The college football national championship game is in the books, so it’s a fantastic time to catch some beach tunes. To break the winter routine, head to South Walton’s white-sand beaches along the Florida Panhandle for this year’s 30A Songwriters Festival. Headline acts include Jason Isbell, Rosanne Cash, and Brandi Carlile.
Ladies ham it up at the 30A Songwriters Festival along South Walton’s beaches (Photo by SoWal)
The 2019 30A Songwriters Festival runs from January 18 -21 and is celebrating its 10th anniversary by featuring 195 singer/songwriters in over 30 venues along 30A.
Over 195 Artists to Perform
This year’s lineup includes dozens of seasoned songwriting veterans such as Steve Earle, Patti Griffin, Livingston Taylor, Gregory Alan Isakov, Suzy Bogguss, Amanda Shires, Matraca Berg, Shawn Mullins, Justin Townes Earle, Matthew Sweet, Chely Wright, and Darrell Scott.
Others slated to perform are Marc Broussard, John Fullbright, Elizabeth Cook, Sierra Hull, the Secret Sisters, the War and Treaty, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Robyn Hitchcock, Radney Foster, Jeffrey Steele, Steve Poltz, Bob Schneider, David Ryan Harris, Hayes Carll, Tommy Stinson, Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Emerson Hart, Drivin N Cryin, Chris Stills, and Ellis Paul.
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What makes this festival so unique – besides the beautiful location along 30A – is the intimacy of most of the weekend’s performances. You’ll find artists playing in coffee shops, bars, town hall centers, and on stages holding from 75 to 5,000 music lovers.
National, Regional & Local Songwriters to attend 30A Songwriters Festival
Local favorites such as Memphis songwriter Joe Leathers, an instrumental artist who helped kick off the very first festival in 2009, are making his 10th appearance. You can catch him at the Rosemary Beach Town Hall at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night.
Songwriter and Memphis resident Joe Leathers performs at Bud & Alley’s in Seaside, FL
VIP ticket packages are still available. However, regular ticket packages are sold out, but hey, everyone on 30A is treaty like a VIP.
The 30A Songwriters Festival benefits the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), a non-profit arts group that supports artists and cultural events and businesses. And, all of the net proceeds from the festival are paid to the county arts alliance to fund many activities throughout the year.
Need a Place to Stay
Accommodations may be hard to come by this late. If you’re looking for a carriage or beach house close to the water, try contacting our friends Richard Jabbour and his wife, Gayle. They will know what properties are available and will work to find you the right 30A rental.