ARTS PICKS | Oct. 13-15 - Jacksonville Today

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.

Friday & Saturday

XO Art Show

Gallery 725 | Atlantic Highlands

Beaches-based fine art space Gallery 725 hosts Vero Beach street artist and Jacksonville University alum Chris Sweeney (aka XO Sweeney). Sweeney’s murals are recognizable for the distinctive robot and pulsing heart that have become his go-to motifs. Sweeney will be on-hand for the two opening nights, with Friday and Saturday receptions planned from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. More info.

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Friday

Folk or Post-Punk

Intuition Ale Works | Downtown Jacksonville OR Jack Rabbits | San Marco

Of the many concerts worth seeing on Friday, we’re torn between two in particular – American folk musician Jake Xerxes Fussell at the Bier Hall inside Intuition Ale Works and Chicago post-punk trio Dehd at Jack Rabbits. Both draw on the past to create something new and engaging (Dehd on ‘70s-era minimalist rock and Fussell on the American songbook of the early 20th Century) and both are acclaimed (Dehd released one of the most critically praised albums of 2022, and Fussell was called “the leading interpreter of American folk music right now” by NPR Music’s Ann Powers). Need help deciding which one to see and hear? Read an interview with Fussell here and learn more about Dehd here. Doors at 7 p.m. at Intuition and 8 p.m. at Jack Rabbits. Here’s a full list of this weekend’s concerts.

Saturday

Viva La Fiesta

James Weldon Johnson Park | Downtown Jacksonville

As Latinx Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) comes to a close, Jacksonville’s only Hispanic festival, Viva La Fiesta, will celebrate its fifth year, returning to James Weldon Johnson Park on Saturday. It’s a full afternoon and evening of food, drink, dancing and live music, headlined by legendary Puerto Rican salsa singer Charlie Aponte. Viva La Fiesta kicks off at 4 p.m. It’s free to attend. More info.