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FloydFest 2022 >

FloydFest 2022 “Heartbeat” at the end of July attracted between 8-10,000 attendees per day and typically draws around 14,000 or so annually, many of whom camp and stay for the entire weekend. There was a bit of nostalgia tied to the event this year – after two decades on a leased 80-acre site near the Floyd-Patrick County line, Across the Way Productions will relocate FloydFest to its own 200 acre-plus property in Floyd County near the town of Check. Meanwhile FloydFest 2022 featured headliners like Melissa Etheridge, Trampled by Turtles, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lake Street Dive, Marcus King, Ann Wilson of Heart, et al. 49 Winchester, 2021’s On the Rise “People’s Choice” winner as best newcomer, also stood out and earned a Dreaming Creek Main Stage set as part of a prize package. enjoyed her sets. “This was my first time as an official artist,” said Kiah, who had sat in with other performers in the past. Kiah is no stranger to Floyd and Southwest Virginia, having played gigs she says in the region for the past ten years. “It’s a great vibe, the weather’s great, everybody’s amazing,” said Kiah (like the car) of her first official FloydFest gig. Meanwhile The Broadcast was a returnee to FloydFest, but this time billed as Caitlyn Krisko and The Broadcast, with the group’s lead singer of the booming voice becoming more of a star on stage. “This is our fourth year back, which is really exciting. We’ve definitely moved up year after year,’ said Krisko. “It was really amazing to be on the main stage.” The Broadcast mixed originals with classic rockers they grew up listening to, by Led Zeppelin and other legacy bands. “I’m a very witchy woman … repeatedly at every FloydFest I notice a lot of synchronicity happening. This is a really special spot, one of my favorite festivals in the country.”

Krisko said she believes FloydFest “can bring even more to the table,” with the move to Check just off US 221 in July 2023.

Isaac Hadden spent much of his childhood in the New River Valley and the electric guitar whiz has performed numerous times in the Roanoke area. “I’m definitely excited to see what’s up [after the relocation in 2023].” Hadden actually knows the man who sold the new property to ATW Productions, calling him “an old family friend. I’m excited for the future of FloydFest.” Hadden has sort of grown up playing at the festival (he’s in college now), calling it “a pretty sweet gig. First of all, it’s an honor. I pretty much was raised here.”

FloydFest co-creator and Across the Way Chief Creative Kris Hodges was glad to be back on the drums playing with the percussionheavy Chupacabras. “It’s always a family reunion when we get on stage,” said Hodges after a set on the Hill Holler stage. Hodges was working to keep any feelings of nostalgia for what has been home for the past two decades-plus “at bay,” until FloydFest 22 was over. “Change can be both daunting and incredibly exciting. We’re excited for the future. We’re going to take everything we’ve learned from this beautiful site … and hone it in on \a much more expansive site that will allow us to breathe little bit more.”

There has been some pushback from Floyd residents near the new property in Check – concerns about traffic for example – and protests at a Board of Supervisors meeting and via road signs. “We have 22 years of positive, historical experience and credentials here. I understand in rural environments people get [concerned]. We dealt with that here in this location,” Hodges noted. “What we are good at is being good neighbors. We will ensure that by carrying the FloydFest name, we will bring the same exemplary history there that we have here over 22 years.”