30A Songwriters Festival returns with over 175 performers, 30 venues along Highway 30A

Ebonee Burrell, The News Herald
·4 min read

SOUTH WALTON — Scenic Highway 30A will soon transform into a musical showcase, featuring talents from around the world with performances from songwriters spanning many genres.

The 14th annual 30A Songwriters Festival kicks off Jan. 13 and runs through Jan. 16, with nearly 200 local, national and international songwriters on the lineup and performing across 30 venues.

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Co-produced by Russell Carter Artist Management and the Cultural Arts Alliance, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of live music fans from around the country to hear original songwriters perform their songs.

“The 30A Songwriters Festival began as a small event and grew quickly into a premier, one-of-a kind musical showcase for world-class songwriters,” said Russell Carter, festival co-producer and president of Russell Carter Artist Management. “Our goal is to curate a festival that presents the best touring songwriters and performers, whether they are hot off the heels of an emerging artist award or going strong in the sixth decade of an influential and heralded career.

“We want our audiences to experience musicians representing diverse genres of music — jazz, blues, country, folk, Americana, rock — with just two stipulations: They have to write their own music, and they have to be really great at it.”

The 14th annual 30A Songwriters Festival returns to Walton County from Jan. 13-16.
The 14th annual 30A Songwriters Festival returns to Walton County from Jan. 13-16.

Throughout the weekend, amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios will transform into unique music venues with state of the art sound systems ranging in capacity from 75 to 750 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors.

The six headliner performers taking the main stage Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach include renowned artists Lyle Lovett, Gin Blossoms, Rickie Lee Jones, Steve Earle, Yola and Morgan Wade.

The lineup includes more than 175 new and returning musicians performing throughout the weekend across various venues. See the full lineup at 30ASongwritersFestival.com.

Two singer-songwriters shared the stage at a previous 30A Songwriters Festival.
Two singer-songwriters shared the stage at a previous 30A Songwriters Festival.

Net proceeds from the festival support the CAA's mission to advance the arts in Walton County.

“Since its inception, the festival was intended to be a fundraiser for the Cultural Arts Alliance, and we advance the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. It's an important part of the CAA's vision to make Walton County a creative place,” said CAA Executive Director and Festival Co-Producer Jennifer Steele. “This is also the only event in the south part of the county that brings together all of the neighborhoods and community and we're really proud of that."

In addition to the Grand Boulevard, music will be playing from about 30 other venues during the festival. The venues include WaterColor Lake House, WaterColor Boat House, Fish Out Of Water Restaurant, Havana Beach Bar & Grill at The Pearl Hotel, The Pavilion at Watersound Town Center, Caliza at Alys Beach, Bud & Alley's, The REP at Seaside, Rosemary Beach Town Hall, The Bay, North Beach Social, The Shops of Grayton, Raw & Juicy, The Big Chill (formerly The Hub), AJ's Grayton Beach, LaCo, Hibiscus Coffee & Guest House, The Wine Bar at WaterColor, Beach Camp Brewpub, Old Florida Fish House, Red Fish Taco, Hyatt Place, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Hotel Effie, Beach Happy Cafe, Central Square Records and Grayton Beer Taproom.

All venues are either walkable or bikeable distances apart. However, performers will rotate throughout venues each day and sets will last about one hour.

Festival weekend passes, single-day passes and VIP weekend passes are still available to purchase online, and passes grant access to all venues on each day. In addition, attendees are encouraged to download the Songwriters Festival 2023 app to stay updated with each performer's schedule and locations.

Carter said that the festival has left a positive economic impact on the area over the years and hopes the festival continues to grow each year in musicians and attendees.

"The reality is that arts generate income the same way as any commercial business," Carter said. "The festival turned mid-January into the equivalent of the Fourth of July in 30A, the town is packed and everyone here is a music fan or a musician and it's just a great atmosphere during the entire week."

For more information about this year’s festival, visit 30ASongwritersFestival.com.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: 30A Songwriters Festival returns to South Walton County