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SOUTH WALTON, Fla.—Dec. 11, 2012–The 30A Songwriters Festival will heat up Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A, January 18-20, 2013, where writers who perform their own music and performers who write their own songs meet for a weekend of soulful melodies, powerful vocals and compelling lyrics throughout the northwest Florida beach neighborhoods of South Walton. Representing diverse styles ranging from folk and country to rock and blues, the 2013 line-up features nationally-acclaimed songwriters and musicians including Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith, Shawn Mullins, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jeffrey Steele, Suzanne Vega and Fastball.
PHOTOS: SHELLY SWANGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Venues range from unique listening rooms to spacious outdoor amphitheaters. Each location is distinguished by its own individual vibe, ambiance, and musically-inspired stage artwork, and is situated amid the brilliant white sand beaches, turquoise waters and stunning architecture of Highway 30A. The Festival is produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and is presented by Visit South Walton.
“The 30A Songwriters Festival has quickly gained a reputation among musicians as a forum for true songwriters to perform their self-penned songs as well as established performers to showcase their original compositions,” said Russell Carter, 30A Songwriters Festival chair and producer and owner of Russell Carter Artist Management. “We book artists with diverse musical styles. Our emphasis is the art of the song.”
As in years past, venues for performances are being built out along Highway 30A from Vue, Gulf Place Amphitheater and Fire on the western end to Amavida, Town Hall and Summer Kitchen in Rosemary on the eastern end. In between, count on great concerts in Seaside at Bud & Alley’s, the Pizza Bar, the REP Theatre and the Amphitheater; WaterColor venues including the Gathering Spot, Fish Out of Water and the Boat House; Pandora’s and Hibiscus in Grayton Beach; Caliza in Alys Beach; and new venues including 723 Whiskey Bravo in Seagrove and Bentley’s in Seacrest. WaterColor Inn & Resort will serve once again as the Festival headquarters.
Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls and Mary Chapin Carpenter will perform in the round on Wednesday, January 16th, for a special pre-Festival membership drive for the Cultural Arts Alliance. Lucinda Williams and Nanci Griffith are confirmed for a Sunday afternoon concert at the Seaside Amphitheatre.
“We are honored to feature talented artists from around the country who are generously supporting the CAA and our mission to grow the arts in Walton County and make it a destination for cultural and artistic excellence,” said Jennifer Steele, Festival producer and executive director of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. “South Walton celebrates a thriving arts community, and we are proud to showcase our local talent alongside nationally-acclaimed songwriters and up-and-coming artists to raise funds and awareness for arts education initiatives that benefit the children of Walton County.”
Festival weekend passes are now available for $150 and can be purchased at www.30asongwritersfestival.com, at the Cultural Arts Alliance office and at Central Square Records in Seaside. Net proceeds from the 30A Songwriters Festival benefit the CAA and members of the CAA will receive an additional 10% off weekend passes. Call (850) 622-5970 to become a member and take advantage of the discount.
For more information on the 2013 30A Songwriters Festival, including a full list of artists, venues, accommodations packages and to purchase tickets, visit www.30asongwritersfestival.com
FEATURED ARTISTS:
The festival will feature more than 125 songwriters and 200 musical performances. Confirmed artists include Lucinda Williams, Shawn Mullins, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jeffrey Steele, Nanci Griffith, Suzanne Vega, Fastball, Will Kimbrough, Tift Merritt, Allison Moorer, Charlie Mars, Eliza Gilkyson, Freedy Johnston, Randall Bramblett, Chuck Cannon, The Shadowboxers, Melissa Ferrick, Joe Leathers, Kyle Jacobs, Kim Richey, Gretchen Peters, Brigitte DeMeyer, Pete Sallis, Alan Rhody, Jerry Salley, Tommy Womack, Vicki Peterson, Susan Cowsill, Chas Sandford, Bill Mallonee, Donnie Sundal / Boukou Groove, Shannon Whitworth, Tommy Talton, Grayson Capps, Cory Chisel, Ray Bonneville, Webb Wilder, Don Dixon & Marti Jones, DeAnna Cox, Ruston Kelly, Jeff Black, The Quaildogs, Hope Cassity, Geoff McBride, Daphne Willis, Reed Waddle, David Berkeley, Davin McCoy, David Olney, Brian White & Karyn Williams, Bobby Houck of the Blue Dogs, Phillip Lammonds, Cooper Carter & the Royal Senders, Wesley Cook, Parker & Parker, Boxtop Jenkins, Mike Whitty, Jeep Rosenberg, Jonathan Singleton, Jon Nite, Tony Lane, Jaren Johnston, Andrew Combs, The Blue Ribbon Healers, Sterling Fletcher, Kyle LaMonica, Dannica Lowery, Diane Durrett, Eliot Bronson, Gabriel Kelley, Humming House, Jill Andrews, Kellin Watson, Kelsey Anna, Ashleigh Flynn, Max McCann, Steve Bogard, Hannah Thomas, The Owsley Brothers, Seth and May, Jessica Cayne, Julia Othmer, Kaydi Johnson, von Grey, Chris Alvarado, The Saint John’s, Rebecca Pronsky, Abigail Rose, Holly Renee Allen, Hannah Miller, Megan Redmond and Brooke Annibale.
