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Music Festival Producers Hope to End ‘Long Intermission’

Camping at a pre-Covid FloydFest

When people gathered at the St. Augustine Amphitheater in January for JJ Gray and Mofro, or The Yarmouth Drive-In on Cape Cod for Goose last fall, or the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, New Hampshire in October for a moe drive-in show, these could have been just any other concerts.

But far from it. After months of pandemic purgatory, they were the first chances for bands to re-emerge from lock down and return to the stage; for stagehands and countless supporting industries to get back to work; and for fans to once again enjoy live music in a “Covid-safe” environment.

Some have called this long strange trip “a long intermission” in the life of live music. It’s coming back cautiously and to a mixed welcome by even the most loyal, FOMO-wracked music lovers eager for a music festival – all the better if some festival camping is thrown in.

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Safe Distancing, Vaccines Bringing Music Festivals Back

Under a slow but steady rain on a North Florida spring night, some 700 music lovers gathered for the Funky Mardi Gras concerts. Huddled in makeshift shelters or their golf carts, or dancing under the stars and rain, they were undeterred by anything Mother Nature could send their way.

After all, for many, it had been a year or more since Mother Nature had rained hell on humanity in the form of a pandemic. It had been that long since many had experienced live music in person. So with the social distancing guidelines promoters at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park crafted, they were determined to make the most of it.

“We loved last weekend,” enthused festival veteran Matthew O’Brien. “Driving our golf cart on to the show field and being together with our crew was the best. It was a fun, safe and convenient way to enjoy the show. Can’t wait to do it again.”

It seems O’Brien will get his chance.

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FloydFest Odyssey Returns to Music Festival Scene

What a long strange trip it’s been since the last live music festivals were held in 2020. One fest that’s sailing into the summer 2021 scene is FloydFest Odyssey 21. Producers plan to bring it alive after sitting out its first season since its debut in 2002. FloydFest hadn’t missed a beat until coronavirus came along and wiped out it – along with hundreds of concerts and other festivals – from the 2020 docket.

Visit RoadtripMojo Facebook to enter to win a five-day pass to FloydFest 21 Odyssey in Floyd, Virginia

Producer Sam Calhoun was there when the wrenching decision was made to pull the plug on FloydFest 2020. We spoke with him two years ago about the fest’s journey to date. And when we spoke with him this month, he was eager and committed to bring it back, safely and magnificently.

Themed Odyssey 2021, the show slated for July 21-25, 2021, in bucolic Floyd, Virginia, will feature a stellar line-up across five-day fest promises to deliver big on Calhoun’s own vision of “looking ahead to a brighter day.” [BUY tickets here; ENTER to win a 5-day pass here!

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