Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. invites patrons to embark on an 'Odyssey' to celebrate FloydFest 21, the latest annual offering of the Southeast's premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 21 to 25, 2021, at Milepost 170.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, Va.
Also announced today, GRAMMY-nominated, N.C. Music Hall of Fame-inducted folk-rock group, The Avett Brothers, will headline the five-day, nine-stage, 100-act, award-winning festival, with more artist additions and surprises to be released in the coming months.
"As we navigate these incredible times, it's amazing to think that we are all experiencing a 'Vision Quest' in some form or fashion," Kris Hodges, founder and chief creative officer, said. "As we look ahead, we ask that you take the time to embark and reflect upon all of your visions for next year's 'Odyssey.' We can't wait to celebrate with you July 21 to 25, 2021, to share in this epic adventure with a stupendous cast of musicians and artisans. Let us move out of and into FloydFest 21~Odyssey. We welcome The Avett Brothers as they align so wonderfully with our commitment to you, the fan. Please make them welcome as a FloydFest 21 headliner."
According to organizers, many more lineup announcements are coming soon, including some artists originally on the lineup for FloydFest 2020~Vision Quest. The next artist reveal is slated for mid-July 2020, with more to follow over the next 12 months.
Tickets for FloydFest 21~Odyssey are on sale now via the brand-new www.floydfest.com. Click to https://floydfest2021.eventbrite.com for a direct link to tickets. Ticket prices stay the same through Dec. 31, 2020, with the first price increase scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021. Subsequently, ticket prices increase again on April 1, 2021, again on July 1, 2021, and for the final time when gates open for the festival on July 21, 2021, if tickets remain.
"The world is changing, and we are all doing our best to connect with the Earth's new rhythm; to search for what is real and how to bring change to a hurting and angry world, through our one true love -- music! With love, respect and kindness, we can make it through these trying times, and dance together again to the music that has brought us so much joy and togetherness over the last two decades," John McBroom, co-owner and chief executive officer, said. "'Odyssey' is a befitting name for our next celebration of FloydFest, as it has been and will surely continue to be a new world to explore for the foreseeable future."
Fifteen years ago, when the Dreaming Creek Main Stage was in its infancy, and FloydFest had just turned four years old, The Avett Brothers first appeared on the mountain as part of the lineup for 2005's FloydFest 4: Rock of Ages, resulting in rave reviews and a return trip to 2006's FloydFest 5: Roots Alive. The band's meteoric rise continued nationally following their back-to-back appearances at FloydFest, making mainstream waves with their 2009 major label debut, I and Love and You . 2012's The Carpenter was a top Billboard hit, as was 2013's Magpie and the Dandelion. True Sadness (2016) achieved The Avett Brothers' highest career debut to-date hitting No. 1 on Billboard's Top Albums Chart, No. 1 Top Rock Albums Chart, No. 1 Digital Albums Chart, No. 3 on Billboard Top 200 and scoring two GRAMMY nominations. In the same year, the band was inducted into the N.C. Music Hall of Fame. The following year saw the release of the Brothers' documentary May It Last: A Portrait of The Avett Brothers , and in 2018, the band headlined the concert for Hurricane Florence Relief in Greenville, N.C., raising $325,000 to help those affected by Hurricane Florence. Last year, the band released their 10th studio album Closer Than Together featuring the new single "High Steppin'," which reached No. 1 on the Americana Radio Chart. Up next is Swept Away -- a new musical inspired by and featuring the music of The Avett Brothers -- as well as a headlining slot at FloydFest 21~Odyssey.
As announced in May, each patron that chose to rollover their tickets from FloydFest 2020~Vision Quest to FloydFest 21~Odyssey is automatically entered to win a free upgrade, such as Premium Woodsy Tent Tags, Backstage Access, VIP tickets, onsite parking, etc. Across-the-Way Productions awarded the first upgrade on June 14, with plans to award rollover patrons once a month though July 2021.
Patrons had from May 14 to June 14 to choose between a refund, rolling over their tickets, transferring their tickets, making a donation or receiving a ticket credit. If patrons did not make a decision by June 14, their tickets automatically rolled over to FloydFest 21, with no additional action needed on their part.
"The patron response following our decision to cancel FloydFest 2020~Vision Quest was overwhelmingly positive, with many, many patrons choosing to rollover -- and even donate -- their tickets to support our company and festival," Sam Calhoun, chief operating officer, said. "This has truly become the patrons' festival, and one that doesn't just belong to a specific person, staff, or group. It belongs to all of us, and we are incredibly grateful for the patrons and partners that stuck with us through this historical hiccup."
FloydFest 19~Voyage Home saw the debut of the FloydFest Bus Stop -- a psychedelic-painted school bus that has been converted into a professional recording studio -- which is set to return again for 2021 in a more prominent location onsite. The 16 videos created during FloydFest 2019 can be found on FloydFest.com, AtWProductions.com and a dedicated YouTube channel: "FloydFest Bus Stop."
As always, FloydFest will also include vibrant and varied vendors, quality craft brews and chews, healing arts, workshops and whimsy, camping and children's activities, outdoor adventure, onsite art installations and a final lineup featuring 100 artists performing on nine stages over five days.
"May our time until the next FloydFest be full of reflection, gratitude, growth and music until we dance in revelry on the mountaintop together once again," McBroom added.
FloydFest is located at Milepost 170.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, Va. Detailed directions are available by clicking to www.floydfest.com.
Tickets for FloydFest 21~Odyssey are available by clicking to www.floydfest.com or https://floydfest2021.eventbrite.com. For more information, call (888) VA-FESTS or email info@floydfest.com. Stay informed via FloydFest's newsletter at http://floydfest.com/newsletter/, and find FloydFest on Twitter (twitter.com/floydfest), Instagram (instagram.com/floydfestva) and Facebook (facebook.com/FloydFestVa). Patrons can also opt-in for the FloydFest Text Club by texting "FloydFest" to 36000 on their mobile device. The Text Club sends lineup additions and other special announcements directly to patrons' smartphones, so they can be in the know on the go.
