FloydFest is a Music and arts festival held annually near Floyd, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains

FloydFest
The entrance to FloydFest
GenreVarious: rock, bluegrass, reggae, folk, Yiddish, Cajun, or Zydeco, African, Appalachian, world music
Location(s)Blue Ridge Mountains
Floyd, Virginia
Years active2002–19, 2021–present
Websitefloydfest.com

History

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The event began in 2002, and spans five days each year with on-site camping and multiple stages featuring rock, bluegrass, reggae, folk, Yiddish, Cajun, or Zydeco, African, Appalachian, and world music performers. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the 19th edition was deferred to 2021.

After the 2022 festival, organizers moved the festival to a site in the community of Check, VA, in Floyd County a dozen miles northeast of the town of Floyd. However, due to environmental concerns about the site, it could not be used for the 2023 festival, which had to be canceled.[1]

In addition to music, the festival features local arts and crafts, dance workshops, morning yoga lessons, story telling, poetry readings, and a "Children's Universe" tent. In March, 2024,

Each year, FloydFest features a theme:

  • 2002: Floyd County World Music Festival
  • 2003: Out Of This World Music
  • 2004: Midsummer's Dream
  • 2005: Rock of Ages
  • 2006: Roots Alive
  • 2007: It's in the Mix
  • 2008: Family Affair
  • 2009: Revival
  • 2010: Breaking Ground
  • 2011: The eXperience
  • 2012: Lovers Rock
  • 2013: Rise & Shine
  • 2014: Revolutionary
  • 2015: Fire on the Mountain
  • 2016: Dreamweavin'
  • 2017: Freedom
  • 2018: Wild
  • 2019: Voyage Home
  • 2020: -No Event-
  • 2021: Odyssey
  • 2022: Heartbeat
  • 2023: Forever (No Event)
  • 2024: Horizon
  • 2025: Aurora

Performers

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Each of the following sections has a list of notable performers for that year.

2002: Floyd County World Music Festival

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  • Lucky Dube
  • Karsh Kale
  • Culture
  • David Grisman Quintet
  • King Chang
  • Garmarna
  • Stacey Earle
  • Peter Rowan & Tony Rice
  • DJ Cheb I Sabba
  • Acoustic Syndicate
  • Rhonda Vincent
  • Lonesome River Band
  • Solazo

2003: Out Of This World Music

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2004: Midsummer's Dream

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2005: Rock of Ages

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2006: Roots Alive

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  • Akoya Afrobeat
  • Rhythm Taxi
  • Donna the Buffalo
  • Gabby La La
  • Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon
  • Campbell Brothers
  • Jake Shimabukuro
  • Toubab Krewe
  • Garaj Mahal
  • Balfa Toujours
  • David Bromberg and the Angel Band
  • The Lee Boys
  • Adrienne Young and Little Sadie
  • Lamine Toure
  • William Walter and Co.
  • Scott Perry
  • Devon Sproule
  • Kat Mills
  • Blue Mule
  • Still WIlliss
  • Kill Basa Bill's Roadshow
  • Charivari
  • Dirk Powell
  • Appalachian Roots
  • Jan Smith Band
  • No Speed Limit
  • Morwenna Lasso and Jay Pun
  • Vulgar Bulgars
  • Smooth Kentucky
  • Sun Dried Opossum

2007: It's in the Mix

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  • Carolina Chocolate Drops
  • DeVotchKa
  • North Mississippi Allstars
  • Red Stick Ramblers
  • Rose's Pawn Shop
  • Sons of Bill
  • The Duhks
  • The Hackensaw Boys
  • Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective
  • Sam Bush
  • Donna the Buffalo
  • Cat Empire
  • Railroad Earth
  • Midnite
  • Waybacks
  • Toubab Krewe
  • Blue Highway
  • Langhorn Slim
  • Kusan Ensemble
  • Feufollet
  • Lil' Brian and the Zydeco Travelers
  • 3 Fox Drive
  • Erik Mongrain
  • Appalachian Roots
  • Scythian
  • American Dumpster
  • Church
  • Infamous Stringdusters
  • Carolina Chocolate Drops
  • Spiral
  • Jan Smith
  • Sol Creech Band
  • Strut
  • The Seed
  • Morwenna Lasko & Jay Punn
  • William Walter & Co.
  • Devon Sproule
  • Paul Curreri
  • The Wiyos
  • Smooth Kentucky
  • The Old Ceremony
  • Possum Jenkins Band
  • Wild Turkeys
  • Kat Mills
  • Kill Basa Bills Roadshow
  • Carbon Culture
  • Blue Mule
  • Anya & Jackson
  • Scott Perry
  • Bombadil
  • Musicians from the Crooked Road
  • Telepath
  • The Barrel House Mamas
  • Mood Cultivation
  • Hope Massive
  • Capoeirista

2008: Family Affair

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  • Amos Lee
  • Rusted Root
  • Avett Brothers
  • Railroad Earth
  • Tea Leaf Green
  • David Grisman Quintet
  • Oliver Mtukudzi
  • Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
  • Donna the Buffalo
  • New Monsoon
  • Crooked Still
  • Chatham County Line
  • Golem
  • Tony Trischka & Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
  • The Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band
  • Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
  • Laura Reed & Deep Pocket
  • Jamie McLean
  • DJ Williams Projekt
  • Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
  • The Superpowers
  • Bombadil
  • Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad
  • Gokh-bi System
  • Blueground Undergrass
  • The Speckers
  • Cadillac Sky
  • Kill Basa Bill's Roadshow
  • Ananda
  • 3 minute Lovin'
  • Blue Mule
  • Mr. Mojo
  • Wild Turkeys
  • Jan Smith Band
  • Spiral
  • The Blue Fairy & Prince of Pipes
  • Indigenous Gourd Orchestra
  • Oneside-Bucktown Kickback
  • Lynx
  • Sons of Bill
  • Junior League
  • Katie Pearlman Band
  • Buzz Universe
  • Segway
  • Kristi Emmons
  • M02
  • Stop Drop & Roll
  • Kat Mills
  • Eli Cook & Electric Holy Firewater
  • Paleface
  • Jordan Harmon Band
  • Izzy & Chris
  • The Aliens
  • Curious Strange
  • Shane Gamble & the Gentlemen
  • the everybodyfields
  • iRon Lion
  • Thunderdrums
  • Blind Corn Liquor Pickers
  • Cashmere Jungle Lords
  • My Radio
  • Jennie Arnau
  • Turbo Project
  • David Shultz
  • Kings of Belmont
  • Sci Fi
  • Moossa
  • HuDost
  • Stephanie Rocker
  • William Walter & Co.

2009: Revival

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2010: Breaking Ground

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  • The Levon Helm Band
  • Old Crow Medicine Show
  • Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
  • Galactic featuring Corey Henry of The Rebirth Brass Band
  • Railroad Earth
  • JJ Grey & Mofro
  • Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
  • Soulive
  • Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba
  • Konono No1
  • Deer Tick
  • Tift Merritt
  • The Low Anthem
  • Hackensaw Boys
  • Cornmeal
  • Eric Krasno & Chapter 2
  • Pimps of Joytime
  • Mountain Heart
  • Flam Chen
  • Budos Band
  • Joe Pug
  • Bearfoot
  • Rockridge Brothers
  • WIYOS
  • Solas
  • Spiral
  • Rising Appalachia
  • Dangermuffin
  • Miss Tess & the Bon Ton Parade
  • Christabel & the Jons
  • Boulder Acoustic Society
  • Holy Ghost Tent Revival
  • Packway Handle Band
  • Alexis P Suter Band
  • Soulhound
  • Two Man Gentleman Band
  • Butch Robins
  • Imagicnation
  • The Mantras
  • Sol Driven Train
  • William Walter & Co
  • Thunderdrums
  • Papadosio
  • Folk Soul Revival
  • The Barefoot Movement
  • Kat Mills
  • 3 Minute Lovin, *Adrienne Young
  • The Steel Wheels
  • American Dumpster
  • Dirty Horse
  • Blue Mule
  • Scintillation Fire Troupe
  • Old Sledge
  • Kill Basa Bill's Roadshow
  • JP Harris & the Tough Choices
  • The Hot Seats
  • Dance Afire
  • White Top Mountain Band
  • My Radio
  • Sauerkraut Band
  • Danny Knicely
  • Farm Use Only
  • Hoorah Cloggers
  • JuggleThis!
  • Rocknoceros
  • Miss Kitty's Society for Wayward Cosmonauts
  • Charles Eisenstein
  • Dharma Rebel w/ Jason Murphy
  • James Justin & Co.
  • Musicians of the Crooked Road.

2012: Lovers Rock

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2013: Rise & Shine

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2014: Revolutionary

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2015: Fire on the Mountain

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2016: Dreamweavin'

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2017: Freedom

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2018: Wild

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  • Foster the People
  • Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
  • Old Crow Medecine Show
  • Gov't Mule
  • The Infamous Stringdusters
  • Leftover Salmon
  • Tyler Childers
  • ZZ Ward
  • Hiss Golden Messenger
  • Greta Van Fleet
  • Keller Williams Petty Grass feat. The Hillbenders
  • Antibalas
  • Buffalo Mountain Jam
  • Nikki Lane
  • Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
  • The Steel Wheels
  • Nicki Bluhm
  • Langhorne Slim
  • Son Little
  • The Lil Smokies
  • Horses & Hand Grenades
  • The Mother Hips
  • Lindsay Lou
  • No BS! Brass Band
  • Devon Gilfillian
  • Songs from the Road Band
  • Mr. Jennings
  • Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
  • South Hill Banks
  • The Virginia Gentlemen
  • Dharma Bombs
  • Mapache
  • The National Reserve
  • The Native Howl
  • The Broadcast
  • Erin & the Wildfire
  • Travis Meadows
  • Mama Said String Band
  • Che Apalache
  • The Harmed Brothers
  • The Floorboards
  • Fireside Collective
  • Sol Searchers
  • Blue Mule
  • Black Mountain Revival
  • My Radio
  • Dead Reckoning
  • Omegawolfe
  • Los Chupacabras
  • Gote
  • Morgan Wade & the Stepbrothers
  • Jordan Harman
  • The Jam
  • The Mad Iguanas
  • Andrew Scottie & the River Rats
  • The Antecedents
  • Common Center
  • The Company Stores
  • Dalton Dash
  • The Dirty Grass Players
  • The Freeway Revival
  • Frenchie & the Holy Gems
  • Graham Stone Music
  • Gryzzle
  • The Harwell Grice Band
  • The Highballers
  • The Hills and the Rivers
  • Jesse Daniel Edwards
  • Kendall Street Company
  • Kid Brother
  • Magnolia Boulevard
  • Metaphonia
  • Old Heavy Hands
  • Sid Kingsley
  • Stray Local
  • Striking Copper
  • Travers Brothership
  • Vintage Pistol
  • Virginia Ground
  • Wille De Band
  • The Change
  • Miss Kitty's Cosmonauts

2019: Voyage Home

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  • The String Cheese Incident
  • Brandi Carlile
  • Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Tyler Childers
  • Lukas Nelson & Promise of Real
  • Margo Price
  • Leftover Salmon
  • Fantastic Negrito
  • Hot Tuna
  • Keller Williams grateful grass ft. Love Cannon
  • Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
  • The Motet
  • Jade Bird
  • The War & Treaty
  • Kyle Hollingsworth Band
  • American Aquarium
  • DJ Williams Shots Fired
  • New Orleans Suspects
  • Acoustic Syndicate
  • Buffalo Mountain Jam
  • Songs from the Road Band
  • The Saturators
  • Lillie Mae
  • Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
  • Becca Mancari
  • Trout Steak Revival
  • Jon Stickley Trio
  • The Works
  • Mountain Heart
  • Yarn
  • Nora Jane Struthers
  • Front Country
  • Pert Near Sandstone
  • Old Salt Union
  • The Yawpers
  • Bella's Bartock
  • Circus No.9
  • Honeysuckle
  • The Broadcast
  • Erin & the Wildfire
  • The Virginia Gentlemen
  • Sean McConnell
  • Pumphouse Blues
  • Elise Davis
  • L.A. Edwards
  • Magnolia Boulevard
  • Travers Brothership
  • Blue Mule
  • Chupacabras
  • Dead Reckoning
  • Dharma Bombs
  • Gote
  • Jordan Harman
  • Morgan Wade & the Stepbrothers
  • Music Road Co.
  • My Radio
  • Solacoustix
  • The Floorboards
  • The Jam
  • The Wildmans
  • Acid Cats
  • Arkansauce
  • Dark Moon Hollow
  • Downtown Abbey & the Echoes
  • Driftwood Gypsy
  • Mason Via & Hot Trail Mix
  • If Birds Could Fly
  • Marvelous Funkshun
  • The Northerners
  • The Volts
  • Tuatha Dea
  • Vintage Pistol
  • Becki the Balloon Lady
  • Blackberry Jam
  • Cane Mill Road
  • Ella & Mary
  • Fluidity Performance Troupe
  • Gravity Check Juggling
  • Gypsy Geoff
  • Hoot & Holler Stories
  • Hunter Rhodes Medic
  • Maya Burgess & Friends
  • Miss Ellie's String Band
  • Miss Kitty's Cosmonauts
  • Community High School Band
  • Music Lab at Jefferson Center
  • The New River Jam Band
  • The World of Good Puppets

2020: No Event - Pandemic

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2021: Odyssey

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  • The Avett Brothers
  • Billy Strings
  • Old Crow Medecine Show
  • Turkuaz w/ Jerry Harrison & Adrian Bellow Remain in Light
  • Whiskey Myers
  • Goose
  • Leftover Salmon
  • Keller Williams
  • Molly Tuttle
  • The Band of Heathens
  • Nicole Atkins
  • Devon Gilfillian
  • Brent Cobb
  • Keller & the Keels
  • Andy Franco & the U.N.
  • Katie Pruitt
  • Acoustic Syndicate
  • Buffalo Mountain Jam
  • Nicole Atkins All-Star Jam
  • Hogslop String Band
  • Rebekah Todd & the Odyssey
  • Stephen Lewis & the Big Band of Fun
  • Mama Said String Band
  • Big Daddy Love
  • L Shape Lot
  • Tara Dente
  • Melt
  • The Josephines
  • Goodnight, Texas
  • The GoodFellers
  • Lance Thomas
  • Abby Bryant & the Echoes
  • Hot Trail Mix
  • 49 Winchester
  • Ashley Heath and Her Heathens
  • Bailey Bigger
  • Bandits on the Run
  • Big Atomic
  • Casey Noel
  • Chance McCoy
  • Christian Lopez
  • Darzo
  • Dr. Bacon
  • Free Union
  • Grizzly Goat
  • Into the Fog
  • Music Road Co.
  • Nicholas Jameson & the Morning Jays
  • Pressing Strings
  • Restless Leg String Band
  • Sexbruise?
  • Short & Company
  • Taylor Scott Band
  • Thunder and Rain
  • Unaka Prong
  • The Ambassador
  • Apex
  • Blue Mule
  • Chupacabras
  • The Dead Reckoning
  • Dharma Bombs
  • Empty Bottles
  • Exit 109 Bluegrass
  • The Floorboards
  • Gote
  • Isaac Hadden Project
  • The Jam
  • James Lagueux Band
  • John Mcbroom
  • Jordan Harman
  • Lazy Man Dub Band
  • Mike Mitchell Band
  • My Radio
  • Orange Culture
  • Becki the Balloon Lady
  • Black Mountain Revival
  • The Blue Ridge Girls
  • Community High School Band
  • Dylan Underwood
  • Einstein's Monkey
  • Fluidity Performance Troupe
  • Gravity Check Juggling
  • Gypsy Geoff
  • Hoot & Holler Stories
  • Hunter Rhodes Magic
  • Magician of Life
  • McBurgess
  • Miss Kitty's Cosmonauts
  • Music Lab at Jefferson Center
  • The New River Jam Band
  • One Fret Over
  • Sara Ernst
  • Taryn Collinsworth
  • World of Good Puppets

2023:~Forever~

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  • The Black Crowes
  • My Morning Jacket
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Goose
  • Elle King
  • Yelawolf and Shooter Jennings Present: Sometimes Y
  • Ripe
  • Shane Smith and the Saints
  • Altin Gün
  • Nikki Lane
  • The Hip Abduction
  • Ian Noe
  • Neighbor
  • Eggy
  • The Wilder Blue
  • Palmyra
  • The Jared Stout Band

2024:~Horizon~

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  • Joe Russo's Almost Dead
  • Black Pumas
  • Charley Crockett
  • Sierra Ferrell
  • Allen Stone
  • The Record Company
  • Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers
  • Sierra Hull
  • Circles Around the Sun
  • Leftover Salmon
  • KellerGrass ft. The HillBenders
  • The Heavy Heavy
  • Maggie Rose
  • Jupiter & Okwess
  • Drayton Farley
  • Little Stranger
  • Orgone
  • Sons of the East
  • The Nude Party
  • S.G. Goodman
  • Vincent Neil Emerson
  • The Hip Abduction
  • Town Mountain
  • Cat Clyde
  • Eggy
  • Neighbor
  • The Wilder Blue
  • Jaime Wyatt
  • Hogslop String Band
  • Proxima Parada
  • Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers
  • Easy Star All-Stars
  • The Commonheart
  • Sam Burchfield & The Scoundrels
  • The Vegabonds
  • Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast
  • Ben Chapman
  • J & The Causeways
  • Grace Bowers
  • Sexbruise?
  • Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers
  • Empire Strikes Brass
  • Isaac Hadden Organ Trio
  • The Wilson Springs Hotel
  • Shawn Mullins
  • Hank, Pattie & The Current
  • Music Road Co.
  • The Tree of Forgiveness Band - A John Prine Tribute
  • The Dead Reckoning plays the Allman Brothers
  • Palmyra (FF22 On-the-Rise Winner)
  • The Jared Stout Band (FF22 On-the-Rise Runner-Up)
  • FloydFest 24~Horizon On-the-Rise Competition Class of 2024 - Sponsored by Peluso Microphone Lab & Press Press Merch:
  • Boa Boys
  • Coral Moons
  • Drew Foust & The Wheelhouse
  • Happy Landing
  • Houseplant
  • Mackenzie Roark and The Hotpants
  • Ranford Almond
  • Swim in the Wild
  • The Plate Scrapers
  • Virginia Man
  • Wood & Bone
  • Wyatt Ellis
  • FloydFest 24~Horizon 'Local love' Artists:
  • Addie Levy
  • Annalyse Marie
  • Appalachian Space Train
  • Blue Mule
  • Chad Nickell & The Loose Change
  • Cinémathèque
  • GOTE
  • The Hillside Chaotics
  • Isaac Hadden Project
  • Leonard Blush & the Camelcals
  • Phat Anchovies
  • Pumphouse Blues
  • Sugarbush
  • War Chile
  • Bitchin’ Music Group Series:
  • Jade Jackson
  • Jesse Daniel Edwards
  • L.A. Edwards
  • Landon Pigg
  • The Master Speed
  • Floyd Country Store Workshop Porch Artists:
  • DeShawn Hickman Presents Sacred Steel
  • Dori Freeman
  • Handmade Music School
  • Justin Golden & Devil’s Coattails
  • Larry Sigmon & The Virginia Girls
  • Lonesome River Band
  • Martha Spencer
  • Nobody’s Business
  • Raistlin Brabson & Margo MacSweeney
  • Sarah Kate Morgan
  • Twin Creeks Stringband

2025:~Aurora~

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+ MORE TO COME!

Reviews

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FloydFest

Voted "Best Large Music Venue in Southwestern Virginia" by Virginia Living

FloydFest '04

"Some larger festivals boast a similar peace, love and music philosophy, but Floyd actually lives it, not just for one weekend, but throughout the entire year."[3]

FloydFest '05

"Floyd sits in a timeless, beautiful section of Virginia, far enough from bigger cities like Roanoke and Danville to feel like it's truly in the middle of nowhere."[4]

"The only thing constant on the festival grounds was the flow of culturally powerful music and mud covered feet."[5]

FloydFest '08

"Floydfest is an epicenter of culture for Southwest Virginia" - Virginia Senator, Mark Warner[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Dickens, Tad (April 6, 2023). "FloydFest cancels 2023 event". Roanoke Times. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Berrier Jr., Ralph (22 July 2007). "FloydFest highlights: 2002-2006". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-01-27. Retrieved 2006-01-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ [1] [dead link]
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2005-12-30. Retrieved 2006-01-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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