Big Daddy plays on Old Main Street in Bradenton for New Year's Eve

If you don't have plans for New Year's Eve yet, here's a suggestion for you.

Head on down to Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton and welcome 2016 with one of Bradenton's favorite party bands. It should be a great time, and while some venues around the area charge you big bucks on New Year's Eve, you can rock out to Big Daddy for free. Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Matt Walden will open, starting at 6 p.m., and "American Idol" finalist Sam Woolf will play a set starting at about 7 p.m. Big Daddy should take the stage at around 7:45 p.m.

It's the last Main Street Live event of the year, sponsored by the Old Main Street Merchants Association. The music will be on a stage toward the south end of Old Main Street, and vendors will line the street. Plus, the bars, restaurants and shops along Old Main Street will be open for business.

Big Daddy has been playing around the area for almost 15 years, so there's a good chance you've heard them. But even if you haven't, you might want to check them out. The band's website says Big Daddy plays "60's beach rock, acoustic, alternative, Beatles, blues, classic rock, contemporary, country, folk, funk, high-energy dance, hip-hop/rap, metal, pop, punk, R&B/soul, reggae, rock, rockin' blues, Southern rock." So unless you listen only to opera or something, the band's versatile enough to play your kind of music.

An of course, you can count down to midnight and to 2016 as the giant ball drops at the south end of Old Main Street.

Details: 5 p.m. Dec. 31, Old Main Street, Bradenton. Admission: Free. Information: facebook.com/OldMainStreetMerchantsAssociation?fref=ts

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Big Daddy plays on Old Main Street in Bradenton for New Year's Eve ."