Loose Leaf Notes

Sunday is like the cherry on the top of my four days of Floydfesting. I started out the day by taking pictures of sweet Floyd friend sightings.

I took a series of shots called “People-watching from a Red Picnic Table in Front of the Longfin Grille Truck,”  where I had a Chef Chiron made lunch.

But soon, I couldn’t avoid being pulled into the music.

“If we can learn how to be good neighbors and good stewards of our land, and good in our school systems and show up and work that way, maybe we can spin this crazy world in a different direction,” said one of the women of Rising Appalachia from Hill Holler Stage.

I continued people watching, even while dancing.

Some of the new-to-me bands I was drawn to were so good they made me say, “Get Out of Here! (as in “Are You Kidding Me?). Jordan Harman was one of those bands.  Joe texted me to come check it out.  Harman, who plays Bluesy Rock, is from Salem and sometimes emcees the Workshop Porch stage where he played. Who knew?

“It ain’t about you. It ain’t about me. It’s about a bigger problem,” he sang in one song. The one in the video here (coming soon)  is an example of the band’s jamming blues riffs.

Remember the 70’s streaker phenomena? Floydfest has its own streaker dancer.  He doesn’t photo bomb naked, like streakers of the past did, but always has jogging shoes and something freaky colorful on.

Joe and I still got it! It’s always a treat when our schedules match up and we can get in a dance together.

The streaker came to the Drunken Hearts Garden Stage set too. He got in most of my pictures but not in the video below.

Get Out of Here, Right!?

We spent some time with Josh and Emily before they had to head back to Asheville. I call this shot, “Which Way to Floydfest 18?

I got a crush on Marty Stuart, an elder at the top of his game, during the final headlining main stage show.  And by elder I don’t mean an “old person” in any way. I mean, the man had black leather pants on! Sporting long hair, he looked a little like the Bon Jovi of country.  And later, while looking at old pictures of him on the internet with dark hair, I thought he looked like a young David Cassidy, so it’s no wonder about the crush.  And was that a country Keith Richards playing lead guitar by his side?  After the show, I ran into the lead guitarist, who Stuart kept calling “Cuz.” “Are you really his cousin?” I asked. Nope.

The show was first rate fantastic! I wondered how every next song could top the one before, but it did.  Stuart was warm and engaging, as well as talented, as was each member of his Fabulous Superlatives.

In the words of Hank Williams in a dream that Marty had, which he used as a lyrical prelude to the 1850’s hymn “High on the Mountaintop”, Stuart said, “Remember where ever you go, even up there to Floyd Virginia, there’s going to be a few hillbillies in that crowd.  Just make it real. Just make it rock.” And he did!

Marty Stuart was followed by a local singer who sang a sweet rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” before” Floydfestive musician/stage production manager John McBroom shared some heartfelt words and festival co-founder Kris Hodges (right) bid us all a loving “Peace Out!

It was an all-around sweet festival. (Watch Monarchs Come to Floydfest HERE.)

And Joe topped it off with a new hat.

Post Note: Read Not Your Grandmother’s Thursday at Floydfest HERE, Friday’s Floydfest Fans HERE and Floydfest Family Time (Saturday) HERE.    / Our World Tuesday