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: Dreamweavin2017: 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 African Showboyz Doc Watson John Scofield Rhonda Vincent Sam Bush The Neville Brothers 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 Baka Beyond David Grisman Quintet Garaj Mahal Nickel Creek Old & In the Gray w/ Vassar Clements Reeltime Travelers The Hackensaw Boys Donna The Buffalo Morgan Heritage Yonder Mountain String Band John Brown's Body Garaj Mahal featuring Fareed Haque Kaki King Acoustic Syndicate Peter Rowan's Texas Trio w/ special guest Spookie Daly Pride Jim Lauderdale Special DGQ 70's Reunion w/ Tony Rice, Mike Marshall and Daryl Anger Speech of Arrested development DJ Cheb i Sabbah Mamadou Diabete Granoloa Funk Express Nii Tettey Tetteh & Kusan Ensemble The African Showboyz plus Man Alive! Foundation Stone True Sound
2004: Midsummer's Dream Acoustic Syndicate Culture Dar Williams Del McCoury Band Donna the Buffalo Railroad Earth Sam Bush Steep Canyon Rangers Tempest Culture Eek-a-Mouse New Monsoon Mountain Heart Lost and Found Larry Keel Experience Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band Enter the Haggis Cyro Baptista & Beat the Donkey TruMystic Jim Donovan of Rusted Root The African Showboyz Hoorah Cloggers Foundation Stone Darrel Rose Mood Cultivation Jan Smith Kat Mills Laura Blackley Band Poplar Hollow Poverty Creek Blue Mule None the Wiser Wild Turkeys Tricia Carter Acoustinova DJ Williams Vulgar Bulgars Susan Greenbaum Phil Woodail Michael Farr New Roanoke Jug Band Beggers Circus Green Lemon Steep Canyon Rangers Crow Greenspan Band Soul Focus Slight Departure Zen Fisherman True Sound
2005: Rock of Ages African Showboyz Ani DiFranco Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble Asylum Street Spankers Blueground Undergrass Corey Harris Discordian Society DJ Williams Donna the Buffalo Hot Tuna J. D. Crowe Jackass Flats Jan Smith Jim Lauderdale Kruger Brothers Larry Keel Michael Farr Old School Freight Train Railroad Earth Scott Miller and the Commonwealth Snake Oil Médecine Show Soldiers of Jah Army Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys The Avett Brothers Tortured Soul TruMystic Xavier Rudd
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 Blues Traveler (with special guest "Survivorman" Les Stroud) Blues and Lasers Donna the Buffalo EOTO Folk Soul Revival Forro in the Dark Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Stop Drop & Roll Grupo Fantasma Holy Ghost Tent Revival Hot 8 Brass Band Lee Boys Luminescent Orchestrii My Radio Nathan Moore Ollabelle Railroad Earth Raw Dawg Rooster Blues Rose's Pawn Shop Sxip Shirey The Belleville Outfit The Bittersweets The Duhks The Felice Brothers The Horse Flies The Old Ceremony The Sadies Toubab Krewe Yard Dogs Road Show
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 ALO Alison Krauss & Union Station (feat. Jerry Douglas) American Aquarium Anders Osborne Chris Thile Brandi Carlile Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers David Wax Museum Dawes Drew Emmitt Band Drive-By Truckers Galactic (with special guest Corey Henry) Garage A Trois Gary Clark Jr. Gregory Alan Isakov Ha Ha Tonka Hoots & Hellmouth Jackson Browne Jonathan Wilson Leftover Salmon Locos Por Juana MarchFourth Marching Band Marco Benevento Matisyahu Michael Franti & Spearhead Orgone Ozomatli Punch Brothers Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder SOJA Steep Canyon Rangers Toubab Krewe
2013: Rise & Shine Ben Sollee Blitzen Trapper Bombino Brandi Carlile Bronze Radio Return Citizen Cope Delta Rae Donavon Frankenreiter Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Field Report GAUDI Gigamesh Gogol Bordello Hogmaw Hot Tuna Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit John Butler Trio Lake Street Dive Larry and His Flask Lizzy Ross Band Megan Jean & The KFB Michael Kiwanuka Nahko and Medicine for the People Nick Driver Band No BS! Brass Band North Mississippi Allstars Old Crow Medicine Show Option 22 Primate Fiasco Railroad Earth Rising Appalachia Sanctum Sully Spirit Family Reunion Tauk The Devil Makes Three The Hackensaw Boys The Infamous Stringdusters The Last Bison The Lumineers The Manx Trampled by Turtles Xavier Rudd Yonder Mountain String Band
2014: Revolutionary Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite Ben Miller Band Buddy Guy Carolina Chocolate Drops Conspirator Crystal Bright & the Silver Hands Donna the Buffalo Groundation JJ Grey & MOFRO Lauryn Hill Lettuce Michael Franti & Spearhead Paper Bird Quinn Sullivan Ray LaMontagne Rising Appalachia Robert Randolph and the Family Band The Campbell Brothers The Duhks The Hackensaw Boys The Lee Boys The London Souls Thievery Corporation Ziggy Marley Mighty Joshua
2015: Fire on the Mountain American Aquarium Blair Crimmins & The Hookers Brandi Carlile Chris Robinson Brotherhood Driftwood Drive-by Truckers Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell Fear of Music First Aid Kit Folk Soul Revival Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Greensky Bluegrass Jerry Douglas Presents The Earls of Leicester Keller Williams Keller Williams' Grateful Grass with Jeff Austin & Others Leftover Salmon Lord Huron Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers Peter Rowan's Twang 'An Groove Rayland Baxter Shovels & Rope Sirsy Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds The Devil Makes Three The Oh Hellos Trampled by Turtles Trigger Hippy
2016: Dreamweavin' Gregg Allman Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers Leftover Salmon Nahko & Medicine for the People Railroad Earth Keller Williams w/ More Than A Little+ Femi Kuti & Positive Force Shakey Graves The Wood Brothers Greensky Bluegrass Elephant Revival Anders Osborne Pimps of Joytime Rich Robinson Bombino Monophonics Otis Taylor Band The Larry Keel Experience Love Canon Con Brio The Legendary Shack Shakers Head for the Hills Liz Vice Los Colognes Roosterfoot Look Homeward The Midatlantic Bloodkin The Steepwater Band Dead 27s Mingo Fishtrap The Show Ponies Honey Island Swamp Band Polyrhythmics The Congress Banditos Caravan of Thieves Dead Winter Carpenters Dustbowl Revival TigermanWOAH! These Wild Plains Dirty Bangs Cask Mouse Cactus Attack The Hip Abduction
2017: Freedom Thievery Corporation Michael Franti & Spearhead St. Paul & the Broken Bones Rising Appalachia Leftover Salmon Steel Pulse Railroad Earth Shovels & Rope Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives Buffalo Mountain Jam Xavier Rudd White Denim Turkuaz Fruition Keller Williams TAUK The Steel Wheels Larry Keel Experience Nicola Cruz honeyhoney Vurro BIG Something Shook Twins The Hip Abduction Baskery Zach Deputy The Mantras Aaron Lee Tasjan Fémina That 1 Guy