The 30A Songwriters Festival attracts thousands of dedicated live music fans from around the world to hear original songwriters spanning multiple genres perform their songs. Returning Jan. 15-18, 2027, the festival will transform beach communities along Scenic Highway 30A into a music haven, with 30 venues hosting more than 160 songwriters and more than 300 solo, band and in-the-round performances.
The festival will celebrate its 18th year of “Hooks, Lines and Singers” with Saturday and Sunday afternoon headliners Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Larkin Poe, Booker T. Jones and Tommy Emmanuel on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach. Friday’s kickoff performances at the Seaside Amphitheater will feature Dawes, S.G. Goodman and Paul McDonald & the Mourning Doves.
Artists initially confirmed for evening performances include Robyn Hitchcock with his band, Rainbow Girls, Shawn Mullins, Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, Raye Zaragoza, Steve Poltz, Kim Richey, Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s, Mary Gauthier, Jaimee Harris, Jeffrey Steele, Murray Attaway of Guadalcanal Diary, Don Dixon, Bob Schneider, The Mammals, Danny Schmidt, Cat Ridgeway, Eliot Bronson, Jennifer Lynn Simpson, Erin McKeown and Gurufish.
The full lineup of more than 160 songwriters will be announced this fall.
“Depending on your age, you have Booker T’s music somehow at your fingertips — from your 45s collection, your parents’ LPs, your CDs, the Spotify southern soul playlist. For six decades his music has been spun, burned and streamed with undiminished excitement and energy. What a thrill to bring it our way in January!” said Russell Carter, president of Russell Carter Artist Management and festival co-producer.
“Larkin Poe needs no introduction to folks in South Walton. They played 30A in their and our early days and impressed everyone. We have both grown considerably. Very proud to have Larkin Poe back, this time on the headline stage where they belong. Talk about momentum — they have played Telluride, Jazzfest, Montreal and BottleRock recently! Gillian and David are royalty in the kingdom of 30A Songwriters — they do not tour as frequently as many artists and we are honored to introduce them for the first time to our headline stage.”
“The 30A Songwriters Festival is unlike any other music event in the region. It spans more than 20 miles, brings together 30 unique venues, and features more than 160 acclaimed songwriters from across the country,” said Jennifer Steele, festival co-producer and president and CEO of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.
“We’re thrilled to announce this year’s headliners, who will join that lineup in bringing the art of songwriting to unexpected places — from a town hall or converted restaurant to two iconic main stages at Seaside and Grand Boulevard. But the festival is about more than what happens in January. It is the Cultural Arts Alliance’s largest fundraiser, with net proceeds reinvested in programs and services that help ensure Walton County remains a creative community year-round. To date, those funds have helped the CAA award more than $923,000 in Art For All grants and scholarships to artists, students, teachers and arts organizations. They also support Beyond Bars, which brings songwriting into Walton Correctional Institution and has engaged more than 300 participants in producing over 100 original songs — along with many other programs that expand access to the arts throughout our community.”
Festival weekend passes are available at 30asongwritersfestival.com, including VIP Mainstage tickets offering premium seating and complimentary gourmet food and drinks in the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Grand Boulevard.
For descriptions of all ticket packages, including VIP Mainstage and full-weekend transportation packages for groups of two to 12, visit the festival website.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is presented by Grand Boulevard, with additional support from Visit South Walton, WaterColor Inn and Resort and ASCAP.
Purchase tickets at 30aswf.freshtix.com/events/2027-30a-songwriters-festival.
