L.A. Beat

A new year is upon us so at this time I like to make this toast “may the best thing that happened to you last year, be the worst thing that happens to you in the next year.
” You can get 2016 off to a rocking start with one of several parties at unusual venues featuring live music and dinner for some of them with food. 
First off there is a free family New Year’s Eve part at Exhibition Park from 5-9 p.m.

It features Flying Bob, The One Man Ring Circus, face painting, astro jumps, an electronic music dance party and a neon balloon drop. The 26th annual event is for free.


If you want to eat, LA Chefs present their annual New Year’s Eve party featuring the music of Suite 33. Pianist Cal Toth will be playing music during dinner and after that  comedian Brian Stollery will get you laughing. The event begins at 6 p.m.. Tickets cost $75.
Cal Toth has a busy night as after that he will be doing his duelling pianos gig at Mojos with Anna Coleen McBryan at 9 p.m.

Also beginning at 6 p.n., The German Canadian Club features food and the music of Dory and the Weathermen. Tickets cost $30 for non-members. 
If you are in the mood for Italian, local rock band the Bamboo Guppies will be playing the Italian Canadian Club. There will be an Italian buffet including chicken parmesan, lasagna and much more. The event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.


There are also a couple of nice, laid back suppertime gigs. James Moore will be playing some jazz music at Miros Bistro beginning at 6:30 p.m. And the Mocha Cabana features local rock band Steel Cut later on in the evening at 9 p.m. Several different parties get started around then. Hippodrome is just the ticket at Casino Lethbridge. 
For a $70 ticket, you get a five course prime rib dinner followed by Hippodrome at 9 p.m. who will get you dancing off those extra calories.
 The Ten Ten Pub also has live music for New Year’s Eve with local classic rock band Band of Brothers who are onstage at 9 p.m.. Tickets are $30.


Across the street, Coyote Joes Rock and Country has country music with Shane Chisholm and rock with the Raw Dogs. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the excitement beginning at 9 p.m. Advance tickets cost $10 or $15 on show day.

But if you want to get a little wild and bang your head, be at Inferno for New Year’s Eve where a lot of local rap crews and metal bands will be performing. Rappers Blood Rez Crew will open the night at 9 p.m. followed by She Lives, Tucker Knox, Killing Redemption, Penitentz and In Darkness to ring in the new year. They will be followed by  Calem Colton and Stutsanum. DJ Rez Warrior will be performing in between sets.

 

The Slice will not be having live music for New Year’s eve, however down the road, local funk rock trio Adequate will be playing a free New Year’s Eve party at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
On the north side, Bo Diddly’s features local grunge/ alternative rock band Bottoms Up at 10 p.m.
Local country rock band the Mark Hall band will be playing the Moose Hall at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.


If you still have some energy after New Year’s Eve, Vancouver based rapper Madchild visits Inferno on Jan. 1 with special guests beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 in advance. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Casino Lethbridge features the Moon Dawgs on Jan. 1.
And the Mocha Cabana brings in D’Arcy Kavanagh and Ian Hepher for the weekend.
 And Calgary rockabilly band Peter and the Wolves return to the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Jan. 2 to rock in the new year.
 Before that, the last comedy open mic of the year at the Owl Acoustic Lounge is Dec. 30 with hosts Randy Webb and Jeff Gunderson.  Average  Joes has the first comedy show of the new year with their first Yuk Yuks Comedy show, Jan. 2 with two funny female comedians Lori Ferguson-Ford and Katie Westman. Tickets are $15.