New Year’s Eve Parties and Concerts in West Michigan: The Local Spins List

Not all parties are created equal. If you’re looking for an excuse to get out this New Year’s Eve, Local Spins has the perfect guide to get your party started.

 

If you’re looking for an excuse to get out this New Year’s Eve, Local Spins has the perfect guide to get your party started.

Sure, there’s no ball drop or outdoor stage in Grand Rapids this year, but if you hanker for that outdoor experience, Kalamazoo, Grand Haven and Ludington have celebrations and ball drops planned for the great outdoors, along with a variety of live entertainment.

And, of course, there’s no shortage of indoor soirees to help usher in 2017. Local Spins has rounded up just a few of them here to help plan your weekend – from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore.

NEW YEAR’S FEST: KALAMAZOO
When: 5:30 p.m.-midnight
Admission: $5 advance, $10 day of show
Free for children 3 and younger
Where: Various venues, downtown Kalamazoo

This annual New Year’s Eve event is billed as “an all ages showcase of performing arts,” which ends with a ball drop and fireworks at midnight in Bronson Park. Leading up to all that are tribute acts and a variety of performances at 15 different venues, from churches to the Kalamazoo Public Library to Bronson Park’s Celebration Tent. Performers include Yolonda Lavender, Tuba Neww Year, Elvis impersonator Doug Church, Vinyl Tap, Zion Lion, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Kaitlin Rose, Norse Code, the Kalamazoo Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra, Kalamazoo Big Band and much more.

Get the lowdown, the schedule and more information online here: http://www.newyearsfest.com/

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE B.O.B.
When: 6 p.m.-2 a.m.
Admission/Cost: $20
Where: The B.O.B., Grand Rapids

One of Grand Rapids’ biggest parties takes place at The B.O.B. with six DJs spread across six different stages, dining at three different restaurants, stand-up comedy, VIP reservations, valet parking and more. The entertainment includes DJ Lyme starting at 9 p.m. at B.O.B.’s Brewery, DJ Doc Lee at 10:30 p.m. at Gilly’s, DJ Jimmy Coe at 9 p.m. at H.O.M.E., John Sanger at 6 p.m. at Bobarino’s, DJ Richard Oxygen at 10 p.m at Bobarino’s, DJ Jay Vee at 9 p.m. at L3vel and DJ Mark Witz at Eve.

More info online here: http://thebob.com/events/new-years-eve-the-bob.php

Y2K AT SEZ: SCOTT PATRICK BELL
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $55
Where: SpeakEZ Lounge, Grand Rapids

Who needs a ball drop at midnight, outdoors in the shivering cold listening to some has-been touring band? You can party like it’s 1999 at SpeakEZ Lounge.

Why? “It could be the end of the world as we know it so we might as well go out with a bang!” Tickets include a three-course dinner, available 7-9 p.m. with reservations, and a bit of the bubbly at midnight. This is billed as “Throwback New Year’s Eve,” with SpeakEZ celebrating as if it’s New Year’s Eve 1999 (with the best hits of the ’90s performed by Scott Patrick Bell). Details online here.

LEE DEWYZE
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $150 for dinner, champagne & concert
Where: Seven Steps Up, Spring Lake

Chicago-area native Lee DeWyze won the ninth season of TV show “American Idol” in 2010, where he and another veteran of the Seven Steps Up stage, Crystal Bowerwsox, were the two finalists. DeWyze has continued along the singer-songwriter path he was on before AI, and he plans a special acoustic show for New Year’s Eve in this Lakeshore venue. The Saturday show includes appetizers, dinner, salad, dessert, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and one bottle of champagne per table of four at midnight.

There’s also a Sunday show in the Pin Drop Concert format with both reserved and table seating. Find tickets online here: https://pindropconcerts.com/event-registration/?ee=216

SETH BERNARD, THE CRANE WIVES
VOX VIDORRA, THE GO ROUNDS
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $35
Where: Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

Wealthy Theatre has hosted many impressive New Year’s Eve shows over the years, several featuring the Michigan all-star band, The Starlight Six.

This year, the party ramps up even more impressively with a four-pack of some of the region’s most popular and respected acts, including folk-rock’s The Crane Wives, soul’s Vox Vidorra, twang rock’s The Go Rounds and singer-songwriter and Earthwork Music founder Seth Bernard. (By the way, The Go Rounds and Vox Vidorra warm up with a co-headlining show Friday night at Short’s Brewing in Bellaire.) Get tickets for the Wealthy Theatre show online here.

ULTRAVIOLET HIPPOPOTAMUS
JOE HERTLER & THE RAINBOW SEEKERS
THE MAINSTAYS
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $22.50 in advance; $25 DOS
Where: Kalamazoo State Theatre, Kalamazoo

If all you wanted for Christmas was a hippopotamus, let’s hope you got this one. UV Hippo will be jammin’ the joint on New Year’s Eve as only UV Hippo can. And with the uber-popular Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers and Kalamazoo soul/funk band The Mainstays also on the bill, it will be a dance-happy evening at State Theatre.

Tickets are available online here.

DESMOND JONES
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $10
Where: Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids

Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill and jam band Desmond Jones are an unbreakable pair. Enjoy them together again for New Year’s Eve. The event is shrouded in an air of mystery: a whisper of special musical guests, a hint of a midnight surprise. You won’t know if you don’t go.

Tickets are available online here.

LA FAMIGLIA
DJ OMEGA SUPREME
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $10
Where: Billy’s Lounge, Grand Rapids

Plenty of party is planned for the year-end celebration at Billy’s Lounge in Eastown, including shots of Captain Morgan for the first 100 people in the door, champagne for all at midnight plus hats, tiaras, beads, noise-makers, glitter and leis (at least, we think they mean fake floral neckwear, anyway; if they mean something else, let Local Spins know!). The tail-shaking will be led by Grand Rapids hip-hop pioneers La Famiglia, DJ Omega Supreme & Mike G. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Buy tickets online here.

GRAND RAPIDS SOUL CLUB NYE
DAVID HAFFNER
When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Admission: $10
Where: Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids

A record store owner and DJ from Austin, Texas, David Haffner joins the local force from Grand Rapids Soul Club to create an unstoppable dance party at Founders to welcome in 2017.

Haffner owns the Lone Star State’s Friends of Sound, where he sells records not only from his own collection but across a wide range of genres. Get more information about the show online at foundersbrewing.com.

ERIC ENGBLADE TRIO
THE UNDERGROUND CIRCUS
When: 9:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Where: Rockford Brewing Company, Rockford

Join Rockford Brewing Company before 8 p.m. to take advantage of the tasty offerings from the kitchen and/or half-price growler fills.

Then stick around for the show featuring folk-rocker Eric Engblade and his crew, plus jazzy genre-jumpers The Underground Circus. Both acts have new albums released in 2016.

Get more information online at rockfordbrewing.com.

HOLLYWOOD MAKEOUT
BLANCA LUZ
COMPLETE VII
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $10
Where: Rocky’s Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids

Rocky’s will be packin’ ’em in for this stellar line-up on New Year’s Eve, with Hollywood Makeout leading the way.

Tickets are available at the venue starting at 1 p.m. Saturday — first come, first served — and doors open at 9 p.m. Also enjoy some “That’s Unfortunate” anti-fortune cookies that are guaranteed to give 2016 the ignoble send-off it deserves. Get the rest of the lowdown online here: https://www.facebook.com/events/214938462292876/

OTHER CONCERTS/PARTIES:

Ludington Ball Drop and New Year’s Eve Celebration, 7 p.m.-midnight, downtown Ludington — The star of the show is the midnight ball drop and fireworks display, but there’s also live music, food, family parties and more leading up to it in this quaint West Michigan community. Get the full lowdown online here: http://www.visitludington.com/stories/new_years_eve_lighted_ball_drop_downtown_ludington_michigan

The Hired Hands playing Salt of the Earth at 114 E. Main St. in Fennville, 9 p.m. Saturday, $15 – This New Year’s Eve party stars Kalamazoo’s The Hired Hands, a six-piece acoustic band that plays “a salty mix” of music, including jazz, blues, folk, country, rock and R&B. Get more information online here: http://saltoftheearthfennville.com/events/index.htm

The Jukejoint Handmedowns playing Quinn & Tuite’s Irish Pub in Grand Rapids, 9 p.m. Saturday, free – This engaging Grand Rapids Americana outfit writes compelling original material and exudes a fun vibe on stage. Get details online here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1185176571558678/

Back to the ’90s New Year’s Eve Party at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, 9 p.m. Saturday, $20 advance, $25 day of show – Expect a killer night of dancing in what Back to the ’90s is billing as “The ’90s vs. Y2K.” More online here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1365465580153928/

DC & The Last Gasp Collective, The Great Ones and DJ Conscious playing Bell’s Brewery’s New Year’s Eve Party at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo, 9 p.m. Saturday, $10 – This indie-music collective based in Kalamazoo rolls out a hip hop- and soul-flavored spectacle that features internationally known poet, vocalist and hip hop lyricist DC, as well as Grand Rapids’ The Great Ones featuring Lady Ace Boogie, JRob and DJ Dean Martian. Get more information and tickets online here: https://www.bellsbeer.com/event/new-years-eve-dc-last-gasp

Grand Haven New Year’s Eve Celebration and Ball Drop, 9:30 p.m.-midnight, downtown Grand Haven — Grand Haven is once again hosting its “Community Ball Drop” and fireworks display at midnight downtown, and folks can warm up ahead of time with music from Oregon Dreamchild starting at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Kirby Grill. Also, Grand Armory Brewing is hosting an NYE Dance Party starting at 8 p.m. with music from RAWR J. And there’s more, too. Get details online here: http://visitgrandhaven.com/events/celebrate-new-years-eve-grand-haven-area/

Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC