Experience

Experience

The Milk Carton Kids

Hosted by

Whether you are a musician or an enthusiastic fan, this event is designed to provide an inspirational and interactive experience, offering the opportunity to truly take a step “beyond backstage.”

A young woman with long dark hair holding a microphone and smiling, standing between two people, a woman and a man, outdoors with trees in the background. The woman is dressed casually, while the woman and man are dressed casually, with the man holding a guitar.

Get your saddest songs together and get ready for a decidedly not-sad time making music with The Milk Carton Kids. An experience unlike any other, the Sad Songs Summer Camp offers two days of immersive classes and three evenings of entertainment in the serene setting of the Catskill Mountains.

A woman and a man sitting outdoors near the water, engaged in playing guitar and reading.

Mornings will have Kenneth, Joey and their hand-picked guest artists guiding master classes that explore the ins and outs of harmony singing, songwriting, arrangement, lyricism, stage banter, and performance. After lunch, students will break off into workshops, working solo or with other campers on the skills of their choice, with encouragement and tips from TMCK and other SSSC instructors. Evenings are packed with entertainment, with performance opportunities for campers (don’t worry they’re not required), late-night jam sessions, and informal song circles. Not to mention two intimate Milk Carton Kids concerts.

One on Ones - Anytime, By Request

The Mammals (duo) - Old Time Fiddle/Banjo Session

Three people sitting outdoors on chairs, enjoying music and conversation in a backyard with trees and a wooden deck in the background.
Musicians performing on stage: a woman playing violin and a man playing guitar with a microphone, audience visible in foreground.
Group of five people standing outdoors on a grassy area with trees in the background, holding musical instruments and talking, near a small wooden deck with chairs and a red building.

Whether it’s over breakfast or around the campfire, students will have the opportunity to collaborate and hang out with TMCK and friends while learning the tricks of their trade. Campers will come from all over the world to hone already established skills, take creative risks, and make lifelong personal and professional connections. Maybe you’ll even form a  harmony duo of your own, although Kenneth and Joey say they do not recommend this. By the end of the week, you’ll be writing sad songs and making happy memories.

Four people outdoors, two playing guitars and two singing or talking, with trees in the background and one sitting on a chair.

The camp will provide a space for a lucky group of individuals to learn, co-write, workshop, and, if desired, perform for an audience of like-minded peers — all with the guidance of The Milk Carton Kids and special guests.

Two musicians performing on stage at the 'Music Masters Collective' event. One is playing an acoustic guitar, and the other appears to be singing or speaking into a microphone. Audience members are seated and watching the performance inside a wooden
Three women and one man standing around a pool table in a cozy, dimly lit room decorated with string lights. The man is playing a guitar, and the women are smiling and chatting.
A man with curly hair playing an acoustic guitar, smiling and enjoying himself.
Three musicians play guitar in a dimly lit room, with a woman in the middle with short dark hair and earrings, and a man on her left with curly hair and glasses, and another woman with curly hair on her right. They are focused on their instruments.
Group of four musicians performing in a studio; two playing guitars, one holding a purple notebook, and one smiling while listening.
Four people sitting on chairs on a stage, playing guitars and singing, with a black 'Music Masters' banner behind them and a whiteboard with notes in the background. They are smiling and engaged in musical activity.
Two men, one with curly hair holding a guitar and another with straight hair, smiling and sitting together in a cozy, warmly lit room, possibly a music studio or casual gathering, with microphones and musical instruments visible.
Group of four young people playing musical instruments outdoors on a grassy area with lush green trees and ferns in the background.
A man with long blond hair wearing a green and white cap and a black denim jacket, playing an acoustic guitar and smiling.
A young woman with glasses and long curly hair sits on a wicker chair playing an acoustic guitar inside a sunlit porch or sunroom with large windows.
Two men sitting at a table playing acoustic guitars and singing. One is wearing a gray T-shirt with glasses, and the other is wearing a blue T-shirt, glasses, and a black baseball cap. There are notebooks, a glass of water, and a remote on the table.
a group of five people playing guitars together in a room with large windows and sunlight
Three friends playing music outdoors in a forest clearing with a tent in the background. One woman is sitting on a wooden deck with a notebook and camera, smiling. The man in the middle is sitting on a white chair, playing a cello, and the woman on t
Two men with curly hair singing and playing guitars into a microphone in a recording studio.
Two men sitting on a porch, one playing guitar and smiling, and the other wearing a hat and listening. There is a potted plant with pink flowers in the background.
A group of people gathered in a circle around a person playing guitar on stage at the 'Music Masters Collective' event with a woman speaking.
A large group of people posing together on a wooden floor in front of a stage with a black banner reading 'Music Masters Collective.' The group includes men and women of various ages, standing and sitting, smiling at the camera.
Three people sitting outdoors on wooden benches, with one person playing guitar and the other two listening, in a grassy yard with a wooden fence and house in the background.
A group of five people playing acoustic guitars in a cozy room with wood-paneled ceiling and large windows decorated with string lights.
Three women performing on stage at a music event called 'Music Makers.' One woman is singing into a microphone, holding a ukulele, while the others are playing acoustic guitars. The background features a black banner with the words 'MUSIC MAKERS' in
A man wearing a beige baseball cap, gray t-shirt, and a strap playing an acoustic guitar singing into a vintage-style microphone.
An elderly woman and a younger man are sitting outdoors on white chairs on a grassy lawn. The woman holds a script, and the man is playing an acoustic guitar. They are engaged in a conversation or music session amidst lush green foliage in the backgr
Two male musicians playing acoustic guitars on stage, smiling at each other, with a microphone between them, in a wooden venue with a red carpet.
Two women playing acoustic guitars on stage at a music event with a black banner that says 'Music Masters' behind them.
Group of people sitting around a campfire at night, playing guitars and singing, with a person standing and playing guitar, in an outdoor setting with cars parked in the background.
A young man with curly hair and sunglasses sits on the grass, leaning against a tree, playing an acoustic guitar in a lush green park.
Two people playing guitars outdoors near a stone wall and wooden fence, surrounded by green trees.
Group of people playing musical instruments outdoors, with lush green foliage in the background.
A woman with short dark hair, glasses, and a black choker necklace playing an acoustic guitar outdoors on a grassy area with trees and a gravel path in the background.
Group of musicians and singers, including a woman playing guitar and a man playing violin, rehearsing together on stage, with others holding phones and looking at sheets of music.
A group of five people gathered outdoors on green grass playing musical instruments and chatting near a red house with a porch and white-framed windows, surrounded by trees.