I-65 to 30a

Professional musicians Krissa and Mark Gillespie currently call the Emerald Coast their home. They met in 2015 while Mark was living in N on a break from touring with Trace Adkins' band. After years of performing and touring, their vocal and musical talents are showcased weekly along Highway 30A. Krissa fronts the Pickled Pickers band with Mark on lead guitar, and together they also perform as a d...

Dan Navarro has had a successful career, penning such hits as Pat Benatar's "We Belong." He is also a talented voice actor and discusses his many Hollywood TV and movie projects. I sat down with Dan at North Beach Social in Santa Rosa Beach, FL in between his performances at the 2025 30a Songwriters Festival. His talent extends in multiple directors in music and film.  Follow Dan at https://dannav...

Wyatt Espalin, a native of Hiawassee, Georgia, began his musical career with the encouragement and influence of his grandfather. He released his debut album, S ongwriter/Singer , in 2015, and his latest EP, Diamondback , is currently available. I had the opportunity to catch up with Wyatt during the 2025 30A Songwriters Festival, where he has performed for several years. In addition to discussing...

Levi Lowrey is a singer-songwriter based in Dacula, Georgia. His hit song, "Colder Weather," was a chart-topping success for the Zac Brown Band. In collaboration with fellow songwriter Wyatt Durrette, Levi forms the duo "Yesterday's Wine," and together they continue to produce incredible music. I had the opportunity to catch up with Levi during the 16th annual 30A Songwriters Festival. Along with...

This year marks the 17th anniversary of the  30a Songwriters Festival . Over 125 singer-songwriters, from Devon Allman to Jeffrey Steele, Levi Lowrey, Wyatt Durrante, and Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke) will perform in 32 venues from Rosemary Beach to Miramar Beach, Florida. Local 30a singer-songwriter Dion Jones is making his second festival appearance and joined me to preview this year's lineup...

Richard Orga helps development up-and-coming talent from his Nashville, Tennessee office. He also helped publish 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere' and other chart-topping hits.

The Forrest Williams Band, comprised of the husband-wife duo Pherrel and Forrest Williams, is one of 30A's most popular bands. Originally from Northwest Arkansas, they have spent most of their lives and marriage performing and writing music. Check out their fantastic love story and how their music impacts many adoring fans' lives.

Known as the "Alabama Astronaut" and based in Mobile, AL, Abe Partridge writes and performs his unique style of Americana music. A staple at multiple songwriting festivals each year, Partridge tours and performs extensively. I sat down with Abe during the 2024 30A Songwriters Festival at SOWAL House in Rosemary Beach, FL to discuss his music, preaching background, and his own podcast.  When he isn...

A Panama City Beach, FL, area native, Will Thompson has played in local and regional music venues for years. When he was 18, he sold everything to raise enough money for a recording studio. Along with his wife and band, the Will Thompson Band is one of 30A's most popular acts. Listen to our conversation and learn the story behind his latest single, 'Checklist.' 

Few of Music City's top record executives will argue that Jeffrey Steele is one of Nashville's all-time great songwriters. Yet what makes Steele so unique is that he devotes much of his time to mentoring the next generation of wordsmiths. I sat down with Jeffrey in the podcast studio at SOWAL House in Rosemary Beach, FL, during the 30A Songwriters Festival to hear his story of personal trials and...

A fixture of the creative scene along Florida's Emerald Coast, Jessica Plowden Anderson grew up in Los Angeles, CA. She relocated to Florida's 30a corridor in 2013 after graduating from California Lutheran University. Today Jessica pursues her creative endeavors for storytelling and videography daily through  That Girl Media , working in video production, which includes producing, filming, editing...

SOWAL House is a creative studio and event space in Rosemary Beach, Florida. It's also where most I-65 to 30a and Southern Americana podcast episodes are recorded. Each month they host a happy hour for local creatives to socialize and interact.  This episode features 30a area creatives, Brynley & Lukas Joyner, who run several e-commerce sites, including fitness, lifestyle, and spiritual products....

Atlanta, Georgia native, Eddie 9-Volt, is creating a buzz within the Americana and Blues scene. This young artist realized his career path early and began performing on Southern stages while still in high school. In 2019, Eddie 9V released his debut album, Left My Soul In Memphis , followed by his latest project, Little Black Flies . We caught up with Eddie 9V and his band after a Cultural Arts Al...

Sugarcane Jane, comprised of Anthony Crawford and Savana Lee, recently opened for Dwight Yoakum and tour extensively across the Southeast. Based in Loxley, Alabama, the couple first met at a recording studio in Nashville. Anthony began playing and touring with Neil Young when he was only 24. He also made his Grand Ole Opry debut at 18, performing with the legendary Roy Acuff.  I sat down with Sava...

Musicians Tori Lund and Blake English met while performing and engineering music at a Los Angeles area church. Today, the musical duo, Few Miles South , lives in rural Georgia and performs throughout the southeast. They've opened for the Kentucky Headhunters, Nikki Lane, Junior Brown, Brent Cobb, and many others. Blake is an incredible musician, demonstrating "Roy Nichols-style electric guitar lic...

Grant Walden is the owner and Chief Audio Engineer of Heartell Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. He cut his teeth learning from music's best-known sound masters and was recognized as one of Muscle Shoals' top recording engineers. He's also the creator and host of the Muscle Shoals Storytellers podcast. Grant sat down with me in the SOWAL House studio in Rosemary Beach, FL, to chat about the Muscle Sho...

Songwriters Andi Zack-Johnson and Ken Johnson are the creators behind the children's series, "Huck and Lilly." I sat down with Andi and Ken at SOWAL House in the heart of Rosemary Beach, Florida to chat about their songwriting lives, careers, and guest starring on the I Love Kellie Pickler TV show.

An energetic, serial, and creative entrepreneur is only one way to describe Alabama native Dave King. Trained in the arts, Dave had a successful career as a cybersecurity expert in the financial services industry before relocating to Florida's Emerald Coast with his family. After a near-death experience, Dave turned his focus to developing a creative-inspired space in the heart of Rosemary Beach,...

Louisiana native and singer-songwriter CJ Solar discusses how attending a Doobie Brothers concert as a young teenager motivated him to pursue a musical journey.  CJ's first love is crafting songs, yet his incredible playing and singing talent takes him to new heights. During the 30A Songwriters Festival at SOWAL House in Rosemary Beach, FL, I sat down with CJ to catch up on his latest projects and...

I sat down with this trio of Nashville hit-makers at SOWAL House in Rosemary Beach, FL during the 30a Songwriters Festival. Memphis, TN native Joe Leathers has written several hit songs during 30A visits for Tim McGraw, Lee Brice, Trace Atkins, and others.  Kyle Jacobs is no stranger to top-10 Country charts, penning hits for Garth Brooks, George Strait, and his lovely bride, Kellie Pickler. Matt...

Huntsville, Alabama native Paul McDonald brings a raw and rare talent to the stage. Paul considered a dental career as a teenager, but the desire to expand his musical talent prevailed. And thankfully so. Along with his raspy vocal talent, Paul's songwriting skills bring another dimension to his performances. After a stint in L.A. where he appeared on American Idol , he moved back to Nashville, wh...

Shanna Dickerson began her professional career promoting concerts in Nashville. After nine years of working with artists like the Rolling Stones, Kenny Chesney, Snoop Dog, and Steve Winwood, she switched careers and began managing a friend of Chesney's luxury property in St. Thomas.   Today Shanna is the CEO and owner of Blue Sky Luxury Travels and Blue Sky Global Logistics, offering luxury accomm...

Casey Kearney is a Florida-based singer, songwriter. She's also a wife and rodeo mom. Casey didn't start playing and singing until her late 20s, and she's definitely carving a niche for herself throughout the Southeast. Her single & video, "Waffle House," is winning critical acclaim and is available on all music streaming platforms.

I-65 to 30a showcases the musical and business connection between Nashville, Muscle Shoals, and Florida's Emerald Coast. Writer Paul Stanley interviews artists, songwriters, musicians, producers, recording engineers, and entrepreneurs who make great music and opportunities come to life.