Whether you’re a jazz lover, a blues seeker, a rock ’n’ roller or you just want to dance to several decades’ worth of music, New Year’s Eve on the North Olympic Peninsula should be a good night. The live music is all over the map: at a pub, a lodge, a lounge, a bingo hall and a roadhouse. Here’s a survey of the options this Saturday.
■ A “Tie-Dyed New Year” celebration swirls into Port Angeles’ Junction Roadhouse as Deadwood Revival and the CornStalks arrive at 9 p.m. for a full night of rock, gospel and Grateful Dead.
It will be “a colorful night [with] a potluck, champagne at midnight and loads of hippiefied fun,” promised Kim Trenerry, singer and guitarist with both bands. To the “Why tie-dye?” question, she has a couple of answers.
First, “It’s fun, and it puts people in a good space. It’s bright and cheery,” as opposed to the old-standby black often seen on New Year’s Eve. Vivid color “does something to your brain,” that’s needed at this time of year, Trenerry believes. Further, she and the bands also wanted to give people a place to dance in the new year without having to put on high heels and fancy clothes.
The CornStalks will start the festivities, and Deadwood Revival will finish them off by 1 a.m. — or “1-ish,” Trenerry said, adding, somewhere in there, both bands will get together, for a few numbers.
Admission is $10 at the Junction, 242701 West Highway 101 at state Highway 112 just west of Port Angeles. For those without a designated driver in tow, the Junction will have a shuttle van running through the night. More information can be had by calling the roadhouse at 360-452-9880.
■ Wine on the Waterfront, the all-ages venue also known as WoW, will be the spot for music from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s dished out by the Port Angeles party band known as BBR.
The cover is $5, and the music and drink specials will last from 9 p.m. till next year at WoW, which is upstairs in The Landing mall at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Railroad Avenue in downtown Port Angeles.
■ New Year’s Eve at the Naval Elks Club, 131 E. First St. in Port Angeles, starts with a lavish buffet dinner and moves into music by Mister Sister, the dance band formerly known as Big Fine Daddies.
The party also includes a dessert auction, silent auction and prize drawing to benefit Hilda’s Hope for Life, a Port Angeles-based charity providing help for HIV-positive children in Uganda.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are $45 per person or $315 for a table for eight.
For details, phone the Elks at 360-457-3355.
■ Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St. in Port Angeles, is dishing out the bright bling: glow-in-the-dark necklaces, earrings, hats, glasses, bracelets, bunny ears and even face paint will be part of the party starting at 8 p.m.
DJ Squared will supply the dance music amid the radiance. Food and drink specials will continue till 2 a.m. The $3 cover charge includes the champagne toast and party favors to go with the midnight countdown on Bar N9ne’s big screen.
■ 7 Cedars Casino, at 270756 U.S. Highway 101 about 6 miles east of Sequim, has music in two venues: the band the M-80s will play inside the Club Seven Lounge from 9 p.m. till 1 a.m. while DJ OB-1 will spin dance music from the 1980s and ’90s forward in the casino’s bingo hall-event center.
There’s no cover charge to enjoy either of these or both, and appropriate party favors will be passed out for the midnight countdown.
For more details, phone 360-683-7777.
■ At the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St. in Port Townsend, the pop-originals-with-trombone band Locust Street Taxi will come speeding in. When asked what kind of music his group will play Saturday night, guitarist Franco Bertucci immediately answered, “fun.”
This category includes original rock, folk, funk, reggae and ska originals, plus some Beatles, a little Muppets and special effects such as one-armed push-ups, Nathan Geyer’s roving trombone-playing and even an improvised song written on the spot.
Tickets to this 21-and-older show are $10 in advance at the Uptown Pub or $10 at the door Saturday night. For more details or to purchase online, visit www.LocustStreetTaxi.com.
■ At The Castle Key, inside Manresa Castle at 651 Cleveland St. in uptown Port Townsend, the Skip Morris Quintet will offer an evening of jazz, swing, Latin rhythms, blues and ballads.
The band, with Morris on guitar and vocals, George Radebaugh on piano, Ted Enderle on bass, Tom Svornich on drums and Bill Kiely on percussion, will play from 8:30 p.m. till midnight; cover charge is $10.
■ The Upstage theater and restaurant, 923 Washington St. in Port Townsend, presents a night full of blues with the Mark DuFresne Band.
DuFresne, the much-accoladed singer, harmonica player and former Roomful of Blues frontman, will step up at 8 p.m.
Tickets to the concert are $25, while patrons may choose to enjoy dinner and the show for $59, or the deluxe package with appetizer, entree, dessert and a champagne toast for $79.
Information awaits at www.UpstageRestaurant.com and 360-385-2216.
■ Also in Jefferson County, Jefferson Transit will provide free transportation — to New Year’s Eve revelers as well as those who’re working that night — on its No. 11 Shuttle and No. 6 Tri-Area Loop buses from 8 p.m. till 2:55 a.m.
For details, visit www.JeffersonTransit.com or phone 360-385-4777.
