After 21 years of serving the festival he co-founded, Kris Hodges is leaving the FloydFest organization, a press release announced on Wednesday.
Hodges founded the long-running festival back in 2002 with his then-partner, Erika Johnson. Even after the couple split up and Johnson left the company, FloydFest continued on at its longtime home off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd, VA. More recently, the festival had planned to christen a new location, dubbed FestivalPark in Check, VA, that was unfortunately deemed “not viable” for the ultimately canceled 2023 edition.
It’s been “a labor of love, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and I think what I set out to accomplish has been accomplished,” Hodges told The Roanoke Times. “I think I was able to provide an exceptional experience for thousands of people who made it their annual pilgrimage for family reunions. And it was a holiday that was created … to celebrate all of the abundance that music and art and life can offer. … It’s bittersweet, but change is the only constant we’re absolutely sure of and I wish the team the absolute best.”
As for why he left the festival he helped start, Hodges said, “it was simply just time.” Hodges served as the festival’s talent buyer and booking agent, and says he will continue his career in festival and concert production post-FloydFest.
“I’ve been doing this for well over two decades now, and I’ve realized that it’s in my blood,” Hodges said. “I’ve been talking to other industry cats, some of whom have accomplished great things within the industry and even when they retire they continue to get involved. … We are obsessed with being good stewards for great experiences.”
FloydFest was set to make its debut at FestivalPark July 26th–30th, 2023 for the edition dubbed “FloydFest 23~Forever,” which would mark the first FloydFest outside the original Floyd, VA location. Unfortunately, the new site met a permitting snag when organizers were unable to provide an approved stormwater management plan in time for the festival. Per the Roanoke Times, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality received a stormwater prevention plan from the festival on May 23rd and is currently reviewing it.
The 2023 edition of FloydFest was due to feature top sets from The Black Crowes, My Morning Jacket, Sheryl Crow, and Goose. It is unclear who will take over booking for the festival, or whether FloydFest is looking for a new talent buyer. In the initial cancellation of the 2023 festival, organizers promised FloydFest will return in July 2024.
“We can’t say much more than the press release at the moment,” Chief Operations Officer Sam Calhoun said. “We will have plenty of more detailed and exciting info to share soon with you and others. Lots of positive progress in our world and in relation to our new site as of late.”
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