VERO BEACH — Organizers of an inaugural three-day, 15-band music festival at the county fairgrounds that’s set for the fall outlined their event Monday evening.
The music festival, Oct. 21-23, is called “Rocktoberfest Vero Beach,” and more than 1,000 general admission tickets have been sold, while 290 of 750 VIP tickets are left.
Sandy Seeley and Wayne Howard of Vero-based Fully Involved Event Productions are teaming up with Jason Atwell, CEO of AAG music event production company, to put on Rocktoberfest. They held a press conference at Walking Tree Brewery at about 6 p.m. to discuss the festival.
Howard, an Indian River County Fire Rescue member and fire department lieutenant, said it will take more than $150,000 to launch the first-time event. Next year’s festival is also scheduled at the fairgrounds for Oct. 20-22, 2017.
Howard said local investors are helping finance the inaugural music festival; he declined to identify them because he said the investors want to remain anonymous.
This year’s highlights include Michael Allman Band (son of Gregg Allman) playing Oct. 21 on ’50s and ’60s night; CHICAGO Reloaded Tour and Beatles Official Tribute Tour playing Oct. 22 on rock day; and gospel and bluegrass on Oct. 23.
There will also be a “Battle of the Bands” competition, which has already attracted 240 entrees.
Early-bird general admission for all three days is $45 until Aug. 15, and $70 after Aug. 15. General admission will be capped at 4,000. Early-bird VIP is $75 until Aug. 15 and $100 after Aug. 15. VIP ticket-buyers will receive access to an air-conditioned tent and bathrooms.
“Vero really hasn’t had anything like this before,” said Seeley, who is a county fire inspector and Howard’s partner.
For more information, check out www.rockverobeach.com.
