The Hibiscus Festival, a tradition in Vero Beach’s downtown for 14 years, takes place against a backdrop of art and music. The festival includes a fine art and fine craft show, a children’s art show and a number of bands. Live music in three festival venues – Main Stage, 14th Avenue South and Art Show – includes the Indian River Charter High School Jazz Band; Soul Jam; Matt Fulcher; Blue Cypress Bluegrass; VBHS String Ensemble; Anja Conklin; Jacks Band; American Martian; Christian Shemo; Jerzi Olivia; and Benjamin Mejia. That’s just Saturday. Sunday, there’s Rouge Theory; Ben Prestage; Josiah David; Abby Owens; Chaz Mazota; and the VBHS String Ensemble.
The 9-year-old piano prodigy Jacob Velasquez is playing at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center Saturday in his debut with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. The SCSO is performing Mozart Symphony No. 40, aka “the great G-minor symphony,” with guest conductor Maestro Michael Hall. Velasquez, the young phenom from Miami, has been diagnosed with a type of high functioning autism, and he’ll perform Haydn’s piano Concerto No. 11 in D major – from memory. Velasquez has appeared on numerous TV shows, including “Good Morning America” and “The View.” His appearance falls during Autism Awareness Month “to shine a light on the capabilities of those with the developmental disorder,” promoters say. He’s been amazing the classical music world since he was 5, when he was admitted to the National Musicians Guild after flawlessly performing 10 classical pieces from memory. The concert will include the Southeastern U.S. premiere of American composer Michael Daugherty’s “Nothing Bitter Suite” for chamber orchestra. SCSO Conductor and Artistic Director Aaron T. Collins calls Velasquez “an incredibly talented performer in addition to being a happy little boy who idolizes Yanni and Taylor Swift.” The concert begins at 7 p.m.
This Friday, the Main Street Vero Beach gallery downtown will feature as its monthly guest artist marine and environmental artist Guy LeFebvre. A Massachusetts native, LeFebvre is a self-taught painter, wood carver and photographer who works primarily in oil on canvas. After years of scuba diving, he finds his subject matter mostly through his photography. Concern for the sea creatures endangered by loss of habitat, boats, poaching, toxins and other man-made hazards has turned him from not only observing and recording sea creatures, but also advocating for them. He says through his work he hopes to raise awareness about the fragility and risks humans pose when acting before thinking. The opening takes place during the monthly gallery stroll from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Attention, Kingston Trio fans: The clean cut, clean-shaven group that helped launch the folk revival of the ’50s and ’60s, returns to the Emerson Center this Saturday. For those who remember, and those who simply enjoy an acoustic group who knows how to “sing a song, and tell a story” with crisp, precise harmony, the KT, with a pair of Grammys and a pile of gold records on the shelf, is the way to go. he current iteration – George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty – are true to the harmonies we all love, and the continuing popularity of this iconic trio has them touring 30 weeks a year. Showtime is 7 p.m. Oh, and one more thing: Come early and you can buy drinks and appetizers from the new Emerson Center Café.
Picture a young John Travolta, rockin’ white bell-bottoms and bustin’ a move under a disco ball, and what comes to mind? Right! “Saturday Night Fever.” The show, based on the blockbuster film, opens in Vero this Tuesday at Riverside Theatre. With songs by the BeeGees, the show’s hits include “Stayin’ Alive,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “How Deep Is Your Love” and more. The story’s a good one and the choreography is Pow! “Saturday Night Fever” runs through April 30.