Introspections
melodious
ALCHEMY BY COLLEEN E. HINELY
THE 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL, APPROACHING ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY IN 2019, HAS MATURED INTO A MELODIOUS CONFECTION MADE UP OF HUNDREDS OF ACCOMPLISHED SINGER-SONGWRITERS AND INFUSED WITH THE SPIRIT OF THOUSANDS OF AVID MUSIC LOVERS.
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hanks to the intimate ambience of the venues along Scenic Highway 30-A and Miramar Beach in South Walton County, Florida, chic locals and visitors, and the area’s famous coastlines, the 30A Songwriters Festival has been elevated onto a world-class stage. The festival is set apart from other music events because, as producer Russell Carter (president of Russell Carter Artist Management) explains, “We only book songwriters who perform, which is the most creative element in the whole music realm, and we are not limited to one genre. It will be blues, rock and roll, R&B, country, alternative—we are looking for all styles of music.” The vibe in the air is unmistakable. Thousands of ardent music lovers, unfazed by the sometimes frigid
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January temperatures, bring a palpable energy to the 30A Songwriters Festival. They flock to picturesque South Walton County, eager to experience the music and the fellowship. Hundreds of festival partners, volunteers, production professionals, stage managers, and other personnel invest hundreds of hours preparing for this annual festival in support of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA). The CAA, a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, champions the arts in the county through advocacy, leadership, program funding, and education. Because 30A Songwriters Festival is the top annual fund-raiser for the CAA, its success is critical. “It is a complete benefit for the CAA,” Carter expounds. “One hundred percent of the net proceeds go to the CAA, which enables them to do all of the free events that they do. The CAA has the Foster Art Gallery and Arts Week, which is a part of ArtsQuest; they also provide grants, offer art classes, and support art in schools throughout the county—they do so many great things.” One of the components contributing to the success of the 30A Songwriters Festival is the distinctiveness of its venues. The coffee shops, restaurant lounges, courtyards, meeting halls, and cozy bars of South Walton are transformed into intimate listening rooms. Each stage is adorned with funky original art by local
