Going out on New Year’s Eve can feel like an obligation. You don’t want to be on your couch when the clock strikes midnight, so you grab a bar of soap, put on clothes that don’t have any holes and hand your money to whatever establishment has the least offensive-sounding, all-inclusive night out.
We can’t guarantee that this list of NYE events will ensure you have the best time of your life ringing in 2015’s first hangover. But at least you’ll know what you’re getting into.
The Headliner
On the eve of 2015, Love Canon, the raddest ’80s cover band to call Charlottesville home, will take the stage after the Richmond-based 10-piece No BS! Brass Band. Grits and Gravy will then take the Southern Café and Music Hall stage, rounding out a bill that’s the surest thing on NYE this year.
Love Canon made its name by remixing ’80s tunes with a bluegrass bent. Dobro player Jay Starling said the band members pick their favorite tracks and flesh out arrangements together.
“Some of these tunes have kind of become our own,” Starling said. “The thing we’re doing could easily be poorly done, but I think we put the time and effort into it to make it good.”
Starling said the band’s set at the Jeff will focus on the rearrangements that have made them locally famous, but the band will also “pepper” the set with originals.
Love Canon has certainly earned the right to dabble in originals. Frontman Jesse Harper has had considerable solo success, putting him onstage with the likes of David Grisman, Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz. “There’s a lot of talent in the band,” Starling said. “Adam, with his jazz background, can whip up a tune in next to no time.” Banjo player Adam Larrabee, mandolin maestro Andy Thacker, bassist Darrell Muller and fiddler Nate Leath complete the six-piece.
The Rap Show
Main Street Annex’s Jeyon Falsini has hinted that big things are coming for his mid-size music space in 2015, but for NYE, he’ll turn to his current bailiwick and throw down a hip-hop dance party. Host Blacko the Rapper will kick things off at 10pm and introduce three or four deejays led by locals DJ Rush Hour and DJ Flatline and Northern Virginia’s DJ Marvelous. Falsini said when Flatline and Marvelous “get together they spin a lot of ’90s and throwback tunes.”
The Crowd Pleaser
It’s not a standalone NYE event, but worth mentioning is First Night Virginia, billed as a “community celebration of the arts.” Charlottesville began featuring family-friendly New Year’s Eve events on and around the Downtown Mall in 1982, making C’ville’s First Night the second oldest event of its type in the country. This year’s festivities will include music of all types, historical reenactments, comedy, film and theater.
The Traditional
If you’re fixated on the old school dinner and dancing NYE, check out Commonwealth Restaurant and Skybar. Three prix fixe dinner seatings will be followed by a countdown party hosted by DJ Stroud until 2am. Party favors and a champagne toast will be provided.
The Untraditional
Bar scene newcomer the Tin Whistle Irish Pub has a banger to throw in the works with its All Irish New Year’s Eve starting at 10pm. The event will feature the restaurant’s usual focus on Irish food and drink, and DJ Nigel and For Stars will fill the speakers with Irish bands like the Pogues, U2 and the Cranberries. Want an excuse to start the excess early? The clock strikes midnight in Ireland at 7pm.