New Year’s Eve is gaining on us, and so is a feast of live music, dancing and overall merrymaking to welcome 2016 on the North Olympic Peninsula. Here’s a sampling of musical events open to revelers this coming Thursday night.
Port Angeles
■ Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave., has Soul Machine, a five-piece band specializing in classic R & B, rock and soul.
Singer Hannah Hockett, guitarist John Mangiameli and drummer Matt Forshaw of Time Machine bring lead guitarist-keyboard man Christian Jensen and bassist Josh Best along for the ride. The cover charge is $3 for the party to start at 9 p.m.
■ The Dam Bar, at the junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 west of Port Angeles, hosts Joy in Mudville for a night of progressive country, bluegrass and dance-driving folk rock from 9 p.m. until around midnight. Admission is $5.
■ The Eagles lodge, 2843 E. Myrtle St., has a 7 p.m. prime rib and salmon buffet, dancing to the Jimmy Hoffman Band from 8 p.m. onward and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets in advance are $25 per person, $45 per couple, $180 for a table of eight or $225 for a table of 10 guests. At the door, admission will be $30 per person or $45 per couple. Details and reservations can be had at 360-452-3344.
■ Fanaticus Sports Grill, 1026 E. First St., will host a New Year’s Eve “Flapper Girls and Scoundrels” Speakeasy with appetizers, baked Alaska for dessert, music by Jeremy & Anna, dancing, late-night pizza and midnight champagne. Tickets to this 21-and-older party, sold in advance only, are $40 and include entry into the flapper/scoundrel costume contest. For details and reservations, phone 360-457-5555 or stop by Fanaticus.
■ The Metta Room, 132 E. Front St., will throw a bawdy party with the Nasty Habits, the all-out glam rock band, starting at 9 p.m. Admission is $10.
■ Chantilly Lace, the venerable classic-rock band, will fill the Moose Lodge, 809 S. Pine St., with the music of the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Elvis Presley and other greats from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. This dance party, open to members and guests, has no cover charge.
■ The Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St., presents a New Year’s Eve bash with Fat Chance, the classic pop and rock outfit, playing upstairs while DJ Tim Sanford plays more music downstairs; food and drink will be plentiful from 8 p.m. until the new year arrives.
Prices vary for party-and-overnight-stay packages. For information and reservations, phone 360-452-9215.
Sequim
■ The Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, will pair a New York steak dinner with the dance music of Round Trip.
The party starts with cocktails at 5 p.m.; dinner is at 6 p.m. and the band will play rock and pop from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are available only in advance, and range from $10 for just the dance to $30 per person or $50 per couple including dinner, dancing and party favors. To reserve, phone 360-683-2763.
■ Nourish, the restaurant at 1345 S. Sequim Ave., has the duo known as Naki’i — Mike and Erma Kuenzli — playing Hawaiian music during dinner from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Port Townsend
■ Jim Nyby and the F Street Band will play New Orleans-style rhythm and blues and early 1950s soul — with emphasis on dance numbers — at the Hilltop Tavern, 2510 W. Sims Way. Singer-piano player Nyby, with his three-piece horn lineup and full rhythm section, will play from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. with no cover charge.
■ First Night, Port Townsend’s alcohol-free community party, will have activities, shows, an art project and fireworks at and around City Hall, 540 Water St. Festivities start at 6 p.m. and include Port Townsend Film Festival shorts, a Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue program with live animals, the “History Hunt,” a sing-along with the PT Songlines choir, dances at the Pope Marine Building and the Boiler Room, and music by The Twins and Airstream Traveler. All of this culminates in the fireworks display and anchor raising at 9 p.m. Admission is a suggested $5 donation per person or $10 per family, while proceeds benefit the year-round programs of the Jefferson County Historical Society, which presents First Night.
For information, phone 360-385-1003 or visit jchsmuseum.org. Participants are encouraged to buy passes in advance to avoid the rush on New Year’s Eve.
