30A Songwriter Radio Music & Coffee Shop

On a rainy Thursday morning I was dripping as I dashed inside 30A Songwriter Radio, SoWal's newest coffee shop. Owners Shannon Ireland and Josette Rhodes dreamed up their music cafe and piece by piece it came together. It’s no surprise that since opening this month, local musicians have flocked to the new stomping ground next to South Walton Publix on Hwy 98.

30A Songwriter Radio has served South Walton with a streaming online radio broadcast for years, and with this new space the open mic nights, regular musician interviews, and live radio shows now have a central hub to thrive.

Shannon and Josette have infused tons of charm and a bit of musical history into the cafe. All over the shop are antique radios and it’s neat to think about what these radios must have “seen” back before television when they were the centerpieces of family entertainment. It’s cool to think about the living rooms they would have called home and the eras and musical genres which passed through them.

Meeting for a cup of joe can be almost ritualistic and coffee lovers know it is serious business. Shannon did lots of research to determine the organic fair trade Guatemalan bean that would be his drip selection. He even conducted a poll to select the espresso and with a resounding vote, Larry’s Beans from North Carolina was the people’s choice.

Right now their coffee and teas headline the menu, but 30A Songwriters Cafe is also adding small eats to the lineup. Try local bakery Crust’s pastries, Veronica’s Health Crunch granola, Dreaming Cow yogurts or enjoy a straightforward and freshly made sandwich like the Caprese.

Once it’s quittin’ time, unique rock n’ roll beer selections are also available. The German ACDC lager or Queen themed pilsner from the Czech Republic are two distinctive varieties sold. The store also displays great gift ideas like local bands’ CDs, handcrafted jewelry, quilted bags, and even brand new record players and vintage vinyl.

The ultimate goal for the space is to bring people together. “We want this place to be a gathering spot for the community and a positive place that fosters creativity” Josette explained.  Every Tuesday night at 7:00 is Open Mic night – encouraging and fostering new talent and camaraderie. You'll find live music here on any given morning, afternoon or night. Just check the SoWal Music Calendar to get all the shows in weeks to come. And the performances are streaming live on 30A Songwriter Radio.

So let’s sum it up: a groovy little place with delicious free trade coffee, comfy furniture, live music, a friendly vibe, and tons of local love? Seems like they’ve brewed up a smash hit where the music is flowing and the coffee is rockin'. Get the menu online.

30A Songwriter Radio is located at in the South Walton Publix Shopping Plaza on Hwy 98. Experimental Hours are Monday-Saturday 7 am to 10 pm.
 

30A Songwriter Radio Music & Coffee Shop menu        

SoWal Music Calendar is the local source for live music entertainment in restaurants, bars and outdoor concerts in beach towns in South Walton as well as select hot spots in Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida.