DNA SONGWRITING CAMP
at the Black Range Lodge in Kingston, New Mexico
April 30 - May 3, 2026
Our 2026 DNA Songwriting Camp is coming Thurs. April 30th at 5pm through Sunday, May 3rd. Please join us for opportunities to generate new ideas, rediscover old ones, and turn them into tunes. In the natural beauty of Kingston, New Mexico, in the company of like-minded souls, and in the warm hospitality of the Black Range Lodge, we can focus on answering the call to create music.
Over the years we've offered insights and guidance from Anne Luna, Steve Smith, Tom Adler and Chris Sanders, all of whom are looking forward to seeing you this year. In 2026 we welcome back master songwriter Elliott Rogers! Elliott has been teaching and writing songs for decades and honed his skills in Austin Texas in the 80s with Blaze Foley, Townes Van Zandt, Robert Earl Keen and others of note. His tunes have been recorded by Alan Munde, Jim Hurst, Bill Evans, Steve Spurgin, the Bluegrass Patriots, and Bill Hearne. From the popular humorous tunes “Emu Meat” and “She’s Your Problem Now” to serious and moving songs like “Heaven” and “Lay my Shovel Down”, Rogers elicits images and characters as vivid as any film.
Our 2026 artist-in-residence is again producer and drummer Eric Boseman, the executive director and senior producer at Star City Studios in El Paso (a state of the art recording studio, art gallery and venue) as well as a co-founder and president of the El Paso International Music Foundation (nonprofit advocacy group for musicians). Please see below for more info.
Musicians at all levels are welcome to hone your songwriting skills. Starting with happy hour and dinner at 5pm on Thursday, April 30th, and ending after lunch on Sunday, May 3rd, this retreat will offer you the space to grow your music in the beauty of nature while enjoying delicious home-cooked meals provided by the Lodge.
The 2026 fee for this camp is $370 and you can find our registration form below. UPDATE: Recording artist, producer and engineer Tiffany Christopher will be in residence at Raven Studios at the Black Range Lodge Mon. 4/27 - Thurs. 4/30. If you're interested in starting a project or recording demos, please contact her at bookingtc@gmail.com for scheduling and financial arrangements.
Here's a photo of our Songwriting Class of 2022:
More info about our 2026 Songwriting Camp Faculty:
Tom Adler
Guitar, clawhammer banjo, vocals, tune-smithing
While on the faculty at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Tom taught the acoustic Americana ensemble, songwriting seminar, folk guitar and banjo. He is also a landscape gardener. His background includes many years as a performing/recording musician and stage, film and TV actor and musician in a wide range of styles. Tom played with the Fast Peso String Band and is currently a member of the folk/Americana band Bootleg Prophets. His big secret is that he worked as a chimney sweep in the early ‘80’s! Tom shares folk music from around the world (especially old recordings) with listeners every Sunday morning on his show on KSFR FM, “Folk Remedy.”
Chris Sanders
Vocals, improvisation, arranging
Creating music has been a passion of Chris's since she crawled up on a piano bench and began picking out tunes as a toddler. Thanks to a solid music education, her work with collegiate vocal jazz ensembles at NMSU and UTEP, and her collaboration with Steve Smith, her tunes can be heard on six Hard Road band and Trio albums, and her solo project Rare Bird. A New Mexico Music Award winner, she also co-wrote a fully staged musical, We Are Enron, with Bradford Hodgson and Justin Raines. She credits Ann Baltz with turning her on to the power and magic of improvisation in the creative process.
Steve Smith
Guitar, mandolin, style and groove
Steve's instrumental tunes have found their way onto film and stage scores, radio and TV (Discovery, History and Weather channels). His tunes, instrumental and vocal, have received New Mexico Music Awards, and his 16 year collaboration with Chris Sanders has yielded songs that have been heard coast to coast. He has appeared on over 40 albums as performer and producer (The Hard Road Trio, Tim May, Jim Hurst, Tim O'Brien, Bill Evans, Alan Munde), and his passion for recording has resulted in The Cave, his full service recording studio in Las Cruces. www.desertnight.com
ERIC BOSEMAN
DRUMS, PRODUCTION, DIRECTION
Watching Eric play, you are immediately struck with how effortlessly musical he is. He is simply one of those players that was “born to groove”. Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, he honed his orchestral and jazz chops and then went on to study at Berklee College of Music, North Texas State University, and the Musicians Institute. While in Los Angeles, he was active in the R&B, Gospel, and Jazz scenes as both a player and producer. It was during his time in Canada that TV and film production were introduced to Eric’s bag of tricks. Although playing and producing are his first loves, he has always had an affinity for education and can be caught occasionally teaching workshops on percussion and production. Eric is currently the Executive Director and Senior Producer at Star City Studios (a state of the art recording studio, art gallery and venue) as well as a co-founder and president of the El Paso International Music Foundation (nonprofit advocacy group for musicians) and he is one of the owners of the innovative hand drum company Monk Drums.
Anne Luna
Bass, lyric writing, media
Anne's formal education in songwriting started at South Plains College, and she continues to be a dedicated and prolific songwriter. Monticello, her first recording with The Hard Road Trio which included her original "Break Free", broke into the top 5 of the Cashbox Roots Chart. She also co-hosts the podcast "Break Free", an exploration of songwriting, recording and the creative process, with rocker Zak Sloan. Her music has also been nominated for New Mexico Music Awards. www.annelunamusic.com
Elliott Rogers
Special Guest Artist
With roots in bluegrass, Elliott began honing his songwriting in Austin Tx in the 80s. Performing with Blaze Foley, Townes Van Zandt, Robert Earl Keen, Darden Smith, Calvin Russel and other songwriters of note. More recently playing guitar and singing with banjo legend, Alan Munde. Now with his wife Janice on upright bass and beautiful harmonies and the talented multi -instrumentalist, Mike Kearny, they focus their music in the hometown area of Driftwood Texas.
JOIN US AT THE LODGE FOR DINNER AND HAPPY HOUR ON THURSDAY, APR. 30th AT 5pm FOLLOWED BY THREE WILD DAYS OF MUSIC.
Each day starts with movement and singing; we'll prime the pump and get in a good space to explore new possibilities. Because this camp has fewer participants than our others, we look forward to working with you individually. There’s so much to be gained from a gathering of fellow creative artists, and as always, the care and feeding of the artist is our top priority.
Fee for this session: $370, tax included. An invoice for camp tuition will be sent after you register.
Please call Catherine at the Black Range Lodge to arrange for lodging and meals. Camping spaces are available. 575-895-5652 cat@blackrangelodge.com)
Please contact Chris Sanders if you'd like more information: chrisclarksanders@gmail.com or 575.571.5298.
PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL FROM CHRISCLARKSANDERS@GMAIL.COM WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR CAMP.