Some 20 bands highlight The Village: Music Fest

You can listen to a lot of the area's best musicians, drink some great craft beer and support local arts. If you have a better plan for Friday evening, let us know.

The Village: Music Fest gets going at 5:30 p.m. Friday and runs until 9:30. Twenty local band and musicians will perform in the Village of the Arts, in various galleries and on the village green.

The Distillery Tavern, JJ Taylor and Cigar City Brewery will all offer craft beer, and galleries will be open for the First Friday Gallery Walk.

The galleries and businesses hosting music include The Village Mystic, Arts & Eats, Yoga Arts, VMI Media Group, The Dancing Crane, Bits & Pieces, Rawk Shop and The Village Center Green.

The bands and musicians slated to appear include A Gentleman's Army, Brazos The Rat, Elephant in the Room, Joseph Bonfiglio, Phil Anderson, Dropin Pickups, The New Graves, Hugh T. Williams, Los Diablos Blancos, Ricky Quimby, Carl Wade, Joyful Sounds and 7th Avenue Band.

All the music's free.

Details: 5:30-9:30 p.m. March 1, Village of the Arts, 12th Street West and Ninth Avenue, Bradenton. Information: 941-580-8085, www.thevillagemagazine.net/musicfest.

-- Marty Clear