30A Songwriters Festival Announces First Round of 2020 Lineup: Brian Wilson, John Prine, Indigo Girls, Tanya Tucker, Don McLean and Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, and more to perform!

January 17-20, 2020 along Highway 30A in South Walton, Florida

For the past 10 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of die-hard live music fans from around the country to hear original songwriters representing many genres of music perform their songs. The beach resort towns along Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico feature 30 venues presenting over 200 songwriters and 250 solo, band and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 17 – 20, 2020.

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The 30A Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 11th year with performances on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center. This year’s headline performances include iconic artists Brian Wilson, John Prine, Indigo Girls, Tanya Tucker, Don McLean and Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone. 

The following prominent songwriters are confirmed to perform two shows each throughout the weekend: Dan Wilson (Semisonic), Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary), Mindy Smith, Todd Snider, Elizabeth Cook, Birds of Chicago, Sierra Hull, James McMurtry, Carlene Carter, Shawn Mullins, Nikki Lane, Matthew Sweet, Mary Gauthier, Chastity Brown, Hayes Carll, Gretchen Peters, Will Hoge, Marc Broussard, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Darrell Scott, Chely Wright, Over the Rhine, Jeffrey Steele, Pat McGee Band, Amy LaVere, Livingston Taylor, Paul Thorn, John Fullbright, Steve Poltz, The Secret Sisters, Robyn Hitchcock, Miles Zuniga & Tony Scalzo (Fastball), Ken Block & Drew Copeland (Sister Hazel), Aaron Lee Tasjan, Lindsay Lou, Radney Foster, Bob Schneider, Allison Moorer, David Ryan Harris (John Mayer band), Dan Bern, Cory Chisel & Adriel Denae, Amy Ray (solo), Emily Saliers (solo), Robert Ellis, Jonny Fritz, The Honey Dewdrops, Grant-Lee Phillips, Griffin House, Peter Holsapple (The dB’s), Chris Stamey (the dB’s), Chris Stills, Amy Rigby, Abe Partridge, Liz Brasher and AJ Ghent.

The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues ranging in capacity from 75 to 750 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors.

Brian Wilson will perform with his heralded nine-piece band to recreate his most beloved and musically sophisticated productions, from early Beach Boys’ hits (“Don’t Worry Baby,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “The Warmth of the Sun”) to songs from their revered Pet Sounds album (“Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations”) live at Grand Boulevard. Indigo Girls have just completed their new studio album entitled Look Long, recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio in the UK. Produced by John Reynolds and scheduled for release in early 2020, they will introduce new songs from this much-anticipated album at 30A. Songwriters’ songwriter John Prine and his band return to 30A by popular demand. Country music legend Tanya Tucker will showcase new songs from her acclaimed new album, While I’m Livin (produced by Shooter Jennings and Brandi Carlile), and will sing “Delta Dawn” and other classic hits. On Sunday’s headline stage, Don McLean will perform hits spanning over three decades. The RIAA and the National Endowment of the Arts named McLean’s iconic song “American Pie” a top 5 “Song of the Century,” joining “Over the Rainbow,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Respect,” and “White Christmas.” Hailing from Manchester, England, Peter Noone, touring as Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, distinguished himself as the youngest musician of the British Invasion to break big in the U.S. His legacy is eight gold singles, 52 million records sold, hundreds of TV appearances and a Broadway play.  

The 30A Songwriters Festival is a benefit for the nonprofit Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, which supports artists and nonprofit cultural events and businesses throughout the county. 100% of net proceeds from the event benefit the CAA to help fund its annual budget. The festival is co-produced by Russell Carter Artist Management and the Cultural Arts Alliance. The festival is sponsored in part by Visit South Walton.

Additional artists now confirmed and performing are: John Driskell Hopkins, Cliff Eberhardt, Dan Navarro, Kyshona Armstrong, Kim Richey, Scott Miller, Levi Lowrey, Pat Byrne, Peter Karp, Mac Powell, Marti Jones & Don Dixon, Stephen Kellogg, Will Kimbrough, Erin McKeown, Balderdash, Ltd., Nora Jane Struthers, Daphne Willis, The Tall Pines, Kristy Lee, Louise Mosrie, Chasing Lovely, Peter Bradley Adams, Alexa Rose, Jeff Black, Randall Bramblett, Eliot Bronson, Grayson Capps, Kyle Jacobs, Jennifer Knapp, Joe Leathers, Liz Longley, Phil Madeira, Charlie Mars, Michael McDermott, Cooper Carter & The Royal Senders, Matinee Idols, Billy Montana, Sarah Potenza, Amilia K Spicer, Sugarcane Jane, The Talbott Brothers, Michael Tolcher, Brian White, Karyn Williams, Noah Zacharin, Raye Zaragoza, Adam Hood, Heather Maloney, Ross Newell, David Olney, Dan Rodriguez, Dave Rowe, Mary Bragg, Kevin Gordon, Robby Hecht, Jerry Joseph, Millie McGuire, Amy Speace, Becky Warren, Paul Burch, Wyatt Durette, Diane Durrett, Lindsey Lomis, Emily Scott Robinson, Chris Alvarado, The Bittersweets, Misty Boyce, Cat Carter, Wyatt Edmondson, Dave Franklin, Tom Gray, Emily Hackett, Heather Lynne Horton, Shannon LaBrie, Jeremy Lister, The Mosleys, Chuck Cannon, Gurufish, Alex Guthrie, Molly Parden, Sarah Peacock, Gretchen Pleuss, Sam Rae, Cat Ridgeway, Mando Saenz, Chas Sandford, Bradley Cole Smith, Molly Stevens, Trisha Ivy, Kate Vargas, Webb Wilder, Tommy Womack, Kyle LaMonica, Nicole Chillemi, Boukou Groove, Donnie Sundal, Michelle Malone, The Sundogs, Jennifer Lynn Simpson and Drew Tillman.

Co-producers Russell Carter and Jennifer Steele commented on the 2020 30A Songwriters Festival: “Let me summarize what the 2020 30A Songwriters Festival is all about,” stated Russell Carter, President of RCAM and festival co-producer. “It’s about great songs — ‘God Only Knows,’ ‘American Pie,’ ‘Closer To Fine,’ ‘Angel From Montgomery,’ ‘Delta Dawn,’ ‘Puff the Magic Dragon,’ ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Closing Time’ — just to touch the surface. There is a calm along 30A early in the third week of January, a typically quiet time in the resort town. By the week’s end, an explosion of music, food, wine and spirits combine to create an indescribable, sustained vibe as 200 musicians gather to perform for the multitude of fans throughout the weekend.”  

“The 30A Songwriters Festival is a beloved and anticipated tradition for locals and visitors to South Walton and a major source of funding for the Cultural Arts Alliance,” said Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County Executive Director and Festival Co-Producer Jennifer Steele. “The Festival fulfills the CAA’s vision for creative placemaking, establishing the area as a home for rich and rewarding cultural entertainment and experiences. We are so proud to be able to bring it to life each year and grateful the event allows us to fulfill our mission to advance the arts in our community.”

The 30A Songwriters Festival has again teamed up with many non-profit organizations as sponsors. Returning in 2020 will be the ASCAP Showcase at the Lake House in WaterColor, Folk Alley producing its Folk Alley Sessions at 30A for its nationally syndicated Folk Alley Radio Show. The Oxford American showcase will feature artists exclusively from the state that will be featured in its annual Fall music issue. The Americana Fest returns to stage Americana artists for whom both the 30A Songwriters Festival and the AMA share a fondness and commitment. This year we introduce the Grocery On Home showcase stage curated by Matt Arnett, known throughout the music community as one of the more prominent producers of house parties. 

Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at 30asongwritersfestival.com. VIP tickets that include premium seating on the lawn at Grand Boulevard for the headline shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoons along with access to the VIP tent serving complimentary food, beer, wine and cocktails are also available. For a full description of each ticket package, VIP transportation packages for groups of 2 up to 12, and details for the special night of music and free craft beers at festival sponsor and locally based Grayton Beer Company Taproom, visit 30asongwritersfestival.com.