I’m honored to serve as the music editor for 30Aguide.com and have the opportunity to produce music features for the website. I want to take a slightly different approach and dig into the depth of the music in this area by initially focusing on individual musicians instead of bands. In the case of musicians like Bill Garrett and Baulder Saunders we may learn more about their bands by hearing stories from the musicians. In some cases, one musician plays in several bands.

I think it’s safe to say most people along 30A feel like there’s something special about the music scene in this area. One could say it’s because of all the great musicians and that would be true, but only part of the story. There are plenty of places that have great musicians but no real scene. In places that do have well known music scenes like Ashville, Austin, Nashville and New Orleans, the music always seems indigenous to the area, almost as if you could only grow it there. Music from all these places has a consistent sense of style.

Style we have – there’s plenty of Gulf Coast bluegrass history that I want to unfold as we interview local musicians about influences and family. Naturally blues influences this area and it’s not out of the ordinary for the folks around here to rock a bit when they are under the influence; or cry in their beer. Jazz has become more prominent in the area with several good local jazz bands, a few jazz festivals and a local jazz radio station. The music along 30A does have a consistent rootsy style, yet still transcends genres.

As a musician who has played for audiences in this area and all over, I feel like the people and personalities that show up ready to have a good time make the 30A music scene what it is. First consider the tourists who are truly more open to enjoying themselves to the fullest when they are on vacation and out listening to music. Live music, especially acoustic music creates part of the beach nostalgia. The tourists’ positive attitude and readiness to listen and dance gives the musicians momentum and a sense of success in what they are doing. When you think about the effect the support from the locals gives the local music, it’s easy to see 30A audiences set the stage for the great musical performances. The same locals that don’t want high-rise buildings or McDonalds also don’t mind hearing a song played in an entirely different way than it was originally recorded. Some don’t want to hear it like the record. Everyone seems open to original music – this gives the musicians complete freedom to be natural and unique; something the audience in turn really enjoys and responds to.

In this music review we will focus on musicians and their stories but will also include some of the local personalities that are equally as important to this music scene. When possible I’ll have some of these music aficionados interviewing the musicians. We plan to “Dance With the Ones Who Brought Us” – The people literally burning up the floor like HC, Rachel, Fire Dancer, JT, Pou, the Steele sisters - techies like Johnny R, Tom K., Rick L Roy, Paul, Ed J., and Brian that come out and support, record and promote local music - people behind the scenes like Dwight, Dan, B Hand, Bobby R., Anne H., Billy M. and definitely all those that are always there cheering us along like Suzette, Michelle, Kristin & Sara, Donna & the sisters… the list goes on and you know who you are.

These local personalities, the tourists and the musicians make the music scene along 30A. All of these people help establish the individuality of the area and our consistent musical style that has no rules but always seems down to earth. If the musicians are the farmers that grow our indigenous music, the fans are the sun light and water that feeds the music. With the upcoming 30Aguide.com music features, I look forward to digging in and sampling it all!

Be sure to check out the local music player at the top of the page and the calendar to see when Marc and all of our talented musicians are playing!!!