January 16-20
Contributed by 30a Songwriters Fest
People, new ticket buyers in particular, are asking for advice on how to best navigate the 30a Songwriter’s Festival as well as tips on who to go see. So, let’s take a swing at this:
DAY ONE – FRIDAY
1 – Are you type A with boundless energy? Go to the box office early Friday long before the 4 p.m. official start of the event. Stock up on t-shirts, a warm hoodie and a commemorative hat. Tighten your wristband on your arm and you are good to enter all venues for the entire weekend. Head to a kick-off party at AJ’s (Josh Joplin Band, the Stews) or the big stage at the Lyceum (the dBs, Chuck Prophet, special guest TBD). Enjoy the crowd of like-minded patrons as excited as you to be off and running. By early evening when most venues open, you will already have seen a couple of very original songwriters who happen to have kick ass bands.
Next, I suggest you jump on Hwy. 98 and head to the east end of 30A and work your way back west. Choose acoustic solo acts or artists in the round at Rosemary Town Hall (Chris Stills, Langhorne Slim, Abe Partridge) or the Pearl (Emerson Hart, Kelley Willis) and nearby LaCo (Darrell Scott, Ruthie Foster). Shoot down to Old Florida Fish House and catch an act on the porch or main stage (the Pink Stones, John Driskell Hopkins, the Krickets). Keep on the move – Seaside/WaterColor, which are side by side present five more performance options no matter what time you arrive, e.g. Bud & Alley’s (Josh Rouse, Garrison Starr), Pickles (Robbie Hecht, Eliot Bronson), the REP Theatre (Ellis Paul, Bradley Cole Smith), Fish Out of Water (Liv Taylor, Kim Richey, Mary Gauthier) or the Watercolor Lake House (second ASCAP Nashville songwriter’s set of the evening). As it is getting late, check out Drive the Coast (Bee Taylor, Gurufish, Shawn Mullins) for more original bands.
2 – Perhaps you are a laid-back couple that wants to find a comfortable place and kick back for the evening, have a cocktail, grab a bite to eat, have another cocktail and see whoever is playing at the venue over the course of the evening. Easily done. Consider Caliza at Alys Beach (Hayes Carll, Secret Sisters) or the Big Chill (Jeffrey Steele, Black Opry Revue). Or head to the bridge at Hwy. 331 and hang all night at The Bay Restaurant (Jill Sobule, Charlie Mars) and North Beach Social (Chuck Cannon, Florence Dore). The venues are across the street from each other.
3 – No matter what your personality type, study the app ahead of time AND create your own schedule. Double book your time slots so as you navigate the night and weekend, you have well thought out first and second choices in each area you go to. If you decide to call an audible, you have your playbook on your phone app! Let me give you an example. If you get to the Watercolor Lake House on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. and it is already at capacity, view your back up on your custom schedule OR look at the app time line for who is playing currently at all venues across the board in real time! Note: There are six sets over three days of the very popular ASCAP Lake House shows. You have many opportunities to see one.
4 – Pace yourself. Don’t try to see all your favorites on night one. You have three more days of music, drinks and food.
We’re just scratching the surface here to give you an idea of the wealth of talent spread out before you beginning on Friday late afternoon!
For those new to the scene, the 30A Songwriters Festival celebrates its 16th year in 2025 with six headline performances at the 6,000 capacity main stage at Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach together with over 250 artists performing over the four-day weekend in 30+ indoor venues ranging in capacities from 75 to 800. All of the listening rooms are located along the 30A resort corridor on the Gulf of Mexico in WaterColor, Grayton Beach, Seaside, Alys Beach, Seacrest, Rosemary Beach and Blue Mountain in Northwest Florida.
Past Festival performers include iconic artists Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovette, Brandi Carlile, Brian Wilson, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Indigo Girls, Graham Nash, Chris & Rich Robinson (the Black Crowes), Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, the Bangles, John Prine, Rickie Lee Jones, Jenny Lewis, Rosanne Cash and Steve Earle. The Festival has supported emerging artists over the past decade such as the War & Treaty, Morgan Wade, Ruthie Foster, Madison Cunningham, Amythyst Kiah and Paul Thorn.
Since its inception in 2010, it has become the largest and most prestigious songwriter’s festival in the southeast benefitting the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County and has won many national accolades with sell-out crowds every year. The event is co-produced by Russell Carter Artist Management and the CAA. Purchase Day or Weekend Pass tickets at 30asongwritersfestival.com.
As the creative core of Walton County for 30 years, the Cultural Arts Alliance provides accessible opportunities for all forms of art, every variety of maker, all levels of learners and art lovers. 100% of the Festival’s net proceeds support the not-for-profit organization’s mission to advance the Arts in Walton County through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. Learn more and become a member at CulturalArtsAlliance.com.
