Since the early 1900s, the site of The Floyd Country Store has been a hub for people. Originally called Farmer’s Supply, it was a place where farmers, craftsmen, laborers and travelers all converged to trade wares and discuss the topics of the day. When the workday was done, these people of all ages and backgrounds would converge here to dance, and share the music and lore traditional to the mountainous area known today as the Blue Ridge Plateau.
The music of this time and place — Mountain Music — was prolific in its development. Traditional English, Scots-Irish, German, French, Spanish, African and Indigenous cultures coalesced to invariably trade ideas and culture, producing a music that itself made no delineations between origin, race or gender, absorbing anything in its path. It grew in abundance, creating a richly mixed heritage that is still respected and admired today, in part due to its role in establishing the foundations of earliest recorded Country music. This notion is best encapsulated by Kinney Rorer, who describes this particular region of Southwestern Virginia as “a fertile crescent” for old-time music – one of a number of areas in North America that served as a hub for musical and cultural exchange.
Floyd County, Virginia has maintained a tradition of music and dancing that has its roots in the culture of the Scots-Irish and German settlers who moved into the Blue Ridge Mountains in the mid-1700s and in the culture of enslaved people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent and English farmers, traders, and entrepreneurs who migrated up the rivers from the coast.
The Scots-Irish and Afro-Carribean traditions of making music, storytelling and dancing still survive at places such as The Floyd Country Store, where crowds gather on Friday nights and throughout the week to dance and play music together. A number of the tunes that are still commonly played for dances at the store, including “Billy in the Lowground”, “Soldier’s Joy”, and “Hop Light Ladies”, would have originated in the Scots-Irish culture of the British Isles — while tunes such as “Old Reuben,” “Shortening Bread,” “Roustabout” and the driving rhythm of clawhammer banjo, appear to have deep roots in Afro-Caribean and African-American culture.
Many local churches have strong musical ministries and the gospel music which has been heard for generations is still alive. You can hear some of these gospel musicians at The Floyd Country Store, or out on the street on a warm Friday evening.
Today, some of the finest old-time and bluegrass musicians around turn up on stage at the store, enjoying the energy and enthusiasm of an audience that truly appreciates traditional music. Families still encourage youngsters to pick up an instrument, and Floyd has many fine teachers of music in the local style. With The Floyd Country Store’s sister organization, The Handmade Music School and the advent of The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, locals have renewed their pride in the skills that have been kept alive over the years in the living rooms and back porches of Floyd County.
As for dancing, that goes right along with the music! Clogging and flat footing are passed along from mother to daughter, and grandfather to grandson. (You’ll often see dancers from 4 years old to 94 years old on the dance floor at The Floyd Country Store). These styles of dancing are full of energy and often form part of the percussion for the music of a good dance band. The dancing styles along the Blue Ridge Plateau of Southwest Virginia tend to be “caught, not taught” and continue to provide endless opportunities for folks to enjoy themselves on the dancefloor at The Floyd Country Store. Join us!
Events at the Floyd Country Store where you can enjoy these music and dance traditions today:
TUESDAY TUNES
Tuesday Tunes is a celebration of our local bluegrass and old time musicians. Every Tuesday at dinnertime, our musical guests alternate between Jesse Smathers and Raistlin Brabson. Jesse Smathers is an accomplished mandolinist, guitarist, and singer originally from Eden, North Carolin, not making his home here in Floyd County, Virginia. He is a member of Lonesome River Band and he teaches mandolin and guitar for The Handmade Music School. Raistlin Brabson is a skilled fiddle player who plays for a number of celebrated local bands, including his band Raistlin Brabson and Up Jumped Trouble. In addition to being a regular Tuesday Tunes guest, he often plays at the Friday Night Jamboree.
Tuesday Tunes is free admission, but guests are encouraged to give a donation of $10 to support the musicians. We also welcome you to enjoy dinner from The Floyd Country Store Cafe!
HONKY TONK THURSDAYS
Put on your boots and get ready to scoot across the dance floor! Every Thursday night from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, we offer highly danceable country music from Redd Volkaert, the legendary telecaster slinger from Merle Haggard’s band, along with different musicians from around Southwest Virginia and the rest of the country. (When Redd isn’t here we’ll have a substitute band that will keep the crowd dancing and smiling). If you enjoy honky tonk, Western swing, and good old classic country, you’ll want to join us on Thursday nights for some good food and a spacious dance floor.
Honky Tonk Thursday is free admission, but guests are encouraged to give a donation of $10 to support the musicians. We also welcome you to enjoy dinner from The Floyd Country Store Cafe!
FRIDAY NIGHT JAMBOREE
The Friday Night Jamboree is the heartbeat of The Floyd Country Store. In the early 1980s, a local bluegrass band started holding their band practices in The Floyd Country Store (then known as Cockram’s General Store) every Friday night. Passersby would knock on the doors, asking to be let inside to better hear the music. Pretty soon, so many people were coming by that the band decided to leave the doors open. As the crowds grew, other musicians came to join the fun. Today, the tradition of the Friday Night Jamboree is alive and well as locals and visitors from far and wide come to immerse themselves in the magic of Appalachian music and dance. The evening begins with a 6:30 PM gospel set, and kicks into high gear at 7:30 PM with two back-to-back old time dance sets. Seats can be reserved in advance, but standing/dancing tickets are sold at the door every Friday starting at 4:45 PM.
Please take note that seating is limited. If a seat is important to you, reserve your tickets in advance or arrive early to the event.
AMERICANA AFTERNOONS
Saturday lunch at the store is a special event. Pick up one of our homemade soups or sandwiches, or a plate of farm-fresh salad and find a table near the stage. From 12 PM to 3 PM, you can enjoy Americana Afternoons. The music is varied, but has the common thread of Americana: traditional acoustic music. Some of it is indigenous, including bluegrass, or the music of contemporary singer-songwriters: you might hear the blues, or some of the Celtic or African sounds that underpin our American folk traditions.
Admission is free with tips appreciated.
SUNDAY MUSIC JAMS
Our Sunday Music Jams are a great way to see traditional music the way it has been played and handed down for centuries, amongst friends and family in a community setting. Every Sunday afternoon, The Floyd Country Store comes alive with community music during our music jams. If you’re just learning to play a musical instrument (or if you’d just like to practice), join us for our Beginner Jam from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM in the Floyd Country Store Community Room. At 1:30 PM, the Old Time Jam begins in front of the Floyd Country Store Stage. The Old Time Jam is led by a different group of seasoned string band musicians every week. Tunes are played at a moderate speed. Traditional instruments and dancers are welcome! At 4:00 PM, the Bluegrass Jam kicks off, with leaders who guide the group through bluegrass songs and tunes. Song selections and solos pass around the circle. Bring your instrument and join in the music, or sit back and enjoy the show. If you’re hungry, grab a bite to eat from the Cafe! The Sunday Music Jams are open to the public and free for everyone. Audiences are encouraged to make a donations in support of the musical leaders for our Sunday Music Jams!