Autism Rocks Festival slated for Saturday at Macon’s Museum of Arts and Sciences

The weekend weather looks perfect for getting out and about and what better way than hearing great music in a beautiful spot while supporting individuals with autism and their families?

The second annual Autism Rocks Festival, sponsored by Central Georgia Autism, is Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road in Macon.

The Hughes Taylor Band headlines while guests Dean Brown and Dubshak, a favorite area reggae outfit, and the smooth grooves of Charles Davis and the Velvet Sound add to the show.

But that’s not all. Get in on the music sitting on the museum’s outdoor amphitheater benches or bring a lawn chair or blanket and make a picnic from food trucks and beer and wine sales on hand. Coolers aren’t allowed.

There’ll also be a silent auction.

“People had a great time last year so we naturally thought we’d continue this year,” said Shelley Price of Central Georgia Autism. “The biggest thing is it’s a fun way to shine a light on autism and raise money for our scholarships of up to $500 per family to help with things insurance doesn’t cover or summer camps or communication devices, therapy, out-of-pocket medical expenses and those kinds of things. Typical, costs for a child diagnosed with autism are four to six times more than for a neurotypical child. We help with things and services that fall through the cracks.”

Price said Central Georgia Autism is a 100% volunteer organization that’s given $70,000 to 400 area families while fulfilling its mission to foster autism awareness and provide resources and support to those on their autism journey.

The group creates special events for individuals and families such as Christmas parties, outdoor adventure trips and specially designed Museum of Arts and Sciences evenings. It was on such an evening they noticed the amphitheater and got the idea for a festival.

Last year, Central Georgia Autism raised roughly $10,000 through the effort. This year, they hope to make it $15,000. With annual increases in the number of autism diagnoses, Price said the added aid is crucial. She said in 2009 when her son was diagnosed, the CDC found one in 68 children were born on the autism spectrum but just a month ago they announced the latest year’s statistics: one in 36.

Ticketing and information about the event and the help and activities Central Georgia Autism offers are at centralgaautism.org and facebook.com/centralgaautism. Find out more about the museum at masmacon.org.

As for headliner Hughes Taylor, who grew up and began his musical career in Macon, he said he got connected to the charitable festival through family and friends – a great way for things to work.

It’s a good time to catch up with what he’s up to.

“We’ve been recording new material and sending out demos,” he said. “If nothing turns up we’ve got a plan for releasing it ourselves.”

The Hugh Taylor Band’s last album, “Modern Nostalgia,” was recorded just more than two years ago at Capricorn Studios and did well spending a consecutive 18 months on roots music charts. A new single out now, “The Ballad of Big Bill McGuire,” is doing well also and Taylor said a music video for it will be out in the next couple of months.

Taylor, a singer-songwriter-guitarist, said the tune is an audience favorite as he travels performing about four nights a week.

Taylor’s music is his modern take on old styles reminiscent of the blues-rock days of power trios like Eric Clapton in Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He said the new stuff is a touch heavier than what he’s put out before.

Taylor’s online home is at www.hughestaylormusic.com where you can find his music. It’s also on popular streaming services.

There’s more to take note of in days ahead, here’s a glance at two:

— Old favorites are back with new creators joining them at Macon Art Alliance’s Fired Works Ceramic Exhibition and Sale today through April 22. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with special events, classes and talks throughout the show. Included is a talk by 2023’s featured artist, Alicia David, on Saturday at 11 a.m. It will be carried on Facebook Live as well. Also Saturday, at 1 p.m., is a free children’s workshop with potter Meg Campbell. Space is limited and it’s first come, first served. April 20 from 4 to 6 p.m., there’s happy hour shopping with a complimentary glass of wine as you browse.

“We’ve got 39 artists so with our longtime favorites and our new exhibitors there are definitely new things to enjoy,” said Julie Wilkerson, executive director at the Arts Alliance. “But then even our mainstays are always experimenting and coming up with new items and new techniques to go along with what everyone loves and expects. Their creativity keeps things fresh even after 18 years of Fired Works.”

Items sell fast so Wilkerson suggests not putting off attending. Fired Works began as a local show and has grown to become the largest exhibit of functional and sculptural pottery in Georgia.

The exhibit and all events are at the round building at Carolyn Crayton Park, 15 Willie Smokie Glover Dr. Information is at www.maconartsalliance.org under the “Special Events” tab.

— The Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra’s final concert of this, its second season, is Monday, 7:30 p.m., at the Grand Opera House, 651 Mulberry St. The one-of-a-kind orchestra features students of the McDuffie Center for Strings with principal players of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for a unique learning and performance experience that benefits Middle Georgia audiences young and old. Adult tickets are $25 to $35 and student seats and groups are always free with ID.

Monday’s concert features McDuffie Center student Virgil Moore II, this year’s Townsend School of Music Concerto Competition Winner. From Lynchburg, Va., Moore is a junior at the school and will perform Korngold’s Violin Concerto.

Conductor for the evening is Jeffrey Turner and the program includes Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings in E major, Op. 22 and Mozart’s longest and most complex work, his Symphony no. 41 in C major, K 551, “Jupiter.”

“One of the exciting things about the concerts is getting to see our extraordinary students who go on to take their places as tomorrow’s classical music stars,” said Julia Morrison, director of arts marketing and community engagement for Mercer and The Grand. “Virgil really is the future face of violin performance.”

Morrison the Symphony has only grown in popularity with attendance for season two even better than for the first. She said plans for the third season of four concerts are underway.

Tickets may be bought online at www.mcduffie.mercer.edu/symphony, www.thegrandmacon.com, or by calling 478-301-5470.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.