Empty Bottles began in 2014 as guitar duo, Joey Dennis and Joe Crandall, playing acoustic covers at an open mic at Roanoke’s Fork in the Market. Open mic host and piano wizard, Ben Hite, recognizing some real chemistry quickly jumped in, offering up rich, soulful vocals, and a chameleonic approach to keys. After adding in percussion and bass from locals John Beason and Steele Whisnant, the group began what we be a five year Tuesday night residency quickly building a following in the valley. In the fall of 2017, Crandall took a step back from the band, and Hite’s cousin and Richmond, VA native, Matt Faszewski began sitting in on Tuesday night shows. Blending in sax lines to the band’s developed list of Funk, Reggae, Soul, and classic Rock and Roll covers, as well as adding vocal harmonies and even assuming lead vocals on some of the material. This year, Beason has passed the helm to percussionist, Chad Hester, who most recently moved to Roanoke from Bend Oregon, and the 5 piece has settled into the role of the Valley’s premier 80s, Soul and Yacht Rock cover bands. This soulful group will put the wind back in anyone’s sails with grooves from legends such as Kenny Loggins, Hall and Oates, and the Doobie Brothers. So grab yourself a cold one and a dance partner because this voyage is gonna be as smooth as it gets.

Dharma Bombs has been a band since 2013 in some capacity or another, gone through 20 band members, and countless shows all across the East Coast. The current lineup of Dharma Bombs represents the transition from being a band to being a family. The lyrical content of newly released, “Enjoy the View”, reflects this. From sneaking out of your mama’s house, remembering your greatgrandmother’s harley rides across the Blue Ridge Parkway, retracing your greatgreatgreatgreatgrandparents pilgrimage across the state of Virginia to a town that doesn’t exist anymore, this album is about family, love, and enjoying the continuously changing scenery we know as life. With band members living across the great state of Virginia, it is too simple to say that Dharma Bombs is from Richmond. From our start busking in the Richmond city streets to Roanoke’s mountains to Norfolk’s ports to Harrisonburg’s valleys, the band touches every corner and landscape of the Commonwealth. This diversity can be heard in “Enjoy the View”. With rotating lead vocals, songwriting, and musical styling, Dharma Bombs have moved past boxing themselves into a single genre or place, and moved toward an explorative drive through the past and future of each band members’ experiences. Whether you’re on the coast or the ridgeline, listen to Dharma Bombs’ “Enjoy the View” and allow the music to take you home.

The Dead Reckoning is a collaborative of seasoned players hailing from the Blue Ridge region of VA. Having many varied backgrounds, they come together to celebrate the music, legacy, eras and iterations of the most prolific band in history, The Grateful Dead. With a Jerry Garcia Band tune thrown in here and there for good measure.

The band features members of regional favorites The Floorboards, Mad Iguanas, Electric Chameleon, Ripejive, Sol Creech Band, Nicholson Brothers, and others. TDR strives for accuracy, and to capture the vibe and energy of a live Dead performance. They play with devotion and love in their hearts, as the music means as much to them as it does to you.

Come dance and shake your bones.

The myth.. The legend.. The PARTY!!! Weaving Afro-Cuban beats with tantalizing horn riffs, Chupacabras will ignite dancers to delight, releasing young and old on a transformative exotic trajectory. This seven piece band of brothers delivers a captivating stage presence as they blend styles of rock, jazz, and funk with their unique palette of psychedelic flavors. Chupacabras are the guide to the other side of reality, inspiring audiences to move, love, and live like never before.

Blue Mule is celebrating almost seventeen years together.  Starting with the core four; Tom Ohmsen on mandolin, Tim Rhodes on banjo, Eli Williams on guitar and vocals and John McBroom on bass and vocals, Blue Mule explores the “New Grass” horizons of music from an acoustic platform.  Having recorded five CD’s to date, Blue Mule searches for a sound both unique and familiar.  They have worked hard to absorb the lessons of their musical heroes and role models-legends of the contemporary acoustic music scene such as Sam Bush, David Grisman, Tony Rice and Bela Fleck, to name just a few.  In a typical performance, they’re likely to follow a Bill Monroe song with one by the Grateful Dead, or a Steel Driver’s tune into a Count Basie classic.  With special guest and frequent sit-in Kris Hodges on drums, Blue Mule treaded on slightly more driven rhythms with their 2012 release “This Way or That”, which added a greater dynamic to the overall sound of the band.  Recently joining the band, fiddle extraordinaire Jerry Wood has been a wonderful addition to the sound as well.  Adding his sweet fiddle to the Blue Mule collective on all the albums, Jerry now graces the stage with Blue Mule as well.  Jerry has also added a vocal presence that has pushed the band into new and fun vocal territories.  A Blue Mule show is like no other.  Always trying to push the musical envelope a little bit further.

APEX is a thunderously grooving genre defying melting pot of musical magic which mixes elements of hip-hop, funk, rock, jazz, classical and Latin styles into a colorful complexity of third stream dance fuel.

Third Coming spits philosophical, poetic bars in syncopated rhythms while holding down fat trap influenced drum grooves at the same time.

The Wanderer, the shining albino musical prodigy of the keys shreds compositional, fusion inspired, expressions of intellectual odyssey.

Big Chungus brings a smackin’ thick low-end funk to the sound guaranteed to move what your momma gave you.

Trve Kevult adds a chunky rock infused future riffage to the massive sound that is APEX.

Founding Band Members:

Max D’Amico on Vocals, Drums (Third Coming)

Kenneth Goltsberg on Electric Bass (Big Chungus)

Kevin Kelleher on Electric Guitar (Trve Kevult)

Shiwei (David) Wan on Keyboards (The Wanderer)

Soul/rock/reggae artist The Ambassador stands out among others by displaying a strong, soulful vocal presence combined with addictive, upbeat rhythms. His music flows seamlessly from stock reggae beats to bluesy grooves infused with rock and hip-hop. The Ambassador couples catchy hooks and danceable music with intelligent lyrics and a positive message bringing fans of all ages and walks of life. The high-energy performances will keep you bouncing hours after the show’s end.

The Ambassador is Stephen Gabriel Lewis, a Virginia native that has performed and recorded with some of the finest reggae/rock musicians from Southern California to Southwest Virginia, sharing the stage with acts like Midnite, the Wailers, Steel Pulse, Stick Figure, Xavier Rudd, Mike Pinto, The Movement and more. As a follow up to the full-length release “New Roots”, nominated “World Music Album of the Year” at the San Diego Music Awards, The Ambassador’s long-awaited studio effort entitled “Cali Love” was released in late 2018. As can be heard in the uptempo single “Powerful Love” with Pato Banton, this latest work features musicianship from a diverse group of San Diego area session players from bands like Elektric Voodoo, Psydecar, SDIB, Southtown Generals and the legendary Wailing Souls. The Ambassador continues to perform both acoustically and with his band Chosen Few at select venues and intends to bring good vibes and inspiration to all who listen.

FLOYDFEST 2019 ON-THE-RISE RUNNER-UP!

Hot Trail Mix is an innovative North Carolina bluegrass band with a rowdy youthful vigor that excites audiences of all ages, shapes and sizes! Hot Trail Mix combines soulful high lonesome harmony singing with virtuosic instrumental prowess. The band features an all-star cast of convention ribbon winners, and is led by Mason Via, a young singer/songwriter and son of award winning songwriter David Via (Corn Tornado). Mason’s lyrics are also considered by many to be the driving force behind the band’s music, and his vocals back up the deep emotion that his lyrics possess. In 2018 they released their debut album.

WINNER OF THE FLOYDFEST 2019 ON-THE-RISE COMPETITION!

Built around a powerful voice and hard-driving rock ‘n’ soul rhythm section, Asheville, NC’s Abby Bryant & The Echoes has secured a fast-growing foothold in the Southeast music scene and beyond.

Founded by Abby Bryant (vocals, keys) and Bailey Faulkner (guitar), the two formed the band out of distinctly different musical upbringings.

Throughout his youth, Faulkner developed his musical foundation from his parent’s love of The Beatles and guitar-driven classic rock staples. Hailing from the same hometown, Bryant formed her musical intuition at home and church where she began singing at only five years old under the direction of her music minister father. With her ear and voice trained on gospel and hymns and a spiritual connection to music, Bryant set the stage for her future career in music.

First meeting in high school, the future founders of the band combined their unique influences — Bryant embraced new genres and a sultry soul and Faulkner found the voice to front his melody-centered arrangements.

Listeners will find it hard not to hear similarities to some of the artists that inspire the two including currently touring acts Tedeschi Trucks Band, Grace Potter, and Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds. At the same time, one cannot deny that even with Abby Bryant & The Echoes’ youthfulness, the band connects to the roots of the music in the members’ hearts. Looking to artists like Etta James, Sam and Dave, and the integral Muscle Shoals sound to light the way, Abby Bryant & The Echoes carries its own soul-shining torch into today.

Abby Bryant & The Echoes kicked off its musical journey in 2017 with its debut EP, Leavin’ You, before hitting the road to perform at fan-favorite venues and music festivals throughout the Southeast. The band’s recent singles “Hold Me” and “Better Now” highlight significant growth in songwriting and performance honed from heavy touring.

Tight, robust, and smooth — Abby Bryant & The Echoes have stepped into the big leagues with these tracks and have shown merely a hint of the maturity fans can expect from the band’s upcoming album.

Although a fresh and youthful group, Abby Bryant & The Echoes assures fans that with an already distinctive voice and constant growth, the group is just getting started along the path to a long career marked by an ever-developing collection of powerful originals and exciting live performances.

Supporting Bryant and Faulkner is the band’s powerful rhythm section filled out by Matt Guard (keys, backup vocals) Anthony Dorion (bass, backup vocals), and Gabe Jones (drums).

Abby Bryant & The Echoes reached new heights as winner of the FloydFest 19 On-the-Rise Competition, securing the band five performances at FloydFest 2021 ~ Odyssey. Building off that success, Abby Bryant & The Echoes kicked off 2020 with authority as it completed its first Colorado tour opening for Leeds, UK-based funk heavyweight The New Mastersounds.

Adapting to uncertain times in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the band has redirected its focus on writing new material and gearing up for a strong return to live music once audience safety can be ensured.

Lance Thomas hails from Southwest Virginia, bringing with him an enthusiastic take on the diverse music of the region.

Whether playing acoustic or electric guitar, he is able to channel a range of emotion behind his music while creating an effortless connection with his audience. A dynamic singing voice lends itself well to bluegrass, rock and country music.

Lance has spent the past five years touring nationally as a founding member of South Hill Banks, where he has shared the stage with the likes of Larry Keel and Billy Strings. South Hill Banks was the winner of 2017 FloydFest On-the-Rise Competition.