Wyatt Espalin, a native of Hiawassee, Georgia, began his musical career with the encouragement and influence of his grandfather. He released his debut album, Songwriter/Singer, in 2015, and his latest EP, Diamondback, is currently available. https://traffic.libsyn.com/b274fb41-ed89-47af-b3af-6f7726ca2830/Wyatt_Espalin.mp3 I had the opportunity to catch up with Wyatt during the 2025 30A Songwriters Festival, where he has performed [...]
Growing up in rural areas of the southeastern United States, I was exposed to a healthy dose of Southern Rock. At the time, I had no idea that legends like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, and Molly Hatchet were creating some of the biggest hits of the 1970s. https://traffic.libsyn.com/southernamericana/Charlie_Starr_and_Benji_Shanks.mp3 Most of us [...]
Richard Turner and his brother Britt co-founded Blackberry Smoke, the Atlanta-based band. He is considered one of the best bass guitarists still performing in the southern rock genre. https://traffic.libsyn.com/southernamericana/Richard_Turner.mp3 Richard, who grew up in a military family, started his musical journey during the rise of the southern rock era. One of his more fortunate experiences [...]
2025 marks the 16th anniversary of the 30a Songwriters Festival. Over 125 singer-songwriters, from Devon Allman to Jeffrey Steele, Levi Lowrey, Wyatt Durrante, and Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke) will perform in 32 venues from Rosemary Beach to Miramar Beach, Florida from January 16 through the 20th. Local 30a singer-songwriter Dion Jones is making his second [...]
Kevin Elliott fell in love with Panama City, Florida, in the late 1980s as a 13-year-old military transplant. Today, not only does this entrepreneur host one of the Emerald Coast's most successful film festivals, but he's also an ardent supporter and the city's "unofficial ambassador." https://traffic.libsyn.com/southernamericana/Kevin_Elliottt.mp3 I met Kevin this summer at a party [...]
