Cazan

Blues guitarist and singer Chris Vincent will host a retreat for professionals and talented amateurs on August 9 and 10 at the Hotel Cazan in Mamou, Louisiana. Vincent, who has a new album titled Things have changed, teaches guitarists, ideally at an intermediate level, slide guitar technique as well as the music theory behind the blues and shows how to use this theory to get out of the songwriting dead end.

The boutique Hotel Cazan is, as described on the website, located in the heart of Mamou’s historic district, at the only red light. On the same block as the world-famous Fred’s Lounge, with live Cajun music every Saturday morning, a bakery with popular cheesecake, and several neighborhood Cajun bars, as well as a lovely public square with a mural and fountain perfect for taking photos, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back to a simpler time and place.

Hotel Cazan is described as “cute, quirky, clean and eclectic. Each room has a theme, from octopuses and dogs to New Orleans, ships and even a Supernatural room with a spooky skeleton that lights up.” The hotel is pet-friendly.

Headquarters is located at the Hotel Cazan, 401 6th St., Mamou, LA (at the only traffic light in Mamou, corner of 6th and Main Streets). Participants check in Friday afternoon, in time for a “guests only” reception with live music by Vincent. Saturday includes a trip to world-famous Fred’s, a legendary Cajun neighborhood bar with live Cajun music only on Saturday mornings. Chris will lead group classes all day Saturday, with plenty of opportunity for one-on-one work with participants. Guests check out Sunday and go home with a gift bag and memories, armed with new skills and new friends.

Vincent says: “Louisiana Roots Music inspires me and Mamou is a musical oasis. Perfect for a retreat, we will relax, recharge, listen and learn.”

For more information, send an email to (email protected).