FloydFest

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

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

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. There'll be no event in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame; the 19th was deferred to 2021.

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.

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
  • 2021: Odyssey (no 2020 event)

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

2007: It's in the Mix

2009: Revival

2010: Breaking Ground

2012: Lovers Rock

2013: Rise & Shine

2014: Revolutionary

2015: Fire on the Mountain

2016: Dreamweavin'

2017: Freedom

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."[2]

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."[3]

"The only thing constant on the festival grounds was the flow of culturally powerful music and mud covered feet."[4]

FloydFest '08

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

Notes
  1. 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.
  2. Glide Magazine
  3. Musictoday Live Review Archived 2005-11-06 at the Wayback Machine
  4. MSN Music Review

Further reading
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.