SoWal Insider's Guide to 30A Songwriters Festival 2025

The 30A Songwriters Festival returns to South Walton January 16-20, 2025, celebrating 16 years with a wide variety of talented artists on the schedule.

Headliner performances are on the main stage at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach with performances by Melissa Etheridge, Amos Lee, The Jayhawks, The Devon Allman Project, Maggie Rose, and Secret Sisters.

The Schedule is coming together with frequent announcements and additions. Buy tickets online.

Scroll down for the latest official festival updates.

SoWal Insider Tip: most festival tickets sell out early. If the tickets you want are not available at www.30asongwritersfestival.com, try tickets for resale on the SoWal Forum >

The Venues - stellar stages and intimate rooms - a sample:
Caliza Restaurant, AJ's in Grayton Beach, Bud and Alley's Waterfront Restaurant, Fish Out of Water, Red Fish Taco, The Bay, North Beach Social, Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse, Old Florida Fish House, Hilton Sandestin, Havana Beach Bar & Grill, Grand Boulevard and more - see full list >

The Festival is, as always, a benefit for the non profit Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, which supports artists and non profit cultural events and businesses throughout the county. 100% of the net proceeds from the event are paid to the CAA to help fund its annual budget. Thank you all for your continued support!

Click here for 30A Songwriter's Festival Photos to share on your facebook, website, email, etc.

The Setting - Florida's amazing Scenic Highway 30A with our string of postcard-perfect towns & communities.

Top Ten Reasons To Not Miss the 30A Songwriters Festival
Reason #1: With 125+ artists, 260 performances, and 25 venues to choose from, you will miss more shows than you see. But think about this; you will see more performances over the four-day holiday weekend than you've ever dreamed of seeing in a single weekend.
Reason #2: 30A artists write their own music AND perform it. They've earned their double-S title and status of Singer-Songwriter.
Reason #3: Location, location, location! Venues are built out for the extended weekend with state-of-the-art sound systems presenting bands and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 16 – 20, 2025. Listening spaces stretch up and down scenic Highway 30A parallel to the white sand beaches and emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Reason #4: The Festival supports the Arts! The 30A Songwriters Festival, produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and Russell Carter Artist Management, is an important part of the Cultural Arts Alliance's vision to make Walton County a creative place. 100% of the Festival’s net proceeds benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County allowing it to continue to foster creativity through the inclusive and collaborative advancement of the Arts. You will not only have a great time - you will be supporting a great cause.
Reason #5: Unlike most festivals, we don't stick to one genre. We love Americana, blues, country, rock, jazz, neo soul, gospel, and folk. We book the best singer songwriters in every corner of the music-making community.
Reason #6: Many of your favorite songwriters return to perform each year, however, we prioritize booking artists you have not had a chance to see yet. Make a point to catch performances by songwriters whose music you have never heard. There's no better place to find your new favorite artist of 2025!

Reason #7: Can we brag on these headliners a little!? We are thrilled to present this years diverse headline stage lineup of hit-makers and cultural leaders.
Reason #8: General Admission is great; VIP is better.
30A Songwriters Festival features one of the finest VIP packages on the festival circuit: reserved parking, premium seating at the headline stage, complimentary food and drinks, and first-come, first-served seating at the other 24 venues.
Reason #9: We're celebrating 16 years of 30A Songwriters Festival! 30A is THE festival for music lovers and serious listeners. We offer a chance to experience your all-time favorite artists and discover new artists in intimate settings alongside like-minded fans. For the past 15 years, the festival has attracted tens of thousands of dedicated live music fans from around the world. Come share in the magic of 30A!
Reason #10: Party on a Monday! Plan to stay through Monday for “The Late Check-out Party” at The Bay and North Beach Social, two venues that sit right on the beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay as well as Red Fish Taco on 30A. Bloody Marys, delicious food, and non-stop performances on the waterfront throughout the day is a perfect way to keep the party going.

The Producers - Russell Carter, co-producer/Festival Chair, Russell Carter Artist Management Jennifer Steele, co-producer/Executive Director of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) - Jennifer and Russell form a dynamic duo from two organizations that bring together talent on the stage and behind the scenes. Russell's contacts and wealth of talent on hand fill the stages and venues, bringing together every year a surge of great music hitting our beaches. Jennifer is a mainstay on the South Walton art scene (a formidable acting and singing talent herself), who marshals the forces of sponsors and volunteers to handle the thousands of details to make the magic happen. 100% of the net proceeds from the 30A Songwriters Festival benefit the CAA and help it to fulfill its mission to support the arts throughout Walton County.

The Artists - We have amazing stages, but what makes the 30A Songwriters Festival so special is the depth and diversity of writers who perform their own music, and performers who write their own songs. Surprises happen during the festival and create the sweetest moments and fondest memories. It's the thrill of an unexpected artist who catches your ear as you walk between venues. The unknown songbird that grabs your heart as you arrive early for the "bigger name" show.

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) - CAA is the officially designated local arts agency that serves as an umbrella organization and supports the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. The vision of the CAA is to be the catalyst for Walton County's growth as a center for artistic and cultural excellence through which lives are enriched, economy is stimulated and community is strengthened. Visit www.culturalartsalliance.com to learn more and become a member!

The CAA is always looking for volunteers to help out with the 30A Songwriters Festival - you'll get insider access, see some great music, and help support the arts in Walton County.

Lodging - Be sure to check the lodging section on the 30A Songwriters Festival website for information on specials from festival lodging partners, including Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse, Ocean Reef Vacation Rentals, Alys Beach, WaterColor Inn & Resort, Camp Creek Inn, The Pearl Hotel, Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Residence Inn at Grand Boulevard, Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard - for many more options check out SoWal.com Rental Partners.

The Inside Scoop - The 30A Songwriters Festival has gotten bigger and better every year. And more popular with more locals and visitors who snap up tickets - they sell out so don't wait, get yours now! Take a look at the lineup and take advantage of all the shows you can in a fun-filled weekend at the world's most beautiful beaches.

Yes, there are plenty of great shows - but try to slow down. As the excitement of the 30A Songwriters Festival builds, you might find yourself rushing to get to the next venue. Stop yourself and slow down! The best moments are often the unexpected ones between the jams - meeting new friends or talking to an "unknown" performer who you won't be able to get near - later on when they hit it big.

The Links -  The official 30A Songwriters Festival Website, The 30A Songwriters Festival on Facebook, The 30A Songwriters Festival on Instagram,  The 30A Songwriters Festival on Spotify, The 30A Songwriters Festival on X/Twitter @30AFest, #30AFest

Take a look at some individual performances and compilations from past 30A Songwriters Festivals on the SoWal Youtube Channel, and The 30A Songwriters Festival on Youtube.

TIP: do not wait in ANY long lines unless house managers assure you that you will get inside in a reasonable amount of time. Inevitably a few venues become very popular and, given the first-come, first-served rule, they fill up for the night. However at any given hour of the night, most of the venues have room for more customers. Take the advice of house managers and pivot to nearby venues that are not crowded. There are so many artists and so many shows and you can't  walk into a venue and see anything other than amazing music. Become a new fan of artists that you were unfamiliar with. The weekend is a great opportunity to discover new music! Many people have learned to find a cool venue and settle in for a night of discovery and new music. 

Ten Unique Aspects of 30A Songwriters Festival:

Unique Aspect #1: All Festival artists write their own music AND perform it. They earn their double S title and status: Singer Songwriter.

Unique Aspect #2: You will miss more shows than you see at 30A SWF BUT you will see more performances over the four day holiday weekend than you have ever seen before in one weekend.

Unique Aspect #3 - 30A is 24 miles of two lane highway hugging the white dunes of the beach and in full view of the blue/green water of the Gulf of Mexico. There are 30 custom built music venues along this Emerald Coast paradise. Travel the world and you will find nothing like it.

Unique Aspect #4 - Many of your favorite artists perform each year at 30 SWF. However, many artists are booked that you have not had a chance to see. Make a point to catch performances by artists whose music you have never heard. You will walk away a new fan of many great musicians.

Unique Aspect #5 - We like and we book Americana, blues, country, rock, jazz, neo soul and folk. We are not genre specific like most festivals - we book the best singer songwriters.

Unique Aspect #6 - 30A Songwriters Festival is not a commercial venture - it is a fundraiser for the non profit Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. 100% of net proceeds from the Festival go into the annual budget for the CAA to help fund their many civic art programs. Thank you for being not only a music fan but also an art patron!

Unique Aspect #7 - There are several great coffee cafes on 30A. Start your morning with a walk on the beach. There are even more bars on 30A. At least once grab a cocktail, stop what you are doing and watch the sun sets in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Unique Aspect #8 - With over 200 musicians attending the Festival and nearly 300 performances scheduled including night time events , morning brunches, and afternoon headline shows, 30A Songwriters has the biggest musical offerings of any weekend songwriters festival in the country.

Unique Aspect #9 - 30A SWF is the only Festival that I know of that partners with resort communities with arguably the best vacation homes in the South.

Unique Aspect #10 - Tell us what you enjoy most about your past 30A Songwriters Festival experiences.

Headliner performances are on the main stage at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach with performances by Melissa Etheridge, Amos Lee, The Jayhawks, The Devon Allman Project, Maggie Rose, and Secret Sisters.

The festival welcomes for the first time to 30A CHARLIE STARR & BENJI SHANKS (BLACKBERRY SMOKE), NATALIE HEMBY, BRANDY CLARK, CHUCK PROPHET & HIS CUMBIA SHOES, LINDSAY LOU (BAND), BRETT DENNAN, the STEWS, LANGHORNE SLIM, CHRIS KNIGHT, JOSH JOPLIN GROUP, WILLI CARLISLE, BEE TAYLOR (BAND), JONTAVIOUS WILLIS, JOSH ROUSE, PAUL MCDONALD & THE MOURNING DOVES, TYLER RAMSEY, ANDREA VON KAMPEN, JILL SOBULE, BURRIS, KYLE DAVIS, JADA CATO, BETH BOMBARA, MALLORY JOHNSON, JESSICA SHARMAN, DAVID BORNÉ, ANNA GRACE.

Returning to perform two shows each throughout the weekend are songwriting legends DARRELL SCOTT, LIVINGSTON TAYLOR, WILL KIMBROUGH, ELLIS PAUL, SHAWN MULLINS, VICKI PETERSON & JOHN COWSILL, JOHN PAUL WHITE, TOMMY PRINE, RUTHIE FOSTER, HAYES CARLL, HOLLY WILLIAMS, JOHN FULLBRIGHT, BLACK OPRY REVUE, LILLY HIATT, SUSAN WERNER, CHUCK CANNON, JEFF BLACK, DAN BERN, GRIFFIN HOUSE, CHARLIE MARS, RANDALL BRAMBLETT, JEFFREY STEELE, STEVE POLTZ, KELLY WILLIS, BOB SCHNEIDER, MARY GAUTHIER, CERTAINLY SO, DAVID RYAN HARRIS, CHRIS STILLS, EMERSON HART, JOHN DRISKELL HOPKINS, ADAM HOOD, ABE PARTRIDGE, CHASTITY BROWN, COUSIN CURTISS, WILL HOGE, RYANHOOD, with more to come.

We are pleased to announce the following additional confirmed artists: SARAH CLANTON, JACK BARKSDALE, ELIOT BRONSON, MIKE KINNEBREW, LIZ LONGLEY, GRAYSON CAPPS, CAT RIDGEWAY, LILLY WINWOOD, CAITLIN CANNON, BRADLEY COLE SMITH & NELSON NOLAN, JENNIFER LYNN SIMPSON, SARA HELLS, THE SAND OLE OPRY WITH MIKE WHITTY and many more.

Many More Artists Will Be Announced Over the Next Few Weeks—Stay Tuned

Melissa Etheridge – Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. For several years, her popularity grew around such memorable originals as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” and “Ain’t It Heavy,” for which she won a Grammy® in 1992. Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am (1993). The collection featured the massive hits, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy® Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, Your Little Secret, which was distinguished by the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success that year led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996. Etheridge has toured with her band extensively this year including co-headlining bills with Indigo Girls and Jewel.

Amos Lee – With a laid-backed style, dusty, evocative voice and acoustic Americana sound, Philadelphia-native Amos Lee straddles a range of genres in his quest to connect honestly and emotionally with his audience. Along with his acclaimed albums such as Mission Bell and Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song, and his gold-selling 2005 eponymous debut album, Amos Lee, the artist is well known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon to Zac Brown Band. “My favorite time in music is probably 1970-75. Still Bill by Bill Withers, Harvest by Neil Young, John Prine’s first album, James Taylor’s One Man Dog—I hope I can bring the same sort of spirit I hear on those records,” he says. From old-timey to reverential, soul to Appalachian, funk and jazz – his musical career has been spent exploring the American songbook’s capacity to hold and express his emotional tides. Lee’s sharp ear and soulful approach to songwriting has resulted in a rich catalog of contemporary, classic songs beloved by his growing audience. “Sweet Pea,” “Windows Are Rolled Down,” and “Colors” are a few jumping off points for an artist who is well worth the deep dive. On his eleventh studio album, Transmissions, singer-songwriter Lee continues to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. We are thrilled to welcome Amos Lee this January for his debut performance on the 30A Songwriters Festival mainstage.

The Jayhawks - The incredible harmonies and distinctive arrangements of The Jayhawks set them apart from the rest of the Minneapolis music scene that emerged in the 1980s. Over the course of almost 4 decades, 11 albums, countless memorable live shows and enough personal drama to fill a couple of Behind the Music episodes, this beloved band soared to heights few ever achieve while winning the hearts and minds of numerous critics, fans and peers in the process. After releasing 2 Indie albums in the 80s, The Jayhawks had become a driving force and inspiration behind the growing Americana movement in the early 1990s. Combining the talents of singer-songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, The Jayhawks released their major label debut, the acclaimed Hollywood Town Hall (1992) on the Def American label. This was followed by Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995), which produced the alternative radio hit single “Blue.” When Olson left to pursue a solo career, Louris singularly took over the songwriting role in The Jayhawks creating the band’s enduring sound on some of their best selling and well-received albums including Sound of Lies (1997), Smile (2000) and Rainy Day Music (2003). Louris continues to write and tour with the longtime core group of Marc Perlman, Karen Grotberg, and Tim O’Reagan. While the touring line-up has changed over the years and Olson briefly reappeared in 2010 to record and tour, this classic lineup maintains a commitment to excellence and forward motion in their shows and in their recordings. Paging Mr. Proust (2016), was produced in Portland with Peter Buck and Tucker Martine and found the band moving in several new exciting directions. The band’s 10th studio album, Back Roads And Abandoned Motels, was released in the summer of 2018, featuring Jayhawks versions of songs Gary Louris had previously written with other artists plus 2 new compositions. In July 2020 The Jayhawks released their latest album, XOXO, that features songwriting and lead vocal contributions from all 4 core members. The Jayhawks have made music in 4 different decades and are as vital now as they were in 1985. They definitely have earned their reputation as a true American treasure.

The Devon Allman Project – Devon Allman has blues-rock in his DNA. That distinctive sound has been shaping his music since he first started playing guitar as a teenager, all the way to his recent albums with the Allman Betts Band. But for his first solo album in eight years, Allman freed himself of any genre expectations, picked up a bass guitar, and wrote a series of songs informed by R&B, funk, and alt-rock. “Previously on my records, I was carving out something that I felt needed to fit into contemporary blues or straight-ahead rock & roll,” Allman says. “That wasn’t on my mind this time. Instead, the goal was to write music that moves me.” The result is Miami Moon, an undeniably feel-good album . Recorded at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami, the legendary outpost where Allman’s father, Gregg, and the Allman Brothers Band cut LPs like 1972’s Eat a Peach, the album has shades of Curtis Mayfield, Sade, and even The Cure. Devon will be joined on stage by several guest artists throughout his set that will include both his original songs and a number of brilliant Allman Brothers classic recordings played in tribute to one of the greatest southern bands of all time.

Charlie Starr & Benji Shanks – Charlie Starr, lead vocalist and guitarist for American rock band Blackberry Smoke, will be joined by longtime friend and musician, Benji Shanks, for an acoustic performance. Starr is a native of Lanett, Alabama and was born into a musical family. Playing guitar became one of Starr's passions, in addition to writing and singing. In December 2017, he was named as one of Music Radar's top 23 guitarists, a list that includes "rock guitar gods" including Keith Richards of Rolling Stones, Slash of Guns N' Roses, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, amongst others. Blackberry Smoke is in the midst of a landmark year following the release of their new album, YOU HEAR GEORGIA. The album debuted as the best-selling Americana/Folk album in the country on May 28th 2021. It entered at #1 on the Billboard Top Americana/Folk Albums chart with resounding praise from fans and critics. Starr and Shanks will be performing intimate, acoustic arrangements of songs Starr has penned as well as some of their favorite songs by other artists.

Maggie Rose – Hailed for her "multi-genre talents" by Billboard and deemed a "star" by Rolling Stone, acclaimed singer-songwriter Maggie Rose has released her ambitious new album No One Gets Out Alive. Hearkening back to early '70s Laurel Canyon, the music deals in both dark and uplifting themes- disillusionment in relationships, ageism, female empowerment and living in the moment, among them, with Maggie's big, soulful voice taking center stage. Maggie successfully straddles the worlds of pop, rock, soul, Americana and folk, unencumbered by genre specifics. Recorded with a dream team including members of Jason Isbell's 400 Unit, Alabama Shakes and Gregg Allman's band, the record was produced by GRAMMY-Award winner Ben Tanner, mixed by Bobby Holland and arranged by conductor Don Hart (Phish, Lyle Lovett). A respected fixture of the Nashville community, Maggie has played the iconic Grand Ole Opry over 100 times and marquee festivals including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, and Newport Folk Fest. A true road warrior, she has shared the stage with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Heart, Joan Jett, Eric Church, Gov't Mule, The Mavericks, Fitz & The Tantrums, St. Paul & The Broken Bones and The Revivalists among others. In her first appearance at 30A, Maggie will set the headline stage on fire and follow it with a marquee evening performance - do not miss her!

Secret Sisters – Since their 2010 self-titled debut, The Secret Sisters have brought their spellbinding harmonies to songs that untangle the thorniest aspects of life and love and womanhood. In the making of their new album, Mind, Man, Medicine, Alabama-bred siblings Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle found their songwriting transformed by a newfound sense of self-reliance and equanimity, threading their lyrics with hard-won insight into the complexities of motherhood, commitment, compassion, and self-preservation in an endlessly chaotic world. Centered on a kaleidoscopic sound that boldly blurs the edges of country-folk, the duo’s fifth full-length ultimately confronts many of modern life’s harshest challenges while leading the listener toward a more open-hearted state of mind. The Festival is happy to bring back the Secret Sisters to 30A, this time to both the headline stage and for an evening performance.

The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues with state-of-the-art sound systems with capacities ranging from 100 to 1000 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors. WMOT, based in Nashville, will again interview and record select artists at the Festival for its World Cafe sessions aired throughout the year in conjunction with WXPN in Philadelphia.

"I have had the good fortune to see Melissa Etheridge with her band several times on tour this summer with the Indigo Girls," comments Russell Carter, President of Russell Carter Artist Management and Festival Co-Producer. "Melissa is one of the greatest female rock n roll vocalists ever, and her lean mean band is perfectly tuned to support her immense talent." Carter continues, "can I say how happy I am to get the Jayhawks to swing south all the way from Minneapolis to the panhandle to perform on the main stage - I know they are a favorite of many loyal 30A fans who have requested them for years: “I’m Going To Make You Love Me,” “Waiting For the Sun,” “Blue” and that’s just a start. We welcome the Jayhawks - arguably the best living, working Americana band in the country!"