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Wikipedia / FloydFest

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

History

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, Virginia, 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.

In addition to music, the festival features local arts and crafts, morning yoga lessons, story telling, Outdoor Adventure, and a Children's Universe.

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

  • 2026: Daydream

Performers

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

2002: Floyd County World Music Festival

2003: Out Of This World Music

2004: Midsummer's Dream

2005: Rock of Ages

2006: Roots Alive

  • Balfa Toujours

  • Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey

  • Eddie From Ohio

  • Iris Dement

  • Los Lobos

  • Rory Block

  • The Avett Brothers

  • Tim O'Brien

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

2010: Breaking Ground

  • 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

2013: Rise & Shine

2014: Revolutionary

2015: Fire on the Mountain

2016: Dreamweavin'

2017: Freedom

2018: Wild

  • 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

  • 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

2021: Odyssey

  • The Avett Brothers

  • Billy Strings

  • Old Crow Medecine Show

  • Turkuaz w/ Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew 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 Frasco & 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~

  • 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~

  • 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~

  • The Black Crowes

  • Dallan carbone

  • Gov't Mule

  • JJ Grey & Mofro

  • The California Honeydrops

  • Futurebirds

  • Femi Kuti & The Positive Force

  • Cimafunk

  • Geese

  • The Travelin’ McCourys Presents The Grateful Ball

  • Maggie Rose

  • LA LOM (Los Angeles League of Musicians)

  • The Brothers Comatose

  • Big Something

  • LaMP (Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger, Ray Paczkowski)

  • Aly & AJ

  • Hans Williams

  • Toubab Krewe

  • Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast

  • Chaparelle

  • The Free Label

  • Theo Lawrence

  • Sam Morrow

  • Kelsey Waldon

  • Big Richard

  • Eddie 9V

  • Nat Myers

  • Diggin Dirt

  • Isaac Hadden

  • Bella's Bartok

  • Seth James

  • The Point

  • Cha Wa

  • Hippies & Cowboys

  • Lady Couch

  • Tan & Sober Gentlemen

  • Brass Queens

  • Mackenzie Roark & the Hotpants (2024 On-the-Rise Winner)

  • Ranford Almond (2024 On-the-Rise Runner-Up)

  • Jeremie Albino

  • Chris Smither

  • Clover Country

  • Palm Palm

  • Abby Bryant

  • Red Panda

  • Peen

  • Paul Cauthen

  • The Original Wailers Feat. Al Anderson

  • The Last Revel

  • Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes

  • Crowe Boys

  • Holy Roller

  • The Jared Stout Band

  • Stimulator Jones

  • Marc Ridge & The Revelers

  • Blue Mule

  • Christian Quesenberry

  • Cinémathèque

  • Empty Bottles

  • Father Sun

  • Freak Rangers

  • GOTE

  • Jatoba

  • Kerosene Willy

  • Leonard Blush & The Camelcals

  • Moutain Walrus

  • Ripejive

  • Solacoustix

  • The Sugar Hollows

  • HASH the Band

2026:~Daydream~

Reviews

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."

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."

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

FloydFest '08

"Floydfest is an epicenter of culture for Southwest Virginia" - Virginia Senator, Mark Warner

References