Rich of beauty and tradition, Floyd, Virginia serves as a cultural hub for music within the state. For decades, The Floyd Country Store has hosted a multitude of talented bluegrass and old-time artists during their Friday Night Jamborees. If you have yet to stop by for one of their festive gatherings, mark your calendar. Located just south of Blacksburg, Downtown Floyd is a mere 40 minute drive from Virginia Tech. Not only is it a perfect day trip, but a visit to Floyd provides a wonderful opportunity to discover new music by exploring the greater New River Valley community.

Floyd County acts as the home of FloydFest, a lively music festival that has occurred nearly every summer since 2002. The festival celebrated its first year under different ownership at the new site, located in Check, VA. Patrons were concerned that the magic of the original grounds would be hard to recreate, but FloydFest 2024 went off without a hitch, still feeling like home to those in attendance. This year’s lineup included big names such as Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell, and Black Pumas, but also a wide array of up and coming artists. FloydFest ensures that local talent receive the attention that they deserve by featuring performers from within the community. Throughout the festival, I spoke with local artists such as Palmyra, Colby Helms and The Virginia Creepers, Isaac Hadden Organ Trio, and even fellow WUVT-er Jared Houseman.

Additional artists I had the opportunity of talking with include Sierra Hull, The Vegabonds, Justin Golden and Devil’s Coattails, Wilson Springs Hotel, The Plate Scrapers, and this year’s On The Rise winner, Mackenzie Roark and The Hot Pants.

The most universally noted comment across all of my interviews regarded the uniquely warm atmosphere FloydFest offers its attendees. Isaac Hadden, UNC Asheville student and musical prodigy, stated that there’s something special here. It’s something I’ve never experienced before. Many local artists grew up attending FloydFest annually, but Hadden, a Blacksburg native, has an even closer relationship with the festival. I was almost born at the first one. My mom went into labor at FloydFest! Since he’s been with the festival every step of the way, I asked how it’s changed over time. Every year the lineup has amazing names, and it seems like they’re selling more tickets every year. It’s really great to see it grow, and I’m stoked to see where it goes. Isaac Hadden Organ Trio plans on releasing another record by the end of this year, check out their website for more information.

Fellow longtime FloydFester and member of the band Palmyra, Sasha Landon, stated you can feel the heart and magic of FloydFest thanks to the people that run it. They described how features such as the Floyd Country Store Workshop Stage make the festival a community endeavor. Palmyra, a folk trio from Roanoke with an electric stage presence, won the On The Rise competition in 2022. The ensemble plans to release a record entitled Restless in the near future. Sasha spoke about the elements that inspired the upcoming album, which was recorded here in Virginia.

A lot of it is about identity, for me there’s a lot of queerness written into it. There’s a lot about my own mental illness, I’ve got a bipolar diagnosis that I got a few years ago. A lot of the tunes on this record are born of that diagnosis, and the weirdness that has followed. It’s a very cathartic record.

Palmyra pictured above

In addition to identity, Sasha explained that a lot of it is about being tired. We spent the last three years being a full time touring band, at first we were spending 21 days a month out on the road. Palmyra will be playing at Healing Appalachia, September 19th- 21st in Lewisburg, WV. A festival hosted by Tyler Childers, Healing Appalachia is run entirely by people in recovery for people in recovery. Check out the rest of the lineup here.

Another energetic bluegrass ensemble worth looking into, The Plate Scrapers, finished a new record this year as well. Entitled Artifacts, the album serves as a culmination of years worth of songs the group was unable to record due to the pandemic. It was time, our last record we made was in 2020, stated guitarist Andrew Jordan. [It’s] our first record we put out on vinyl, so that’s exciting. Artifacts can also be found on major streaming services or through their website. The Plate Scrapers, contenders of the On The Rise Competition this year, were happy to play at FloydFest. We've heard a lot about Floyd Fest throughout the years from other bands. Definitely looked forward to coming this year, and it didn’t disappoint. Very well run festival, great bands, cool people all around. Mandolin extraordinaire, Sierra Hull, had equally glowing remarks on the energy at FloydFest, even stating that this was one of her favorite festivals this year.

Anytime you can feel the energy of the crowd and they’re with you, there’s something really special about that. There’s a connected feeling between the artists and the musicians at these kinds of festivals, you can tell they’re really listening but bringing energy at the same time.

Hull received the Mandolin Player of the Year Award from The International Bluegrass Music Association six times, as well as multiple Grammy nominations. She has played on some of the most renowned stages in the world, including Carnegie Hall, The Grand Ole Opry, and even the White House. Visit her website to see her upcoming tour dates.
Mackenzie Roark and The Hot Pants, winners of the 2024 On The Rise Competition, performed two captivating sets throughout the festival, pulling audiences in with their unique energy and sound. A powerful vocalist and guitarist, the vibrant musician Mackenzie Roark hails from Richmond, Virginia. Back in Richmond I started a group called RVA Broads, Roark shared.

It's all of the women musicians and artists in town, and we get together to commiserate and hang out and talk about making art. How can we support each other? How can we help each other? I found that to be so amazing and supportive. We don’t need to compete against each other, there’s so much comradery.

As a supporter of fellow women in the music industry, Roark was pleased with FloydFest’s efforts to create an inclusive lineup, with artists like Sierra Hull and Sierra Ferrell headlining on the main stage. One thing I’m really impressed with about FloydFest is I have seen more female fronted bands, or bands with females in them, than in most places. I really appreciate that about here because normally it’s super imbalanced. It’s usually all dudes with the token girl. Roark described her experiences navigating the music industry as a young woman, explaining how she needed to adapt in order to protect herself.

I’ve been doing [this] for 10 years, so I’ve learned a lot of lessons early on. Learning who’s here to help you and who’s not, how to suss out those types of characters. Those shady people. In the song that I just sang, ‘Rich Man’, the line is ‘dodging every snake on the highway’. So many snakes, so many people that want to come at you. They see someone with talent, especially a young woman and they say ‘this is what I’m going to do for you...’ and sometimes the intentions are good, but a lot of the time someone wants something from you.

Roark attended James Madison University, the birthplace of her music career. When asked how she discovered the music scene, Roark stated that college radio played a huge part.

I did WXJM! That was my little scene when I first got there. I was like, where are the hipsters at? Where are all the hipster boys at, specifically. I was really open to live music, the DIY scene, basement shows, all of that. It was so amazing at JMU because Harrisonburg has a very vibrant underground music scene, really cool venues, house shows. So I went that route as opposed to the party, sorority, Greek life route. I found that I connected with the music lovers and music nerds.

She went on to provide advice for young people who may be navigating the music scene on their own campus.

Like what you like, don’t be ashamed of it. Whatever music you like, whatever movies you like, just like it. When I was younger I tried so hard to be cool. That mattered so much to me when I was younger. During that time period you’re so conscious of how you’re being perceived. Something I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is Once you remove that and say ‘I am boldly who I am, I can back up the things that I believe’, it’s such a better way of living and expressing yourself and making art. When I was younger I played it a lot more safely. And now I feel empowered to do what I want to do and not worry about who thinks it’s cool or not. Do what makes you happy.

Mackenzie Roark and The Hot Pants plan on releasing an album later this year, with aims of having it out by late December.

Quite a few artists provided words of wisdom for college students, including Nashville rock group, The Vegabonds. Go for it. Do it. Start a band, see where it takes you. It’s better than working in a cubicle. We were just college kids who wrote music together and realized we had something cool, and [we] just kept doing it, said lead vocalist and guitarist Daniel Allen. The successful group met at Auburn University, with members from across Alabama and Georgia. The Vegabonds plan to release a new record soon, one that reminisces their days spent together throughout college.

We’re amping up to come out with a new album. New singles at the end of this year, new album at the beginning of next year. It’s really nostalgic, that’s the overall theme with this next one. Just nostalgia. Talking about when we were young, getting together.

The Vegabonds consistently provide listeners with a unique sound, best described as high-energy alternative rock with a southern twist. Not only was the group “down to earth” and welcoming, but they were also fans of Hokie Nation.

Virginia Tech is one of our favorite colleges we’ve ever played. It used to be called Sycamore Deli when we first started. Some of the coolest shows in that room. That place got rowdy. That place is insane.

Justin Golden, a Richmond based country blues artist, also launched his musical career during his college days. In college I had a roommate that played, and after my freshman year I picked up guitar and never looked back. Golden shared his confidence in the possibilities of playing music professionally, paired with advice for how to find success within the industry.

Get out of your local market. Play all of the shows you can, as long as it makes sense for you. Make those connections, you can do it and make money at the same time.

Alongside backing band Devil's Coattails, he recorded both Golden Country Volume One and Golden Country Volume Two. Listeners can find the first volume here, while the second is expected to be released later this month. Golden explained why he embraced more of a traditional sound with these two albums, delving into a new marketing style.

I felt like I was overlooked by a lot of Americana and roots music playlists and listeners, because it’s listed as blues and people expect electric blues or Chicago blues. And what I do is more country blues, jug band, and bluegrass.

Golden had a difficult time when asked to select his favorite tracks off of the new record.

From Volume 1, I think ‘River Boat Blues’ is my favorite. It’s a song I wrote a long time ago, and repurposed for this album and this group.

Justin Golden and The Devil’s Coattails will be playing at The Camel in Richmond, VA on the 11th of September at 8:00 pm.

Isaac Hadden, a current student at UNC Asheville, was joined on stage at FloydFest by one of his former professors, Steve Alford. Alford, the Contemporary Music Department Head at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, shared that it’s a blast to be on stage with Hadden. I’ve known him now for four years, he’s really fun to play with. When asked about navigating music scenes within universities, Isaac Hadden advised to Just go out and do it. He continued to explain the value of real world experience, which universities are often teeming with.

Issac Hadden pictured above

There’s no greater education than being on stage playing with people. Play with the best musicians you can possibly access and keep a high standard. And have fun and keep the intention good, make sure you’re doing it with love, and that’ll carry you through.

Hadden even shared about UNCA’s college radio community.

It's called Blue Echo. It's independent radio, and people play all kinds of stuff on there from country to abstract noise music, you know it’s all over the place. The college music scene is pretty cool, it's nice to be around a lot of people that are driven to the same thing that I am. It’s nice to be around a bunch of like minded musical people. It’s fun, I’ve had really great professors at UNCA, Steve being one of them.

As wonderful as Blue Echo is, WUVT 90.7 remains the greatest radio station in the world...wink wink. Our very own WUVT engineer, Jared Houseman, played a few sets at FloydFest 2024 alongside Addie Levy, backing her up on bass. Houseman, a lifelong bluegrass musician, explained his relationship between the community he grew up in and his role as a Hokie.

I’m from Riner, which is very close to Blacksburg, and I go to Virginia Tech, so I’m both a student and a local. And there is a very big disconnect. [There are] students living in Blacksburg going to Virginia Tech who have no experience in the local community. And really, Christiansburg, Floyd, places like that, they’re only 20- minute drives away. And for some reason, students never really get out and see those places.

When asked what students can do in order to support communities outside of Blacksburg, Houseman said the best thing you can do is keep up with these artists on social media, see when they’re playing locally. If you can make the drive to Roanoke, or North Carolina, somewhere you can go to support artists that’s really the best you can do. Levy and her band released a self titled bluegrass album this summer, now available for streaming or purchase. Houseman toured with the group for nearly four months, and explained how traveling inspired many of the tracks on the new record. A lot of the songs on the album are about being a musician, and moving around, and not making a lot of money. And just going all over the country. It’s a rough way to live to be honest. But it’s a lot of fun and none of us would trade it for anything. Check out more of Jared Houseman’s projects on his Instagram. Another local artist, Colby Helms, also spoke on the abundance of culture that Southwest Virginia offers visitors.

This region has a certain ambience to it. When people come here they find a part of themselves. Appalachia isn’t made up of people who aren’t going anywhere. It’s not just a bunch of hillbillies sitting around smoking corncob pipes on the porch. Which we’d all love to do, but we got to go out there and make a living too. Appalachia is full of amazing people who are trying to make it a better region, and make the world a better place.

Helms performed alongside bluegrass ensemble, The Virginia Creepers at this year’s FloydFest, stating that he was so honored to play. Helms released a progressive bluegrass album earlier this year entitled Tales of Misfortune, which ironically centers around the theme of hope.

I want everybody to feel like they have hope out there. There were a lot of times I felt like I didn’t have that much hope. It’s been a crazy turn around for me trying to bring this music to the world. There is hope out there, you just need to spread the joy out there as much as you get it.

A concept album, Tales of Misfortune delves into the fictional mind of a boy who feels isolated in a small town. Helms shared that the record was like a diary for him, as many of the tracks were inspired by his own upbringing in Franklin County. When asked where Helms finds his hope, he stated;

I find it in the people of this region and the people of this country and the people of this world. Bringing a music that’s not widely accepted to places that might not have heard it before and putting your own spin on it, maybe getting them to go back and find Doc Watson, Bill Monroe and Tony Rice and all of my heroes. When I can turn someone on to my heroes and people who have made a difference in my life, that just makes my heart warm. Makes me feel like I’m doing a good thing.

To learn more about Colby Helms and check out his tour dates, click here. Lastly, I spoke with Trey Burnart Hall of Devil’s Coattails and creator of record label Vocal Rest Records. Burnart Hall explained why he started the label, stating that he needed to find new ways to create music after permanently damaging his vocal cords.

My artistic life was put in this loop of liminality. Once I accepted the change, I started to understand the voice as more of a fluid material. The voice and vocality are not equated with one another. I kind of went from being a songwriter and singer to learning how to use a voice in a musical [non-lyrical] way. So taking the traditions I was brought up in, I grew up going to Galax Fiddlers’ convention, and going to the Country Store, my dad was a bluegrass yodeler. Jimmy Rodgers and Hank Williams, and the first generation of bluegrass with Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, that’s what I grew up with. I had to develop a voice that wasn’t vocal. It’s been challenging but very fruitful. I’m using my voice to embolden other people’s voices. It’s like trying to find harmony with other people’s stories and styles. It’s been a rewarding journey.

A local from Botetourt County, Burnart Hall grew up in Virginia’s festival scene, but FloydFest was always the most special to the musician and producer.

My first FloydFest was in 2011, when I was in high school. And then I went every year. I grew up going to Festivals. My dad’s festivals were his, and FloydFest was like my first festival.

To learn more about Vocal Rest Records and support the artists they produce, check out their Instagram.

Not only does FloydFest provide patrons with excellent musical performances across seven different stages, but the festival creates a warm atmosphere for community members of all ages. Don’t miss next year’s FloydFest, and make sure to check out other local events to support artists here in New River Valley. Audio of interviews will be available soon!

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