Where All The Hot Music Is On New Year’s Eve

NewYearsEveCle

Wed 12/31

For music lovers in Cleveland, there’s a lot to do on New Year’s Eve whether you’re looking for a noisy, upbeat, get-up-and-dance event or something quieter and more relaxed. For starters, both Cleveland and Akron are hosting big end-of-year events.

Akron’s been doing its First Night for 19 years offering family-friendly activities (no alcohol!) and performers at various downtown institutions such as the Akron Art Museum, the Akron Civic Theatre, Summit Artspace, and the John S. Knight Center from 6pm to midnight.. You can catch an array of outstanding local performers including Mo’Mojo, Colin Dussault, Yiddishe Cup, the Angie Haze Project, Brian Henke, Shivering Timbers and Alex Bevan. There’ll be fireworks at Lock 3 Live at 9pm and midnight. An admission button for all venues is $10. Children under ten are free.

Cleveland launched its New Year’s Eve Ohio Homecoming just last year. This year’s event on Mall B will feature local acts: popular reggae artist Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band, breakout rapper Machine Gun Kelly and EDM/hip-hop DJ E-V, along with a beer garden, food trucks and fireworks. Drawback? It’s outside in December/January. It runs form 8pm-12:30 am with a VIP event at the Global Center from 9pm-2am. General admission tickets are $10; VIP tickets are $150.

If being outdoors at all isn’t your thing, plenty of clubs are offering great entertainment you can enjoy with your coat off.

HotDjang

The Music Box Supper Club has shows going on in both its rooms. Downstairs Honeyhoney will host a dance party starting from 9pm-2am, with Ryan Joseph Anderson opening. It will include a photo booth, champagne cocktails, a prize for the most spectacular outfit and a DJ set following Honeyhoney’s performance. A menu will be available. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Upstairs, local gypsy jazz ensemble Hot Djang (pictured) with jazz/pop/soul singer Ki Allen will provide the soundtrack to a five-course sit-down dinner with wine pours for eac course and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $115; concert-only tickets are available for $25. Or go VIP upgrade for $160. Doors are at 7:30PM.

Last year, Akron Americana quartet Hey Mavis rang in the New Year at Peninsula’s G.A.R. Hall. They had so much fun they’re doing it again. Like last year, they’re planning to invite some of their musician friends to a jam session. Doors open at 8, with Hey Mavis taking the stage for a set at 8:30 and then they’re bring on the special guests about 10:15. The ticket price includes snacks and a midnight champagne toast. Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 at the door but we’d suggest not waiting.

DominickFarinacci*

Over at Nighttown tickets are rapidly selling out for their two shows. Soul singer Bobby Caldwell is in the main room, performing two sets at 8 and 10:30 pm. Tickets are $80. And on the patio Cleveland’s own Dominick Farinacci (pictured), a young trumpet player rapidly rising in the jazz scene, returns home to play. Tickets remain only for his 10 pm show—or at least they did the last time we looked. They’re $40.

Jazz fans in Akron may want to check out another hot young jazz trumpeter who has moved on to a biggest market—in this case Chicago—but hasn’t forgotten his roots. Josh Rzepka will headline two shows at Blu Jazz with his all-star band featuring vocalist Pat Harris, pianist Theron Brown, bassist Mike Forfia, and drummer Ron Godale. The early show starts at 8 and wraps by 9:30, if you have another party to get to. The full menu will be available. Tickets are $20. The 10:30 show includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, butlered wine and champagne at midnight. Tickets are $65.

One of the hottest—and least expensive—New Year’s Eve bashes is A Soulful New Year’s Eve at the Beachland Ballroom with Akron’s hot neo-soul ensemble Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites. There will be red-hot music, a filled dance floor and between sets, music from the Secret Soul Club DJs Alright and Party Sweat. It starts at 9pm and it’s a mere $15. Hors d’oeuvres and champagne will be served at midnight.

Tropidelic*

And finally, for those into something more casual and earthy, a big lineup of local jam bands will hold forth at the Grog Shop starting at 9pm and obviously going late, since the bill includes Tropidelic (pictured), Aliver Hall, Vibe & Direct, Drunken Sunday and Broken Keys. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

 

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