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Photos: Kirbiicon comes to Gainesville

WUFT | By Gabriel Velasquez Neira
Published October 2, 2023 at 10:11 AM EDT
Mustard Service’s Marco Rivero Ochoa on lead vocals and rhythm guitar during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Mustard Service’s Marco Rivero Ochoa on lead vocals and rhythm guitar during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, Kirbiicon came to Gainesville, Florida’s Heartwood Soundstage. The event, which prides itself on its combination of live music, gaming and anime, attracted fans dressed in their best cosplays. Kirbiicon acts as a beacon for lovers of all things eccentric.

Mustard Service’s Augusto “Tuto” Di Catarina on plays guitar during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Mustard Service’s Augusto “Tuto” Di Catarina on plays guitar during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

The crowd sways along to music from the Tampa, Fla. band “Rohna” during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
The crowd sways along to music from the Tampa, Fla. band “Rohna” during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Mustard Service’s Marco Rivero Ochoa on lead vocals and rhythm guitar during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Mustard Service’s Marco Rivero Ochoa on lead vocals and rhythm guitar during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

A furry wields a lightsaber during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
A furry wields a lightsaber during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Better Than This performs during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Better Than This performs during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

The Miami band Buko Boys Performs while dressed in a cosplay of the popular show “One Piece,” during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
The Miami band Buko Boys Performs while dressed in a cosplay of the popular show “One Piece,” during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Buko Boys cosplay One Piece during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Buko Boys cosplay One Piece during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

Rohna’s Nick Rovello plays guitar and vocals during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Rohna’s Nick Rovello plays guitar and vocals during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

Fans cheer on Mustard Service during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Fans cheer on Mustard Service during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

Ricky Burke, Alex Pham and Aaron Gill show off their cosplays during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
Ricky Burke, Alex Pham and Aaron Gill show off their cosplays during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Marco Rivera of the Miami, Fla. band Mustard Service shreds on guitar while smoking a cigarette during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
Marco Rivera of the Miami, Fla. band Mustard Service shreds on guitar while smoking a cigarette during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Charlize Simpson and Walter Suarez show off their “Cowboy Bebop” cosplay during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
Charlize Simpson and Walter Suarez show off their “Cowboy Bebop” cosplay during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Nick Rovello of the Tampa, Fla. band Rohna, sings to the crowd while dressed as a character from the “Avatar: The Last Airbender” franchise during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
Nick Rovello of the Tampa, Fla. band Rohna, sings to the crowd while dressed as a character from the “Avatar: The Last Airbender” franchise during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Mustard Service performs during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Mustard Service performs during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

Kie Brisby flashes a pose during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
Kie Brisby flashes a pose during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)

Buko Boys performs during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)
Buko Boys performs during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Gabriel Velasquez Neira/WUFT News)

Andrew Ashmeade dances with a silk fan to the band Buko Boys during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
Andrew Ashmeade dances with a silk fan to the band Buko Boys during Kirbiicon at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday night, Sept. 30, 2023. (Sydney Johnson/WUFT News)
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Gabriel Velasquez Neira
Gabriel is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.
See stories by Gabriel Velasquez Neira