Photo Credit: Matthew Ream

Last night, Circles Around the Sun turned up for its second appearance at FloydFest in Check, Va. The band’s initial stage time occurred on Wednesday, in line with the onset of the festivities, July 24, 2024, and continued during the final hours of Thursday, July 25, 10:15-11:45 p.m. During the latter performance, the instrumental specialist welcomed assistance from Future Man (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones) on select pulls. 

Circles started their frame in standard formation, igniting the night on Language feature, “Away Team,” before stepping back in time and plucking “Money’s No Option,” a feature of their 2020 set. The number floated an initially mellow beat with intergalactic overtones, generating dance-inducing pickup. On the other side of the tune above, the band picked up an extended take on jam catalyst “Halicarnassus.”

Without pause, the previous song was positioned in a sequence with “Babyman,” the first number to receive added musicianship due to Future Man’s arrival. Notably, the number also received assistance at Sweetwater in April, when the band welcomed Dead & Company backbeat Jay Lane to join on the song. Continuing with last night’s coverage, Future Man stuck around, adding to Language favorites “Wobble” and “Outer Boroughs” before closing out the sit-in following After Sunrise pick “Moonbow.” 

Circles Around the Sun 

FloydFest – Check, Va. 

July 25, 2024 

Set: Away Team, Money’s No Option, Halicarnassus > Babyman*, Wobble*, Outer Boroughs*,

Moonbow*, Landline Memories

Notes: * With Future Man