FRONT ROYAL — Celebrating its 9th year, the Appaloosa Music Festival is a family friendly event with a chance to see — and hear — up-and-coming talent.
Gates open at 11 a.m. both Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1 at Skyline Ranch Resort in Warren County with a full slate of music, ranging from Americana and indy folk to Celtic and country from both well-known and up-and-coming musicians.
Long-time Front Royal resident and event organizer Dan Fedoryka is a founding member of the band Scythian, alongside his brother, Alexander.
The festival is their way of combining their love of the local community with their touring experience to put on a family friendly festival, the likes of which are usually reserved for larger cities.
“It’s an incarnation of what we are musically – there’s something for everybody. It’s not just a bluegrass festival, you’re going to hear everything throughout the day. We have over 2,000 shows under our belts and so much knowledge of what makes a good festival,” Fedoryka said.
A few of those things, he said, are making the festival family friendly and affordable, partnering with local companies – Rappahannock Cellars and Vibrissa Beer will provide special labels for the event – and giving attendees a chance to connect with artists.
Noting that he did not attend a live show until he was 15, Fedoryka said, “We had a vision to bring live music to the community – top notch and top tier. Skyline Ranch Resort is the perfect place.”
The festival is a chance to catch stars on the rise.
“We have this reputation and we say, ‘Just go, even if you don’t know who they are, just go because they’re going to be big,’” he said.
Appaloosa hosted Billy Strings before he was one of the top acts in the country. Molly Tuttle graced the stage in 2022, two years before winning a Grammy award for Best Bluegrass Album. Stephens City resident Jake Kohn played the festival last summer, weeks before signing a deal with Atlantic Records.
“Our hashtag is ‘where you find the next big thing,’” said Fedoryka. “This year has more potential next-big-things than any before. It’s because we tour year-round that we’re able to find them.”
One of those up-and-coming acts, country rock band Ashes & Arrows, has been wowing judges and fans on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” advancing to the semifinal round earlier this month. “They’re going viral on social media,” Fedoryka said of the band that will play Saturday evening.
Kat Higgins, the first artist to sign with Kenny Chesney’s new record label, will also bring fresh talent to the festival.
“She wrote his last number one hit and this year wrote Cody Johnson’s ‘The Painter.’ They were both nominated for Country Music Song of the Year,” Fedoryka said. Higgins is set to play Sunday evening.
This year’s lineup includes performances by Scythian, The Gothard Sisters, Tophouse, Smoke & The Poet, Carbon Leaf, and the Low Water Bridge Band, among others.
Part of the festival’s charm is the accessibility of its artists, Fedoryka said, noting that the Appaloosa Blue Ridge Arts Foundation hosts workshops over the weekend to give music lovers a chance to learn from and talk with professional musicians.
“A lot of mainstream music is geared toward max profit and you need to make all the artists into idols and superstars because fame is what drives the industry. As a musician, I feel this is really rough; people get into music for the wrong reason. They want to get fame,” he said, adding that workshops are a chance to explore the music. Fedoryka said festival organizers often hear from parents that time spent with professional musicals was impactful for their children.
Reaching families and children is another hallmark of the festival, Fedoryka said, noting that Appaloosa will have a “huge kids zone.”
Kids 12 and under are free and family ticket packages are available.
One of 10 kids, several of whom still reside in Front Royal, Fedoryka said affordability is important because he remembers missing out on events because they cost too much for a large family.
He said that while many festivals “expose kids to things they shouldn’t be exposed to,” Appaloosa is all about the music and “making people happy.”
“For craft beer and wine drinkers, there’s something for them. Music lovers can get up close and personal with possibly the next big thing,” he said.
Fedoryka was 6 when his family moved to Front Royal. His parents are Ukrainian immigrants, he said, and music was a way of life in the bustling household with 10 children. Fedoryka and his siblings learned piano from their mother, Irene, a Juilliard-trained concert pianist.
Fedoryka made the switch from classical piano to play rhythm guitar and accordion in Scythia, alongside his older brother Alexander.
Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian is celebrating its 20th year and is best known for high-energy roots music from Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian traditions. The band will play both nights of the festival.
For more information on the event, visit www.appaloosafestival.com
