Heatstroke Hot Rod Hoedown brings free live music to Bradenton

Paxton Richards says this year’s Heatstroke Hot Rod Hoedown will be “the biggest Heatstroke ever.”

They’ve all been plenty big, so that’s saying something.

Richards is the man to know, too. He’s been the driving force of the Heatstroke Hot Rod Hoedown since its beginning.

This is the 12th edition of the free event, which features live music from mid-afternoon into the night. This year’s band lineup includes the Surf Tones, the Surfin Dead, John Whiteleather Band, Ober Rivers and his D.U.I.s, Ted Stevens and the Doo-Shots and the Intoxicants.

It all takes place Saturday at P-Man’s Classic Cycle Paint in Bradenton. Richards, who owns the place, said he puts on the free event to thank his friends in the community.

“I wanted to give something back to the motorcycle community, to the hot rod community,” Richards said. “They’ve always been good to me.”

Besides the music, the hoedown features, according to the promotional poster, “cold beer, hot food, hot rods and cool bikes.”

One of the features that’s especially popular with hoedowners is the slow race. Motorcyclists ride side-by-side down a track. Each rider has to stay in his lane and can’t put his feet on the ground. The last one to the reach the finish line wins.

Details: 2-10 p.m. Sept. 30, P-Man’s Classic Cycle Paint, 721 Seventh Ave. W., Bradenton. Free. 941-744-1157.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Heatstroke Hot Rod Hoedown brings free live music to Bradenton."