Across-the-Way Productions

04/02/2025

Behind the Curtain: Meet the Staff

The heart of FloydFest beats because of the amazing humans who bring it to life—dedicated, creative, and full of passion. This week, we’re shining a little extra light on one of those all-stars… someone who helps make the magic happen and keeps the spirit of the fest alive year after year! 🌟

🎤 Name: Jody Franko

🎸 Current Role/Dept: VIP Director

✨ What’s your favorite memory from past festivals?
“My favorite memories from every festival are “That Hug”. That sweet moment when reuniting with staff, friends, patrons and musicians that return to our sweet mountain home annually to share in jubilation. It’s a moment of unity, eye to eye, smile to smile, heart to heart. It’s why I do what I do!”

🍿 What’s your go-to snack or drink to power through festival week?
“Kombucha!! Powered by bubbly firewater with a slight kick.”

🎶 If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be, and why?
“At first I thought of Carry On by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It was my go to as a teen and still moves me. Love a good crescendo. That said, life is a soundtrack and I’ll dance to whatever is playing.”

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the incredible individuals who keep the FloydFest magic alive!

04/02/2025

👀 Yet another sneak-peek into recent progress at FestivalPark — our team continues to deliver on the collective dream to improve your onsite festival scene ➡️ The Depot emerges from winter with a festive facelift and a paver-patio & fire-pit.

Already home to to the FloydFest General Store, Citizens Internet Café, Red Rooster Coffee & Café, The Depot Bar, food vendors, a FloydFest information Booth, medical location, two shower trailers, portos, free mountain drinking water and more, The Depot further develops for 2025 with a new facade, featuring new garage doors and natural siding.

But perhaps the most inspiring upgrade at The Depot for FloydFest 25~Aurora is our new paver-patio & fire-pit, complete with ADA access, terraced stairs and ample seating for relaxing, eating, picking’ & grinnin’, all within a stone’s throw of our Canopy Grove Stage, ‘FloydFest Express’ Tram Shuttle Stop, a gateway to Canopy Camping & more.

Yep, we are listening to how you’d like your new FloydFest forever home to manifest, and doing our best to deliver, with more added every year.

👉 Don’t miss seeing it all in person in 112 days!
🎫 Secure your tickets for FloydFest 25~Aurora (July 23-27, 2025) now: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/FloydFest-25Aurora/625477?afflky=FloydFest
📸: Dan Henderson |

03/31/2025

🚨TICKET PRICES INCREASE ON APRIL 1!🚨
🎟️ Secure your view of ‘Aurora:’ https://wl.seetickets.us/event/FloydFest-25Aurora/625477?afflky=FloydFest

03/25/2025

🚨TICKET PRICES INCREASE ON APRIL 1!🚨
🎟️ Secure your view of ‘Aurora:’ https://wl.seetickets.us/event/FloydFest-25Aurora/625477?afflky=FloydFest

Introducing, FloydFest 25~Aurora's On-the-Rise Competition Class of 2025, sponsored by Peluso Microphone Lab, LLC & Press Press Merch: 💫 Caleb Lee Hutchinson 💫 Deaf Andrews 💫 Electric Kif 💫 Elias Hix 💫 Florencia & the Feeling 💫 Grain Thief 💫 Hash The Band 💫 Lua Flora 💫 Lucid Evolution 💫 OLD LADY 💫 The Hip Snacks 💫 The Jack Wharff Band 💫 Widely Grown 💫

📻 Don’t be tardy: Aurora’s On-the-Rise Class of 2025 is now in session on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/FF25OtR
🌠 Read all about it: https://floydfest.com/aurora-seventh-round-2025

03/24/2025

Wow! Sierra Hull with a beautiful performance of "Spitfire" - Recorded live from the FloydFest Bus Stop during FloydFest 24~Horizon, July 24-28, 2024.

03/19/2025

Behind the Curtain: Meet the Staff

The magic of FloydFest comes to life thanks to an extraordinary group of dedicated, talented, and passionate individuals. This week, we’re excited to turn the spotlight on one of the incredible people who play a key role in making it all possible—a true pillar of the FloydFest community!

🎤 Name: Emily Laney

🎸 Current Role/Dept: Venue Director

✨ What’s your favorite memory from past festivals? “Tyler Childers on the old Workshop Stage”

🍿 What’s your go-to snack or drink to power through festival week? “Little Cokes!! and Tomato Sandwiches”

🎶 If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be, and why? “Phish - 2001 - 'Cause when you hear it you know you are about to get down!”

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the incredible individuals who keep the FloydFest magic alive!

03/13/2025

👀 A sneak-peek into recent progress at FestivalPark — you asked, and we delivered: Aiming to bring the audience & artists closer together (a hallmark of our former site), our teams got creative over the winter, constructing a curved concrete walkway & steel railing right above the water’s edge in front of our main stage.

Not only does this one-of-kind festival structure achieve protection of the waterway, it also greatly reduces the distance between our patrons and performers … by an incredible 30+ feet.

To boot, its design follows the contours of the creek, embellishing nature’s natural curves into a work of walk-able art. This new, uniquely ‘FloydFest’ feature debuts during FloydFest 25~Aurora (July 23-27, 2025), symbolizing a delightful symbiosis of form, function and Mother Nature.

❗️ Don’t miss seeing it in person in 132 days!
⏰ And, a friendly reminder that ticket prices increase in 19 days (on April 1), so grab them now on FloydFest.com.

for more sneak-peeks of site improvements! We’ve been working hard in the off-season to improve almost every facet of the patron experience; we have so much ‘new’ to share! You are loved and appreciated!

03/12/2025

➡️ 🌱 Spring is one week away …

👀 And, a preview of your summer is just two weeks away …

👉 On March 27, the will gather at Grandin Theatre for a special preview performance from Tan and Sober Gentlemen — mere months before the raucous six-piece brings their signature blend of pulsating “Irish-American hillbilly music” to FloydFest 25~Aurora — and you’re invited to the hootenanny.

TIX: https://grandintheatre.com/shows/tan-sober-gentlemen

💚 FloydFest & Across-the-Way Productions are proud to co-pro this show with our friends just down the mountain at The Grandin Theatre to introduce this dynamic high-octane act to Roanoke audiences, doubling as a much-needed spring reunion for the . 💚

✅ Don’t miss this & :
ADV TIX: $20+tax | DOORS: $24+tax
🎟: https://grandintheatre.com/shows/tan-sober-gentlemen

03/09/2025

03/06/2025

Behind the Curtain: Meet the Staff

Creating the magic of FloydFest wouldn’t be possible without an incredible team of passionate, talented, and hardworking individuals. This week, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on one of the amazing people who helps make it all happen—a true cornerstone of the FloydFest family!

🎤 Name: Whit Patterson
🎸 Current Role/Dept: Parking & Traffic Director

✨ What’s your favorite memory from past festivals?
"Both taking place at Hill Holler stage at the old site, and both showcase the power of music. 2019, the moment Phil Lesh walked out on stage. Phil and the Grateful Dead carry a lot of weight in our community and having him at FloydFest was an honor. To share that moment with people I work with, who are some of my closest friends, is gratification on many levels. A lot folks had goosebumps in that moment, I'll never forget mine. Second memory, 2021 Billy's String soundcheck Thursday afternoon. Folks knew something was amiss due to the area near the stage being closed off. I happen to be in the area when he walked out with his band. It didn't take long for Mr. Apostol's slick rifts to have droves of people running to the stage to witness this short lived soundcheck. That 15 or so minutes has stuck with me over time, because it was the first time since the pandemic in early 2020 that I had seen any live music. I'll never forget that feeling of being so happy that I cried. Phil brought on the goose bumps, Billy brought on the waterworks. Thank you Hill Holler.”

🍿 What’s your go-to snack or drink to power through festival week?”
"Eating during the festival days while working is not always an option. I really enjoy bananas and Liquid IV (its a life saver) during the day. When things slow down in the evenings, I have the same thing every night, Philly Cheese Steak (double meat, double cheese) from our friends at Bearly Edible. It keeps me running. When the day is done, a nice tequila soda is my go to.“

🎶 If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be, and why?
"In everyday life, I would pick something more lowkey. Since this question is being asked in the context of FloydFest, I have to get into my Floyd mindset with the song that I pick. I would pick Chonkyfire by Outkast. The cherry on top of Aquemini's B-side. This song makes you turn you head out the gate, as if to say "oh dang, what is this?!". It means business and honestly, it just gets me amped up. It's a great way to start the day walking out of the camper on a dewy Floyd morning. ”

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the incredible individuals who keep the FloydFest magic alive!

03/04/2025

🍎Welcome back, Blue Toad Hard Cider, as the ‘Official Hard Cider of FloydFest 25~Aurora!’🍎

🍏Old-school values, new-world sensibilities …
From farm to tap, Blue Toad Hard Cider - Virginia honors the tradition and legacy of America’s first preferred beverage by brewing an all-natural and eminently drinkable hard cider using locally grown apples in Western New York and apples grown in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Rather than solely using European-style tart and bitter apples, Blue Toad Hard Cider uses a cider blend of three to four different apple varieties grown in areas near Rochester, N.Y., and Tyro, Va., with production taking place at cideries located in Rochester, N.Y., and at the base of Wintergreen Resort in Roseland, Va.
Blue Toad Hard Cider - Virginia aims to make its cider different — more authentic, more drinkable, more responsibly produced, more of an experience — than the more mass-produced ciders that may use imported concentrates. We look forward to welcoming back Blue Toad Hard Cider as of the ‘Official Hard Cider of FloydFest 25~Aurora (July 23-27, 2025)!’🍏

ℹ️Learn more: https://bluetoadhardcider.com/

02/26/2025

- The Artists By-Day Schedule is live! Which day are you most excited for?

Time to dust off those dancin' shoes, even just for a day💃 Single day tickets & bundles available on FloydFest.com

02/25/2025

Introducing, FloydFest 25~Aurora’s ‘Local Love’ lineup: 💜 Blue Mule 💜 Christian Quesenberry 💜 Cinémathèque 💜 Empty Bottles 💜 Father Sun 💜 Freak Rangers 💜 GOTE 💜 Jatoba 💜 Kerosene W***y 💜 Leonard Blush & the Camelcals 💜 Mountain Walrus 💜 Ripejive 💜 Solacoustix 💜 The Sugar Hollows 💜

Also, your 'Aurora Brew-ealis' comes into focus, with 2025’s Platinum ABC Partners: 🌟 Devils Backbone Brewing Company *sponsor of the Higher Ground Viewing Deck & Stage) 🌟 Pacifico Beer (*sponsor of the Oasis Stage) 🌟 Dale’s Pale Ale/Oskar Blues Brewery 🌟 New Belgium Brewing Bell's Brewery 🌟 White Claw Hard Seltzer 🌟

🆕 Initial By-Day Artist Schedule for FloydFest 25~Aurora: https://floydfest.com/2025-artists-by-day/
🌌 Join the viewing party: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/FloydFest-25Aurora/625477?afflky=FloydFest
🌠 Read all about it: https://floydfest.com/aurora-sixth-round-2025

02/20/2025

Behind the Curtain: Meet the Staff

Bringing FloydFest to life takes a village of talented, passionate and hardworking people, and we’re beyond grateful for every single one of them. This week, we’re putting the spotlight on someone who’s absolutely essential to the magic — a key player in making FloydFest happen!

🎤 Name: Jim Grondin
🎸 Current Role/Dept: Camp Ambassador Manager

✨ What’s your favorite memory from past festivals? “That's a tough one. Each festival brings its own favorite memories. I must say I was in awe standing on Higher Ground viewing deck overlooking festival park all lit up and alive. No doubt there is Music, Magic, Mountains.”

🍿 What’s your go-to snack or drink to power through festival week? “Love my watermelon flavored Celsius! “

🎶 If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would it be, and why? “Jessica by Allman Brothers. It always takes me on a good journey.”

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the incredible individuals who keep the FloydFest magic alive!

02/18/2025

More ‘Aurora’ news to cure those winter blues ➡️ 2025’s lineup illuminates with a FIFTH ROUND of artist additions:

🌠 Paul Cauthen 🌠 The Original Wailers feat. Al Anderson 🌠 The Last Revel 🌠 Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes 🌠 Crowe Boys 🌠 🌠 The Jared Stout Band 🌠 Jones 🌠 Marc Ridge & The Revelers 🌠 … added to the lineup for FloydFest 25~Aurora (July 25-27, 2025), with more on the way NEXT WEEK!

🆕 Behold, the initial By-Day Artist Schedule for FloydFest 2025: https://floydfest.com/2025-artists-by-day/
✅ Single-Day GA tickets on sale now for Thursday to Sunday: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/FloydFest-25Aurora/625477?afflky=FloydFest

🌌 Join the viewing party: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/FloydFest-25Aurora/625477?afflky=FloydFest
🌌 New merch: https://shop.presspressmerch.com/collections/floydfest
🌌 Today’s e-blast newsletter: https://floydfest.com/aurora-fifth-round-2025
🌌 Vantage point: FloydFest.com