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Cheryl Hunter
It’s time to say goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024. Whether you’re ringing in the new year with a happy hour with the kids or dancing until the early hours, here are some ideas for a New Year’s Eve night that includes plenty of music. Unless otherwise stated, all events mentioned therefore occurred on Sunday, December 31st.
Let’s start with a look at events for the whole family, including first night celebrations. First let’s talk about Orange Starlight Night, which takes place on Sunday from 6pm to 10pm and is hosted by the Orange Revival Partnership and is run entirely by volunteers, it’s a free event run by local businesses and Individual cultural grants and donation funding.
Now in its 27th year, this year’s event will feature 16 performers at seven locations in downtown Orange.
Enjoy the talents of many excellent local musicians at Starry Starry Night, including the folk rock of the Dave Bulley Band and the classic sounds of the Can Collectors. You can also listen to The Terryriffics, who perform funky renditions of popular songs, while Jukebox Jake lives up to his name, playing favorites from the 50s and 60s. Julie Bouchard & Steph Parker, The Glovers, Alley Music, Sweet Euphoria and Ryan Hood Entertainment are also on the lineup.
Most 45-minute musical performances are held twice, but a few are held only once. Space is limited at each location, so arrive a few minutes early if you don’t want to miss your favorite artist. At 10 p.m., the fireworks and music of the Star Parade conclude. For a schedule of performance times and locations, visit starrystarrynight.org
If you want to see a bigger version of Starry Starry Night, head to Northampton for the 39th First Night Northampton. It’s a 12-hour, family-friendly, city-wide New Year’s Eve party hosted by the Northampton Arts Council and Greenfield Savings Bank, starting at noon. First Night Northampton features hundreds of performers across 23 venues in Northampton city centre. There are also fireworks and a parade, ending with a traditional dance on the roof of the Northampton Hotel at midnight.
With so many performers, Northampton’s First Night gives you a glimpse into our local music scene as it features all musical genres: folk, bluegrass, rock and more. Musicians from across Franklin County, from Sunderland’s Wildcat O’Halloran to Greenfield’s Tracy Grammer, are firmly represented among the many performers.
Another aspect I loved about First Night at Northampton is that you can purchase buttons for daytime only events, which is attractive for those with children. There will also be some great music in the afternoon, including Poor Monroe’s bluegrass in the Parlor Room, and the Rocking Puppies, a father-daughter punk rock band from Greenfield, playing at Bishop’s. lounge.
You can also enjoy Love Crumbs (a trio) led by Greenfield’s Michael Dubuque at the APE Gallery. The band had a great year, signing with Gala Records, where their music found a growing audience. There are some programs for younger audiences. Carrie Ferguson will perform live at Edwards Church with her Grumpytime Club Band, and the Nields will perform at First Churches Sanctuary ) hosts house gigs as part of a daytime music schedule.
The show ends at 6pm, just in time for the fireworks show at 6:15pm. The music starts again at 7pm, with a schedule jam-packed with performances from the Gaslight Tinkers, Mary Lambert, Spouse, Gentle Hen, TapRoots, Mal Devisa and more, soul magnets and enough acts to fill the page.
You can purchase First Night Northampton Buttons at all Greenfield Savings Bank and World Eye bookstores in Greenfield. Prices are $16, available all day and night, $10 for seniors, daytime only until 6 p.m., $8 for children, $20 each day during the event. For more information, visit Firstnightnorthampton.org
While we’re talking family-friendly events, Rendezvous in Turners Falls is once again hosting a special New Year’s celebration for the kids from 7 to 9 p.m. The party will have a kid-friendly DJ who will be taking requests and counting down to 8:30pm on New Year’s Day (hey, it’ll be midnight somewhere!) Costumes encouraged! The best part is it’s all free. Don’t worry, “Voo” will be hosting its usual adults-only New Year’s party later in the evening.
If you’re looking for dinner and dancing, consider heading to Shelburne Falls Pub and Brew (formerly Sweetheart Restaurant). The bar offers two different buffets at different times and prices. You can dance to the rock music of Lakeside Drive, who promise a few new songs at this show. Their special guest will be Dana Weber. Music starts at 9pm and the cost is $15 for cover music only. Please call for more information about meals and reservations.
If you’re in the mood for a night out but want to get home in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of your couch, head over to Hitchcock Brewing Company in Bernardston and check them out The New Year’s Eve party will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., and Chick’ N’ Wire will light up the dance floor with a selection of Southern rock music. So this could be an early morning party at your house, it could be your first stop of the night, it doesn’t matter. No service charge. Food will be available at all times at Truck Dining Haul.A toast will be held at 9 p.m.
If you want to ring in the new year by dancing to a DJ’s pumping music, you might want to check out Ten Forward in Greenfield. They will dance to DJ music from VNRBLE, Bux Wild and DJ Hello. $20 advance tickets include free champagne at midnight. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite. There is a sliding scale at the door for $10-20. Masks are always appreciated. Elevator access is available through the Mesa Verde foyer. Please note that Ten Forward will be closed for the winter holidays from January 1st to 25th.
The Rendezvous party in Turners Falls will start at 9pm with DJ Mental Drift and fancy dress welcome.
If you don’t feel like going out on New Year’s Eve but want to celebrate on New Year’s Eve, always popular roots rockers Whiskey Treaty Roadshow will be at Berkshire East in Charlemont on Saturday 30th December from 7-10 point. A “Non-New Year’s Eve Party” will be held at 9:30 p.m. Since most of the band hails from the mountain towns of Franklin County, it makes sense that they would like to play in the East Berkshires. The past year has been good for Treaty as they played many great shows and released the live album “Late Night, Laidback”.
The show will take place on the main floor of the hotel. Food and drink service is available throughout the evening. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at berkshireeast.com. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance.
The Shea Theater will be dark on New Year’s Eve, but there will be a party Saturday night at 8 p.m. with Grateful Dead tribute band Wolfman Jack and Jatoba, a bluegrass jam band from Brattleboro. This show is suitable for all ages. Tickets are $20 in advance at sheatheater.org and $25 the day of the show.
If you want to attend a benefit party, head to Deja Brew in Wendell for classic rock music by the Shadow Twisters. Music will begin at 8 p.m. At this gathering, they will be raising funds to support The Kids on the Bridge, a children’s charity founded and largely supported by friend and former bandmate Kevin Sysym in his adopted home of Cambodia. They will bring the Rio countdown and Auld Lang Syne New Year’s bells at 10pm (midnight Brazilian time) for those who want to start the night earlier. Then, it can all be done again at midnight for those who want to party the night away! No cover-up.
Happy New Year!
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer living in East Hampton. Her work has appeared in a variety of regional and national publications. She can be contacted via: Soundslocal@yahoo.com.
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