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press
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interviews, press credentials and complete information ....
Contact: Randy Alexander (856) 596-1410 or [email protected]
Electronic Press Kit at www.randexpr.com
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FLOYDFEST
... OUTTA THIS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
CULTURES COLLIDE IN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS AS
WORLD AND ROOTS MUSIC MERGE TO SPARK HOLISTIC
EXPERIENCE FOR THE CULTURED MIND
Nickel
Creek, Speech, David Grisman Quartet, Kaki King, Baka Beyond, Kusun
Ensemble, Donna the Buffalo among acts coming Aug.
15-17 to Floyd County, VA FLOYD COUNTY, VA --
The most successful first-year festival to hit the Appalachian
mountains of Virginia will be back for an encore this summer, when
cultures collide once again at the second annual "FLOYDFEST ... OUTTA
THIS WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL."
Deftly
merging "outta this world" music and American roots music, the
magical, three-day gathering, proclaimed "a
smash" last year by Musictoday and the
Roanoke Times, aims to once more liberate the spirits of some 10,000
celebrants upon its return Aug. 15-17 to the
magnificent 80-acre site off the beautiful
Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd County.
FLOYDFEST
is a non-profit, vehemently non-commercial grassroots event focusing
on cultural preservation by showcasing diverse musical genres from around
the world. Among the acts in this year's "all killer, no filler"
lineup: Enormously popular acoustic "youthgrass"
innovators Nickel Creek (2003 Grammy winners
for Best Contemporary Folk Album); genre-bending Americana
outfit Donna the Buffalo; reggae groups Morgan Heritage and John Brown's
Body; dynamic young guitar master Kaki King; bluegrass legends Peter
Rowan and Tony Rice; African kora player Mamadou
Diabate; a rare solo performance by Speech
from newly reunited Arrested Development (recently named
one of VH1's top 50 hip-hop artists of all time); the Hackensaw Boys
from Charlottesville; Man Alive! of North Carolina;
Afro-Irish players Baka Beyond; Bay Area
jazz-rock fusion allstars Garaj Mahal; and guest artists the
African Showboyz, appearing for the first time in the U.S. from Ghana,
Africa; fast-picking bluegrass "drive without
drums" buzz act Yonder Mountain String
Band, and, in a dual role, bluegrass "dawg" music great David
Grisman performing with original members of
the legendary 70's era The David Grisman Quintet
and with infamous progressive bluegrass group Old and in the Gray (one
of only a handful of scheduled performances!). A number of global flavored
DJs from around the world will be entertaining between sets throughout
the festival.
This
year's FLOYDFEST also will be remembering its friend Babatunde Olatunji,
who recently passed away not long after taking an
active role in helping bring African Showboyz
from the northern bush of Ghana to the festival for their
first visit to United States.
"This
is really about cultural survival and awareness," says festival
co-founder Kris Hodges. "Without its roots, the
tree falls over."
FLOYDFEST
features three additional stages, including workshop arenas, and several
specially themed areas. The Artists' Village embraces original arts
and crafts from over 75 selected vendors, and offers
demonstrations in woodturning. glassblowing,
blacksmithing, weaving and much more. The African Village
offers workshops in African drumming and dance. And the Children's Area
has its own schedule of performers, crafts and events, plus a mid-festival
parade. Indeed, FLOYDFEST is organized and geared toward being a true
family affair. Children 12 and under are free, and the consumption of
alcoholic beverages is limited to a contained area
featuring domestic and microbrew beer, and
local Virginia wines.
An array
of concessions offerings are available, including healthful cuisine
under the Healing Arts tent, which also serves up
bodywork, tai chi, and yoga workshops.
Tickets
are on sale NOW at www.floydfest.com, www.floydfest.musictoday.com,
or by calling (800) 593-TIXX. Tickets also available
at all Record Exchange, Plan 9 and Crossroads
retail outlets and the offices of Across the Way Productions,
114-B S. Locust St., Floyd, VA. Early bird tickets are $120 weekend;
$50 single day, now through June 30; $135 weekend; $55 single day, July
1 through Aug. 14; and $145 weekend; $60 single day at the gate. Children
12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult. FLOYDFEST is
kindly extending an offer of 10% discount on all tickets to members of
"Voices of Africa" Foundation -- a
non-profit, tax exempt organization founded
by the late Babatunde Olatunji to bring together the musicians of the
world to perform and raise substantial funds in an
effort help fight illiteracy problems and
health crisis in Africa. Please contact the office during
business hours to purchase discounted tickets, or email [email protected].
For complete information, call (540) 745-FEST.
www.floydfest.com
/ www.randexpr.com
###
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