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Erica, Kris and Chloe get ready for FloydFest

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FloydFest is a family affair

Special to the Press
By Colleen Redman

The theme of this year’s FloydFest, “A Family Affair,” came about at the end of last year’s festival when festival co-founder Kris Hodges realized that everyone involved – patrons, volunteers, staff, and vendors – felt like family. 

But the feeling of family extends beyond the 400 yearly volunteers, the 40 paid event staff, and others who work together to make the summer music festival a success.  The theme, which takes its name from the popular 70’s song by Sly and the Family Stone, is a reflection of Hodges’ overview of the event, held off the Blue Ridge Parkway this July 24 – 27.  “It’s a celebration of tolerance for each other, all of us sharing this planet,” he said.

His partner and co-founder, Erika Johnson, said her appreciation for the theme was reinforced by a recent Tom Petty concert she attended at a large venue in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The event was ruined for her by the impersonal nature of the venue and the rowdy drinking behavior of the packed-in crowd. “For the same amount of money, you could come to FloydFest for the weekend,” Hodges noted. 

FloydFest, about to begin its seventh year, is older than Hodges and Johnson’s daughter Chloe.  In keeping with the family theme, this year will be the first that the six-year-old will be attending all four days of the festival with her ten-year-old brother, Tristen,” her mother said. 

With Chloe on her lap, Johnson talked about the new playground in the Children’s Universe, built by the Pennsylvanian Amish as an ark.  Pointing out the building expansion project at the dance tent site, she explained that each year festival-goers are encouraged with the chance to win free tickets to fill out a survey listing what they liked about the festival and what they would like to see at future events.  A bigger dance floor was at the top of the list. 

“We’re doubling the dance space,” said Bob Forman, a FloydFest staff member who was onsite to work on the project. 

Although the festival continues to offer a range of children’s activities, healing arts, a contained beer and wine garden, a variety of vending tents for food, arts, and crafts; the main focus remains the same. “This festival is for music lovers,” Hodges said. 

Headliners this year include the return of FloydFest favorite, Donna the Buffalo, along with Railroad Earth, Tea Leaf Green, The David Grisman Quintet, Golem, Ivan Neville, the Avett Brothers, and Amos Lee; who Hodges says has been likened to Bob Dylan.  Bands will be coming from San Francisco and Brooklyn and everywhere in between.

Virginia bands are well represented, Hodges said.  He listed Roanoke, Blacksburg, Richmond, and Charlottesville as regional areas the bands will be coming from.  No Speed Limit, a bluegrass band from Galax, described on the FloydFest webpage (atwproductions.com) as “in the fast lane in regards to their musical careers,” will be performing.  Floyd musicians on the roster include Mac and Jenny Traynham, and The Aliens.  Floyd’s Starroot will return to the Children’s Universe with her band Somersault. 

Hodges is particularly excited about the festival’s emerging artist series.  Thirty-five musical acts from nearby and around the county will compete for an audience choice vote.  The winner will return next year for a main stage performance.  The audience favorite will also receive $1,000, recording time at Red Room Studio in Roanoke, and $500 to spend on marketing merchandise to be sold at the FloydFest store, Hodges explained. 

With thousands of festival-goers camping and gathering on the sprawling festival site, with eight stages for four days of nonstop music, and a village of vending tents, FloydFest is a big undertaking.  “We get a lot of help,” Hodges said.  “This year the sponsors really stepped up.”

“The Food Lion is providing water and soda.  Citizens is hosting the Cyber Café, and local landscaper John Beegle has donated landscaping,” Johnson added.

This year 80 bands will hit the FloydFest stages, as compared to 72 last year.  Judging by pre-ticket sales, which are up 30% from last year, Hodges and Johnson are enthusiastic. 

“People want an intimate, wholesome experience, and FloydFest offers that, Hodges said.  “We’re having fun.  We feel blessed every day to be doing this,” Johnson added.

~ Colleen Redman blogs daily at looseleafnotes.com