This November, the Gulf breeze will carry more than the scent of salt and pine. It will carry music—smooth, stirring, and alive. From November 6 through 8, 2025, South Walton will host the first annual SOWAL Jazz Fest, a three-night celebration of artistry and connection that promises a rich cultural experience.

The festival brings metropolitan sophistication to the coast, transforming familiar venues into intimate jazz clubs reminiscent of the golden age of the genre. Each performance offers a rare opportunity to experience timeless music up close, with showtimes at 6 and 8 p.m. and guaranteed seating for every guest. Tickets begin at $50, allowing festivalgoers to craft their own rhythm and route from one show to the next.

The lineup is a tribute to jazz in all its moods—nostalgic, raw, and ever-evolving. At SOWAL House, Josh Sirten and The Velvet Jazz Quartet will channel the effortless swing of Frank Sinatra on Thursday and Friday nights, followed by Sheila Ford’s haunting tribute to Billie Holiday on Saturday.

Distillery 98 will hum with the smoky energy of Amy Winehouse as Teresa Lombardi and The Midnight Muses Quartet bring her unmistakable voice and spirit to life across all three evenings.

Over in Grayton Beach, Black Bear’s Bar Room will host “The Quiet Storm,” featuring Bobbie Storm, Wayne Mitchum, and Jimmy Ward—a soulful blend of coastal jazz and southern rhythm.

And at Wild Olives in Greenway Station, The Reid Murphy Quartet will fuse modern funk and improvisation into something electric and alive.Each venue contributes its own atmosphere to the experience.

SOWAL House stands as a beacon for culture and conversation, where performances feel more like living art than entertainment. Distillery 98 adds craft and conviviality to the mix. Black Bear’s Bar Room provides a cozy refuge for soul seekers, and Wild Olives blends culinary creativity with musical flair. Together, they tell the story of a community that’s evolving—one that believes world-class artistry can thrive right here at home.

That belief is central to the SOWAL Foundation, the nonprofit behind the festival and the philanthropic arm of SOWAL House. For Dave King, who leads both, the event is more than a series of performances—it’s a manifestation of a mission. He envisions something slightly different for South Walton: cultural experiences that feel metropolitan in scope yet deeply local in spirit. “What makes us different,” King says, “is our focus on producing metropolitan-style cultural experiences right here in South Walton—while also providing funding for local artists to pursue their passion projects and giving them a platform to share their work. Jazz Fest embodies that mission: world-class performances, intimate venues, and meaningful support for our creative community.”

In many ways, that sentiment captures what makes this place special. Along this stretch of the Gulf Coast, art isn’t confined to galleries or grand halls—it spills into cafés, distilleries, and music rooms where neighbors gather and stories are shared. The SOWAL Jazz Fest will be the latest expression of that spirit, offering not just a lineup of extraordinary music, but a glimpse into the soul of a community that understands the value of beauty, connection, and rhythm.

Tickets start at $50 per show and are available at sowaljazzfest.com. Each ticket secures entry to one performance with guaranteed seating, and guests may choose VIP reserved seating for the best views.