30A Songwriters Festival Set to Take Over Scenic 30A JAN 17-19, 2014

[Teresa]

Ani DiFranco is an American singer, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, poet and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums and is widely considered a feminist icon.

After 20 years in the music biz, self-described “Little Folksinger” Ani DiFranco is still technically little, although her influence on fellow musicians, activists, and indie-minded people the world over has been huge. She still proudly identifies as a folksinger, too, but her understanding of that term has always been far more expansive than a bin at the record store or a category on iTunes, with ample room for soul, funk, jazz, electronic music, spoken word, and a marching band or two. Over the course of more than 20 albums, including the live double-CD Living in Clip (1997) and the two-disc career retrospective Canon (2007), as well as her latest, ¿Which Side are You On? (2012), Ani has never stopped evolving, experimenting, testing the limits of what can be said and sung. Her lifelong tribe of co-conspirators includes everyone from Pete Seeger and the late Utah Phillips to a new generation of twentysomething singer-songwriters who grew up with her songs and shows—and then there’s the motley crew of folks like Prince, Maceo Parker, Andrew Bird, Dr. John, Arto Lindsay, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck D, the Buffalo Philharmonic, Gillian Welch, Cyndi Lauper, and even Burmese activist and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, with whom she has crossed paths in a myriad of ways.

Ani DiFranco will perform at Gulf Place Amphitheater on Saturday JAN 18 at 3:15pm.

Gulf Place lineup

Saturday
12:00pm: Richard Thompson
1:40pm: Loudon Wainwright III
3:15pm: Ani DiFranco

Sunday
11:00am: Cooper Carter
12:00pm: Glenn Phillips
1:30pm: Tinsley Ellis
3:00pm: Robert Randolph

Messina's, SoWal's newest restaurant, is a SongFest venue with shows on Fri, Sat and Sun afternoon/evenings. Check schedule by venue to find out who is playing where along Scenic 30A this weekend.

Learn more about shops and dining in Gulf Place at SoWal Shopping Destination Guide.

 

[Teresa]

Take a ride on the music highway. A complimentary Sunshine Shuttle will run continuously Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5pm through 11:30pm and will stop every 15 minutes at the following locations:


Rosemary Beach Town Hall
Caliza
723 Whiskey Bravo
Central Square Records
Fish Out of Water
Lakehouse/Boathouse WaterColor
Grayton Bar & Grill
Pandora's
Messina's
Vue

 

[Teresa]

Justin Lyons stage backdrop

The art of 30A Songwriters is one of best parts of SongFest. You'll see large pieces on each main stage all around town created by South Walton artists. We'll share these with SoWal readers here as photos become available.

Justin Lyons has a new studio gallery at Mystic Porte in Grayton Beach.

A contemporary artist from the Florida panhandle, Lyons credits his first introduction into the world of street art as ‘the spark’ that led him to pursue his own form of artistic expression. His mediums include wood (sometimes found), acrylic, house paint, photographs, spray paint, oil stick, epoxy resin and pencil.

http://jlyonsart.com/

 

[Teresa]

Everyone who has bought a weekend pass must check in at Festival Headquarters at the WaterColor Inn & Resort at 34 Golden Rod Circle, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. Here you will pick up your wristbands, your printed program and your printed schedule and you can buy our fabulous 2014 30ASWF merchandise. ​

BOX OFFICE HOURS

Wednesday, January 15: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Thursday, January 16: 10:00am - 8:00pm
Friday, January 17: 10:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday, January 18: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday, January 19: 10:00am - 2:00pm

You can buy Festival weekend passes HERE. Day passes will be available at the box office later in the week but only if the Festival does not sell out completely before then.

 

[ComradeMikel]

I know that the gathering spot is a free venue to listen to music without the passes, are there any other venues such as this?

 

[Matt J]

I know that the gathering spot is a free venue to listen to music without the passes, are there any other venues such as this?

Nope, you'll pay and like it.

 

[Teresa]

I know that the gathering spot is a free venue to listen to music without the passes, are there any other venues such as this?

Not Songwriters venues, BUT there are many local music spots having live music all around town, including The Red Bar, Marie's Bistro, Stinky's, Funky Blues Shack and several more in SoWal. See SoWal Live Music Calendar.

Many of these are having additional music performances in their restaurants/bars this weekend. Check it out! Experience the local music. Many South Walton musicians are impressive singer/songwriters - some will be performing at Songwriters.

 

[Teresa]

TICKET UPDATE

Three day passes are now $190 and can be purchased online (through 1/16 midnight) or at the gate (WaterColor Resort).

Day passes will be sold at the box office later this week if the Festival does not sell out in advance on sales of weekend passes.

Friday night only pass - $60
​

Saturday day and night only pass - $80
​

Sunday day and night only pass - $80
​

Saturday AND Sunday day and night only pass - $140

Tickets for the Saturday VIP dinner are sold out. There are a few remaining tickets left for the Sunday VIP dinner at Grayton Bar & Grill featuring an exclusive set by Shawn Mullins. Buy tickets HERE.



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[Teresa]

Update from Songwriters Festival / eblast:

It all begins at the opening party at Pandora's in Grayton Beach at 4:00 on Friday. Come meet your friends and have a beer and listen to John Driskoll Hopkins from Zac Brown's band and People's Blues of Richmond kick everyone into gear.

Music starts in earnest in the early evening in all of the venues up and down 30A.

Please remember:
- use the latest updated schedule.
- download the app and utilize its many features.
- take advantage of the shuttles running to every venue.
- first come, first served - if a venue is at legal capacity, check your app and go to one of the many that are not.

DAY PASSES are now on sale at the box office

This is not the Indy 500, it's more like Le Mans - it's three days and a lot of territory to cover - pace yourself.

Headline shows start at noon on Saturday and at eleven on Sunday. Really great beer (as in Grayton Beer) and wine and food (soup, salad, sandwiches, bar b que, cookies etc.) will be available all day, so plan on hanging out and eating and making an afternoon of it both days!

There are still a few seats left for the Grayton Bar & Grill VIP dinner with Chef Steven Satterfield (and an exclusive show by Shawn Mullins). Buy tickets online or at box office.

ASCAP is hosting a party on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 PM to 12:00 PM at V Seagrove at the corner of 30A and 395 - it's always fun and typically star studded.

The checkered flag comes down at 11:00 PM when it all comes full circle back to Pandora's for the Purple Rain closing party. Cooper Carter will lead a band and most of the audience in a rousing rendition of the Prince classic.


Drive safely and have lots of fun!

 

[Kurt]