The Music Lover’s Guide To New Year’s Eve 2015
New Year’s Eve is easily one of our favorite times of the year (next to festival season, of course). The countless events going on around the country will give music lovers the opportunity to have one last hurrah for 2015. If you haven’t made plans yet, don’t fret. We’ve compiled a list of the best events going on around the country so that you don’t have to. Check it out, and leave us a comment with the ones that you’ll be attending. If we happened to miss one in your hood, drop us a line and we’ll make sure to add it.
We would also like to thank our readers for their continuous support this past year. With your help, we’ve taken this vision of ours further than we ever imagined. We’ve grown exponentially and it’s because you helped get us here. We are just a group of people with an undying love for music, and we will continue to share this love with you all. Happy New Year’s from the MusicFestNews team.
New York
Phish / Madison Square Garden (4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001)
Phish at the garden has become a staple for New York NYE celebrations. This year will mark the band’s eighth New Year’s run at the famed arena, and there’s no doubt it will be a nonstop party for the entire run. Tickets for the famous Phish NYE run are hard to come by, but you can try your luck on Cash or Trade, VividSeats, or StubHub! Doors will open at 8 PM.
Disco Biscuits / Playstation Theatre (515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036)
Biscuit fans also get an annual New Year’s treat when the band takes over the Playstation Theatre (formerly known as Best Buy) for their annual NYE run. The venue is smackdab in the middle of Times Square, so you better plan on getting there early to fight through the crowds of diaper-wearing ball-drop watchers. You can get tickets to night two of the band’s four-night run through AXS. Doors will open at 8:00 PM.
Gov’t Mule / Beacon Theatre (2124 Broadway, New York, NY 10023)
As is tradition on Mule Year’s Eve, Gov’t Mule will celebrate with a special performance at The Beacon Theatre on 12/31. Three sets of music will feature Grateful Mule, The Mule and The Allmule Brothers with special guests Steve Kimock, Lincoln Schleifer, Larry Campbell, Chuck Leavell, Jack Pearson & Paul Riddle. Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster. Doors will open at 9 PM.
Justice + Bob Moses / Brooklyn Warehouse (Address revealed to attendees. Brooklyn, NY)
Somewhere in a secret warehouse deep in the Brooklyn borough, Justice will be joined by Gaffelstein, Bob Moses and With you for a NYE dance party. This event is hosted by Jukely and Area events with top notch sound by L’Acoustics Audio. Tier 2 tickets are currently going for $125 and can be purchased through Jukely.
South Florida
?uest Love /Basement Miami (29011 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33140)
Questo of The Roots will be bringing in the New Year with a special DJ set at Basement Miami. He’ll be joined by Brooklyn heavy hitters Jus Ske, Chelsea Leyland, & Mateo Difontaine. General admission tickets are going for $300 with open bar from 10 PM-1 AM included. To purchase tickets on the event’s official site.
Billy Joel / BB&T Center (1 Panther Parkway. Sunrise, FL)
The piano man will be at the BB&T Center on NYE and invites you to be a part of the celebration. Laughter will be shared, tears will be shed, and we’ll all sing along to some of greatest hits from his extensive catalog. If you’ve seen Billy Joel perform recently, then you know that he’s still got it. Trust us that he’s worth the trip to Sunrise. Tickets are available via TicketMaster. Doors will open at 9:30.
Hot Chip / Bardot (3456 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127)
London-based indietronica group Hot Chip will be playing a DJ set at Bardot on NYE with Aramis Lorie and Santiago Caballero opening. Enjoy open bar from 10 to midnight and hors d’oeuvres provided by Gigi. Tickets range from $75-100 via TicketFly.
The Weeknd & Kygo / Fountainbleau Poolside (4441 Collins Avenue. Miami, Beach FL 33140)
It was just last week that The Weeknd sold out the AAA. He will return to Miami on New Year’s Eve to make the ladies wet, except this time it will be Poolside at the Fountainbleau. He’ll be joined by tropical house sensation Kygo. There is a premium open bar from 9 PM to Midnight. General tickets are going for $325 + fees. VIP tables and poolside beds are also available and range from $12,000 to $50,000. Tickets can be purchased via Flavorus.
Atlanta
Widespread Panic / Fox Theatre Atlanta (660 Peachtree Street NE. Atlanta, Georgia 30308)
Riding high off the release of their new album Street Dogs, the band will play a three-night NYE run in their home state of Georgia before heading off to their destination festival Panic En La Playa. The third and final show of the run will also be a Food and Fund Drive event, a part of the band’s “Feeding People Through Music” charity efforts, so if you’re going make sure to bring a donation. Doors will open at 8PM. Tickets are available through the venue’s website.
Gregg Allman / Atlanta Symphony Hall (1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309)
Having completed the now-legendary final shows the Allman Brothers Band will ever play, one would imagine that the group’s iconic leader Gregg Allman would want to kick back, relax, and reflect on what has to be a very emotional moment for him. Instead, he’s announced a solo tour. The tour starts December 30th and includes a celebratory New Year’s Eve show at Atlanta’s Symphony Hall. Tickets to the final night of Gregg Allman’s run are available through Ticketmaster. Doors will open at 7:00 PM.
STS9 / The Tabernacle (152 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303)
STS9 seriously knows how to throw down. NYE is night two of four of STS9 “In the Fourth Dimension.” This is sure to be one big face-melting dance party; tickets are available through Live Nation. Doors will be opening at 8 PM.
Chicago
Reaction: New Year’s Eve 2015 / Donald E. Stevens Convention Center (5555 N. River Rd. Rosemont, IL)
Day two of Reaction NYE will keep you dancing long into the morning. The lineup includes Skrillex, Chance The Rapper, Get Real (Green Velvet & Claude Vonstroke), Purity Ring, Cashmere Cat, The Floozies, and more. Tickets and VIP packages are available through the events website. The event is 18+. Doors will open at 5:30 PM.
Sharon Jones + The Dap-Kings / House of Blues (329 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654)
Even though Christmas will be over, Jones will definitely play some tracks from the band’s recently released album It’s a Holiday Soul Party that will put you back in the holiday spirit along with some of her other classics. Get funky with Sharon & her Dap-Kings at the legendary House of Blues; tickets are available through Live Nation. Doors will open at 8:00 PM.
Railroad Earth / Vic Theatre (3145 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657)
RRE is back at the Vic Theatre to ring in another year, ending 2015 on a high note after a packed year of shows all around the country. Cornmeal will be the special guest; this will definitely be a night to remember. Tickets to the final night of the band’s two-night run are available through the venue’s website. Show starts at 8:00 PM.
Break Science / Concord Music Hall (2047 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647)
The duo have been killing it at festivals this year and have collaborated with numerous musicians including Lettuce and Manic Focus to name a few. Joined by Branx, they will be bringing in the New Year with a special late night performance at Concord Music Hall. Advanced tickets are currently going for $20 through ClubTix. Doors open at 1:30 AM.
Denver
Umphrey’s McGee / The Fillmore Denver (1510 Clarkson St, Denver, CO 80218)
Love Umphrey’s as much as we do? So does Denver! They’ll continue their three-night run at The Fillmore Denver playing a three-set show on December 31st. You can grab your tickets via LiveNation. Doors will open at 7:00 PM. If you can’t make it, you can still be a part of it. They will be streaming the entire show in HD via TourGigs for $19.99, or you can purchase all three days in a bundle and save.
String Cheese Incident / 1stBank Center (11450 Broomfield Ln, Broomfield, CO 80021)
Cheese is back in their home state of Colorado for the first NYE in 15 years! This show will be the first of a high energy three-night run; grab your single day and weekend passes through AXS. Show starts at 8:00 PM.
Decadence / Colorado Convention Center (700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202)
Make no mistake, the biggest NYE dance party in Denver will be happening at the Colorado Convention Center. The final day of Decadence will have performances from some of the biggest names in electronic music including Deadmau5, Hardwell, Odesza, Big Gigantic, Excision, Jai Wolf, & more. Doors will be opening at 7 PM. Single-day tickets are sold out, but tier 4 two-day tickets are available for $225 via AXS.
Las Vegas
Pretty Lights / Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas (3545 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Las Vegas, NV, 89109
Derek Smith, better known as Pretty Lights, will have a two-night run at the Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas starting on NYE. SuperVision will be getting the night started. This is guaranteed to be a NYE show to remember; tickets are available through Brooklyn Bowl. Show starts at 10:00 PM.
Calvin Harris / Omnia Nightclub (3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109)
This year OMNIA Nightclub will be transforming the club into a lavish, themed party that will easily be one the best New Year’s Eve parties in the United States. Resident DJ Calvin Harris will take over the strip’s hottest new nightclub to ring in 2016; tickets are available through Omnia. This event is 21+; doors open at 8:00 PM.
Diplo / Surrender (3131 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109)
Arguably the biggest party of the entire year, Diplo will be ringing in the New Year at one of Vegas’ greatest nightclubs. You can grab tickets to Diplo’s annual NYE bash through Surrender. This event is 21+; doors open at 9 PM.
Los Angeles
Dead & Company / The Forum (3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90305)
Ring in the New Year with Dead & Company live from The Forum in Los Angeles, CA. Dead & Company features Grateful Dead founding members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann along with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti playing timeless Deadhead favorites. See the final Dead & Co show of 2015; snag your tickets through Ticketmaster. Doors will open at 7:00 PM.
Morrissey / Galen Center (3400 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089)
The legendary artist is doing a special New Year’s show in support of World Peace Is None of Your Business. If you’re looking for a more laid-back night, this is the event for you; tickets available through AXS. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
Rancid with Mighty Mighty Bosstones / Shrine Expo Hall (665 West Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007)
Skank your way into 2016 with this blast-from-the-past event; the 1st Annual The Bash on New Year’s Eve at The Shrine Expo Hall. Watch the iconic punk band Rancid, plus The Mighty Might Bosstones, OFF!, The Interrupters, and more! The Fender Acoustic Stage will feature performances from Kevin Seconds, Nathen Maxwell, Steve Soto, and Elvis Cortez. Tickets available through AXS. Doors open at 6:00 PM.