GO Fest Live Music Party Starts at Dusk

go fest live music

Music has been a mainstay at the Anthem Roanoke GO Outside Festival from the very first year. This one is no exception. Two national touring acts will keep you dancing during the music festival portion of the weekend Oct. 18-20 at River’s Edge.

Southern Avenue is a “one-band musical revolution” that you don’t want to miss on Friday, Oct. 18 at 9:30 p.m.

Then Saturday, Oct. 19, Andy Frasco & the U.N. take the main stage at 9 p.m. The band is in the middle of an East Coast tour and is this probably your only opportunity to hear these blues rockers for free.

GO Fest Music Lineup

From the opening evening on Friday to the waning moments of Sunday, the stage will feature local and regional bands with sounds to punctuate the outdoor vibe.

And here’s the best part: All of the live music is free. Just show up. Grab your spot in front of the stage (with a cold beverage in hand), and get ready to dance the night away. Thanks to Haley Toyota for sponsoring the Haley Toyota Music Stage!

Need more info? You can find it all here. 

Friday, Oct. 18

southern avenue go fest

  • 6:45-7:30 p.m.: GOTE – This southwest Virginia band features guitar-driven psychedelic blues with jamming, textured undertones and harmonically rich melodies.
  • 8-8:45 p.m.: Mason Via & Hot Trail Mix – This innovative North Carolina bluegrass band with a rowdy, youthful vigor joins the GO Fest lineup for the first time after being runner-up at FloydFest’s On The Rise competition.
  • 9:30-11 p.m.: Southern Avenue (pictured) – This Memphis group embodies an effortlessly organic soul/blues/R&B fusion that reflects the band members’ diverse roots.

Saturday, Oct. 19

andy frasco go fest

  • 5-6 p.m.: Chupacabras – This seven-piece band begins the evening with an Afro-Cuban beat that meshes jazz and rock for a captivating stage presence.
  • 7-8:15 p.m.: DownTown Abby & The Echoes – This FloydFest On the Rise competition winner from North Carolina takes on influence from soul, blues and Southern rock with youthful energy.
  • 9-11 p.m.: Andy Frasco & the U.N. (pictured) This year’s GO Fest headliner is an American blues-rock band now with its third album, Change of Pace.

Sunday, Oct. 20

  • Noon-1 p.m.: Matt Powell – This Canadian singer/songwriter/musician kicks off the last day with music inspired by the likes of John Mayer, James Bay, Thomas Rhett, and The Black Keys.
  • 1-2 p.m.: Hoppie Vaughan – Rhythm, blues and soul performer Hoppie Vaughn has been igniting and expanding Roanoke’s live-music scene since 1996. Hoppie and his band, the Ministers of Soul, are the house band every Wednesday night at Blue 5.
  • 2-3 p.m.: Andrew Winn of Agents of Good Roots – Roanoke native Andrew Winn, a guitarist and keyboardist, led the band Agents of Good Roots, a free-flowing, jazz- and rock-influenced band that once toured with Dave Matthews Band.
  • 3:30-5 p.m.: Kyle Forry & Tin Can Locomotive – GO Fest winds down with this Roanoke band that brings a wide variety of musical influence to form a musical concoction of Americana, rock, groove, and soul.

ENO Silent Disco

silent disco go fest

Prefer to dance to your own beat? From 9:30-11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, consider the ENO Silent Disco presented by Freedom First. Stop in the ENO Lotus Lounge, grab some wireless headphones (so you can crank up your own volume) and join the party! A DJ will be spinning tunes that only those wearing wireless headphones can hear. Sure, you’ll look weird but who’s watching? Limited to 200 people, first-come, first-served.