THROUGH THE LENS: Over 175 Roots Tunesmiths Take Center Stage at the 2025 30A Songwriters Festival

“Every show during the 30A Songwriters Festival is a glimpse into the beautiful and unconventional world of a songwriter.” — Alice Wallace

Named after a 24-mile corridor of Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A that hugs the Gulf of Mexico coastline in Walton County, the 30A Songwriters Festival offers songwriters and roots music fans alike a welcomed respite from a blistering cold winter that has had much of the country in an icy, snowbound stranglehold. 

This year’s fest, its 16th year, featured over 175 artists performing more than 225 sets. While the headliners performed at the Grand Boulevard’s 6,000-capacity main stage, there was plenty of room for everyone else at more than 30 smaller, more intimate venues scattered throughout the area in communities such as WaterColor, Seaside, Grayton Beach, and Rosemary Beach.

Past headliners have included John Prine, The War & Treaty and other roots royalty, this year featured the ground-breaking Melissa Etheridge. The two-time Grammy winner (and Oscar recipient for her song “I Need to Wake Up”  from An Inconvenient Truth (2006)), has been instrumental in opening the doors to many performers we take granted for today.

As with many festivals today, the 30A Songwriters Festival goes beyond music. Co-produced by Russell Carter Artist Management and the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County, 100% of the festival’s net proceeds support the CAA’s mission to advance the arts in Walton County. I venture to say that all the arts, not just roots music, will need that type of commitment in the years to come.

But, the real focus at 30A are the scads of songwriters who work, travel and perform every day to get their voices heard, ply their trade and otherwise make a living. They come from all over the country. I caught up with one, Alice Wallace, who traveled 446 miles from Nashville to play three sets. Here’s her first hand experience:

“This was my second year participating in the 30A songwriter’s festival, and it really is a special kind of gathering. Not only do you get to play for packed audiences of true song lovers every day, but you have so much down time in between your sets to go catch shows by some of the best songwriters from Nashville and beyond.”  

“I came home with so many new songs brewing in my head because it’s inspiring to be surrounded by so many people whose passion is crafting great songs. As it’s a festival to honor songwriters, the shows are intimate and often become just as much about the stories behind the songs as the songs themselves.” 

“One highlight for me this year was Chuck Cannon’s set. I’ve been told to see Chuck play by I don’t know how many people over the years. He has written so many huge country hits. Of course his songs are brilliant, but it was getting to hear him tell how the songs were born that really enamored me. Every show during the 30A Songwriters Festival is a glimpse into the beautiful and unconventional world of a songwriter.”

As with last year, frequent column contributor Justin St. Clair was there. His photos are displayed in the gallery below, here’s some of his highlights.

30A Songwriters Festival 2024 by Justin St. Clair 

Friday: Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes were on fire. An ebullient set, and great fun, too, the backing band soon had the crowd dancing.

Dan Bern opened with “Jerusalem,” and much of the audience was clearly unfamiliar with his 30-year-old near-hit. Pretty great to see people falling for the laugh lines for the first time. They were eating out of his hand halfway through the opening number. 

Saturday: The Jayhawks played a spectacular set on the main stage as the weather deteriorated. I hadn’t seen them in ages, and Louris’ voice was in fine form, the chilly drizzle notwithstanding.

Sunday: Nora Jane Struthers’ daughter Annabell stole the show during her Mom’s’ song-swap with Gileah Taylor, making requests, mouthing the lyrics, and even taking the stage for “Bike Ride.”

Hayes Carll’s solo set closed the night at The Bay venue. He’s a damn fine storyteller, and his crazy-friendly giant of a dog, Winnie, did her level best to keep photographers from shooting with two hands.

Monday: Abe Partridge (with a full band) tore it up. Another consummate, gifted storyteller. One of the best parts of 30A are the bits between the songs. He aced it.

Click on any photo below to view the gallery as a full-size slideshow.