THE BIGGEST PARTY night of the year is upon us. It’s New Year’s Eve 2010, with early events as well as midnight madness.
Party on, but in moderation, or if not, call a cab or a friend to get you safely home.
In Port Townsend, free bus service will be offered by Jefferson Transit on New Year’s Eve on the No. 11 shuttle and No. 6B Tri Area loop beginning at 8 p.m.
Port Angeles
• The Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 five miles west of Port Angeles, has popular roots rock, old-timey music dance band Deadwood Revival rocking from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with goodies, champagne and favors. $15 single/ $25 couple, phone 360-452-9880 for reservations.
Phone 360-460-7131 or 360-775-9128 for All Points Charters & Tours shuttle to and from after 7 p.m. to closing.
On Sunday, Barry Burnett does his Sunday Jam from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, Jason plays roots music and more from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• At Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, classic rockers Spence Brothers Band rock in the new year from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Party favors and midnight champagne will be served. $5 cover.
• Tonight at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., Sarah Shea and Chez Jazz offer classics from the great American songbook at 7:30 p.m. $3 cover.
On New Year’s Eve, kick out the old and welcome in the new year with BBR playing classic pop and rock hits from across the decades. $10 cover includes a glass of champagne and oysters on arrival.
• Boomer music (pop/rock from ’50s, ’60s and ’70s) will be on the menu at Rick’s Place, 102 W. Front St., with Amanda Bacon and Final Approach from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. New Year’s Eve. It’s a masquerade ball with a full dinner buffet and midnight champagne toast. $15 today, $20 at the door.
• The Bushwhacker Restaurant, 1527 E. First St., has local rockers Prun’d playing classic rock from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. New Year’s Eve.
• At the Elks Club, 131 E. First St., the Big Fine Daddies will play classic rock Friday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for the Hilda’s Hope for Life Orphan Benefit. It’s a New Year’s Eve extravaganza with a dinner buffet, raffle, silent auction and champagne. $65 per person, $480 per table.
• Kokopelli’s, 203 E. Front St., will ring in the new year with the Howly Slim Duo from 6 p.m. to midnight.
• At Smuggler’s Landing, 115 Railroad Ave., Chuck Grall and the Soundogs perform Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Every Tuesday evening at the Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets, the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally and the Boys playing ballroom dance favorites for the dancing pleasure of all seniors 45 and older from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $5 cover, first-timers free!
• On Wednesday at Dupuis Restaurant, 256861 U.S. Highway 101, Bob and Dave play blues with a brew and barbecue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Victor Reventlow hosts the acoustic jam at the Fairmount Restaurant on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday. Don’t be left out!
Sequim and Blyn
• At the Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St, New Year’s Eve, dance to the big band sound of George Snyder’s Oly Jazz Band from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., with party favors and champagne. $5 cover.
On Wednesday, enjoy the jazz of the Blue Hole Quintet and dance or dine or both from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• On New Year’s Eve, Old Mill Cafe, 721 Carlsborg Road, has John Erskine on his jazzy piano from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Phone 360-582-1583 for dinner reservations.
• Damiana’s Best Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., welcomes the new year with Kevi Magner and Scott Bradley from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• At The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Kelly Thomas and Victor Reventlow host the open mic Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• On New Year’s Eve at Stymies Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, Lori and Clipper (The Buzz) rock from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• On New Year’s Eve, Seven Cedars Casino, Blyn, has its own Lili warming up the crowd in Club 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., followed by the classic hits of Pop Culture from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On New Year’s Eve in the Events Center (Bingo Hall), the Stardust Big Band with vocalist Katie Paige plays dance music for the young at heart from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
On Saturday, Pop Culture returns from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
For a change of pace Sunday, dance to the timeless and current classics of the Funaddicts from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Townsend and Jefferson County
• Tonight at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., award-winning songwriter Mike Murray brings humor and satire to his blend of guitar, banjo and song at 7 p.m. No cover.
On New Year’s Eve, it’s the rockin’ blues of the Mark Defresne Band at 8 p.m. Defresne is the Washington Blues Society’s most awarded vocalist, songwriter and harmonica player. Dinner and show packages range from $25 to $59.95, which includes a midnight bubbly.
On Saturday, for some “genre jumpin’ juke joint fun,” dance to the zydeco, Cajun, boogie-woogie, Gypsy, rock and blues of the Delta Rays at 8 p.m. $6 cover.
Phone 360-385-2216 for reservations.
• On New Year’s Eve, enjoy the jazz of Ricky Kelly at Castle Key, Seventh and Sheridan streets, from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. $8 cover.
• On New Year’s Eve at the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St., Tim Jenkins does the calling and Ragged Mountain provides the music for the square dance at 8 p.m. All ages; suggested donation $6.
• Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., has a Localpalooza night of local alternative bands including Solvents, Pitfalls and Low Ones for its New Year’s Eve celebration at 9 p.m. The $5 to $15 suggested donation will benefit the Port Townsend Music Boosters.
• At the Uptown, 1120 Lawrence St., Sylvia Heins sings jazz Friday at 5 p.m.
Music news
I wish you all a happy, prosperous and live-music-loving new year!
To keep that possibility alive, you must do the same, so please be a responsible partier.
“Drink a cup of kindness.”
________
John Nelson is a self-styled music lover and compulsive night owl who believes in SDLqKLMA — Keep Live Music Alive” on the North Olympic Peninsula. His column, Live Music, appears every Thursday.
Are you performing in or promoting a live music gig? Contact John by phoning 360-565-1139 or e-mailing news@peninsuladailynews.com (subject line: John Nelson).
Also, check out “Nightlife,” a listing of entertainment at nightspots across the Peninsula, in Friday’s Peninsula Spotlight magazine.