Music: FloydFest

A Stompin' Good Time

By Aracely Jimenes-Hendricks
QuailBellMagazine.com

Where can you find folk music, yoga, African drumming and Appalachian music together?
FloydFest of course!

FloydFest is a unique festival to Virginia. It is a festival that combines so many events into one great atmosphere. There is so much music to enjoy even if it is out of your comfort zone. You can also enjoy activities with your children, as they have their own area within the festival grounds. The festival is not just a one day affair; it takes place over four days.

You may have to call in sick if you want to attend on the first day though, since it begins on a Thursday. Of course, enjoying this festival to the max would be worth missing work. There are many people that come from all over the United States and even from abroad to enjoy this festival. The FloydFest site offers various types of camping for those adventurous souls! The camping sites range from family friendly to crazy camping from your car. 

It really depends on what you are looking for in order to enjoy the festival first hand without driving back and forth. The closest town nearby offers several bed and breakfast, motel/hotel accommodations if you can’t deal with camping in the “wilderness.” 

There are great music lineups for this year’s festival which ranges from well-known genres to various mixes of several genres. Some examples of the lineup are: The Lumineers, Hyperbola Hoops, and Frank Newsome. 

The Lumineers are a mixture of folk and rock music. Their music can sound sweet to the ear but feel raw to the emotions. The lyrics are simple to follow along and the music is not hard on the ears at all. Their performances can be considered as therapy for some people, as they have been placed in the same list as Mumford & Sons in regards to their musical style. It is a must-not see performance if you enjoy folk rock music and especially enjoy listening to this group of performers. 

Hyperbola Hoops (Colleen) is not a typical performer seen nor should her performances be missed if possible. It is a unique performance as it involves the use of hoops. Colleen is able to incorporate her unique style in dance and exercise while using the hoops; some which are LED designed hoops. It seems that she is driven to show others her unique expression with her time and energy. She is also involved in several workshops that are geared toward beginners, children, and intermediate learners throughout the FloydFest schedule. 

Finding her performances family-friendly is the thought as her performances are geared toward everyone whether child or adult.

Being in the Appalachian Mountains allows its’ traditions to thrive to this day and Frank Newsome is no exception. His unique style of singing hymns is a part of his upbringing. He incorporates it into showing others his unique talent of line singing hymns. It is something that not many people share with outsiders but it reflects on how deep the roots of some communities reach.  

FloydFest.com