BRADENTON -- Saturday was a perfect day for music lovers.

Not only did they get to kick back with a drink and enjoy some of the best musical acts who live in the Manatee and Sarasota areas, but they got to do it all for free.

The inaugural MacFest brought hundreds of Southern rock lovers to Downtown Bradenton.

Headliner Dangerous Dan Toler, a former member of the Allman Brothers Band, closed off a night packed with acts including Mike Kach Group, Pedro Arevalo & Friends, Kettle of Fish, the Michael Mac Band and Ben Hammond.

For Phil Valentine, who has seen the Allman Brothers perform 35 times, the festival was a treat.

“I grew up listening to this music, and bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd,” said Valentine, 53. “I’ve always liked Southern rock.”

The show began in the afternoon, just around the time a thunderstorm blew through the area. At one point, parts of the stage had to be held down to prevent them from blowing away.

“It was good after the rain stopped,” Maggie Riester said. “We got here at 1:30 to get a good spot.”

When the rain subsided, Riester returned to her prime stop on the asphalt, and by late afternoon the audience stretched along Old Main.

People danced and sang along as the bands played.

“I’m having a great time,” said Valentine.

Mac, who spearheaded the event, said it panned out just as he had envisioned. His ultimate dream would be to turn Manatee/Sarasota area into a hotbed of music.

He expects to hold similar events throughout the state, too.

“I called some people down in Miami and we might do one down there,” Mac said. “We’re really excited.”

Even with the storm, he said he was happy “people stuck with us.

“God bless them.”