Ring in 2024 with a bunch of cool New Year’s Eve events around Ithaca, Cortland, and Groton! Plus, longtime favorites Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Nahko, and Driftwood return for weekend performances in Ithaca and Homer, respectively, and many other local and regional bands are playing throughout the area in the coming days.
Here’s to another year of great local and regional music in 2024!
Note: This week’s shows are listed in chronological order in two sections below.
Wednesday Night Jazz
Kicking off a full night of jazz, Greg Lofaro and The Firefly Trio return for the Deep Dive Jazz Happy Hour. They’ll be followed by the Deep Dive House Big Band at 8-10 p.m. and the new People’s Jam hosted by Drew Martin at 10:30 p.m.
When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free
Going Big
The Deep Dive House Big Band continues its every-other-Wednesday residency under the direction of local jazz professor Greg Evans, who teaches at Ithaca College and Cornell University and plays drums with Rose and the Bros and other area bands. The DDBB will feature players from Cornell University, Ithaca College, and the greater Ithaca Community every other Wednesday for the coming months.
When: 8-10 p.m. every other Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free; ages 18 and up
Trio Grande
Seven Presents will bring “A Night of Trio Performances” to downtown Ithaca, with Keir Neuringer, Charles Chatman, and Wraith joining forces on the Angry Mom Records stage.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Angry Mom Records
Cost: $5
People Get Ready
“The People’s Jam,” a new jam night hosted by saxophonist Drew Martin, continues every other Wednesday right after Deep Dive House Big Band. A native of the Bronx, Martin is currently a jazz studies major at Ithaca College and has played a key role in the local music scene over the past couple of years.
When: 10:30 p.m. every other Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free
Old-Time Tunes
Oona Grady and James Gascoyne (of Drank The Gold) will team up with Leah Grady Sayvetz, Jason Zorn, and Rosie Newton for a night of old-time fiddle tunes.
When: 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free; donations welcome
Dance the Night Away
“Hello Dancers! Join us for a great night of swing dancing at the Shorty Gorge. This week we will have a New Year’s celebration-themed dance!! Formal wear suggested!! No dance experience or partner necessary just bring yourself!! We will be teaching a Lindy Hop crash course from 7:30 – 8 p.m., which is perfect for beginners so bring your friends!”
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Room 303 (3rd floor) Studio B, 119 S. Cayuga St.
Cost: $5-$10, sliding scale at the door (cash or Venmo)
Songs to Share
WonderMonday returns to downtown Ithaca, with Zaun Marshburn, Walt Lorenzut, and Michael Decatur performing original music with a very special guest, Cid Decatur.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge & Tea Ba
Good Vibrations
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad returns to Ithaca, ready to showcase its blend of reggae, world, rock, and dub influences. The band released its latest album, “Love in Time,” earlier this year. Felix Free and the Rxcketeers will open the show.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $18 in advance, available online here; $25 day of show
Tiger Beats
DJ DBL TGR will host a NYE Warmup Dance at the Upstairs, spinning “Nu Disco, Boogie Funk, Afrobeats, Dancehall, New Jack, HipHop, & Global bass. Bring a towel!”
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Upstairs
Drift on In
Longtime regional favorite Driftwood returns to the Center for the Arts in Homer, with Dan Forsyth, Claire Byrne, Joe Kollar, Joey Arcuri, and Sam Fishman gearing up to unveil a new album in 2024. The band recently released a new single, “December Last Call.”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Center for the Arts of Homer
Cost: $25, available online here
Going Underground
The 1980 Underground returns with its last dance party of the year.
“THE FINAL GIG OF THE YEAR, ONLY ONE DAY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE. DRESS 2 SLAY. SEE YOU SOON.
SOUNDS::: POST PUNK / MINIMAL WAVE / NEW WAVE / COLD WAVE / PUNK / WITCHHOUSE / SYNTHPUNK”
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge & Tea Bar
Double Down
Nahko and Medicine for the People return to Ithaca for a pair of shows at Deep Dive. Saturday, Nahko will go solo, and Sunday he’ll ring in the New Year with the help of some of his many musical friends. He recently released his seventh album, “Trenches,” which “reflects more than a thousand days of open-hearted self-excavation, avid learning/unlearning, and radical internal re-calibration.”
“’Trenches’ has something for everybody,” says Nahko. “A range of emotions from anger to accountability and redemption; sorrow and mourning to soaring joy; forgiveness to rejoicing.”
When: 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Deep Dive
Chicken Dance
Silo Food Truck will host a "NYE ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET" event at Liquid State Brewing Company, featuring live Latin Jazz from Jorge T. Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz All Stars
“SILO is closing out the year (and our season) with all your favorite Silo dishes- and then some! We will also be featuring some items off our catering menu including smoked tomato black beans, BBQ pulled pork and seasonal veg. Buffet opens at 5pm and closes at 9pm. We encourage you to not wait till the last min! (Limited tickets sold at the door). Limited tickets will be sold... last year we sold out, so scoop them up quick! SILO will be closed all of January with a return for mid-February.”
When: 5-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Liquid State Brewing Company
Cost: $30, available online here
Rockin’ Revelry
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Upstairs, with music from New Planets, Rose and the Bros, Lil Stupid Ass, and Dirty Gems, with the first-floor bar finally reopening!
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Upstairs
Cost: $32 in advance, available online here; $45 of show
Beats a’Plenty
Microtones returns to Forest City Lodge 180 on West Green Street for its latest event. “We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be ringing in the new year with special guest Cherriel, from Detroit, alongside residents Kamal Naeem and Otodojo.”
When: 8 p.m. Sunday “until late”
Where: Forest City Lodge 180
Cost: $10 advance tickets are available at Angry Mom Records; $20 at the door
A Historical Occasion
Siren Styling Events returns to the historic Hotel Groton for New Year’s Eve Black & White Ball and micro-rave, with live music from Cast Iron Cowboys and Motherwort, DJ sets from Hectorworks’ DJ Hill and Lucas M, “burlesque from Lulu Lafemme, comedy, art, and a lil bit of fun madness.”
About the venue: “Built in 1853, Hotel Groton served as a rural Native American crossroads for trading purposes, a stop on the Underground Railroad, and a unique gathering place across the ages. An electric lady named Marion ran it in the 1900s and threw grand parties on a ballroom. It once held Prohibition liquor, delivered via a secret stairwell. Rumor has it someone rode a horse up the stairwell after a dare. It was also called the Corona Hotel in the 70s. This is a special place and we want you to experience its magic.”
About Siren Styling Events: “We are a collective of creators and artists believing in self-expression & empowerment through uniquely curated events. We aim to ignite creativity, connection, play, and host safe spaces for all. We focus on dance parties and multi-experiential design.”
When: opening ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Hotel Groton
Cost: $35 in advance, available online here; $40 day of show; $15 after 11:30 p.m.
Tarot Tales
Ake Gallery and Cortland Comedy will present a New Year’s Event featuring “America's funniest psychic standup comedian, Karen Rontowski.
“Find out what 2024 has in store for you at central New York's premiere art venue, The Ake Gallery. Karen's guests include comedian Abdul Hadi, Baby New Year, and the mysterious and confused Doctor Seventhsense. At 10:37 we drop the ball so you can celebrate New Year's twice and be home before the drunk drivers hit the road.”
When: 8:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: 177 Main St., Cortland
Cost: $20 in advance, available online here; $25 at the door
Inn Between
The Argos Inn and Warehouse will host a pair of events on New Year’s Eve, with the Djangoners playing vintage Parisian hot jazz in Bar Argos and SingTrece and Stone Cold Miracle bringing their fiery blend of soul, gospel, funk, and rock to the Warehouse followed by DJ Tuggle, who will spin funk, soul, hiphop, and more from midnight to 2 a.m.
When: 9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Argos Inn and Warehouse
Cost: $45 in advance, available online here; $50 day of show
Sense of Community
Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown will present “Dancin’ Thru The Decades,” its seventh annual New Year’s Eve Community Dance.
“It’s BACK! Come celebrate the holiday by dancing in the New Year and have a front-row seat to downtown Cortland’s New Year’s Celebrations! The evening will have the ULTIMATE DANCE MIX of the greatest tunes from the 60s to today! A family-friendly event – all ages welcome!”
When: 9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown
Cost: $10 in advance, available online here; $15 at the door; kids 12 and under free!
Rockin’ New Year’s Eve
Practice at Presents caps a stellar 2023 with a New Year’s Eve blowout featuring local favorites Secret Service Men, Vicious Fishes, Milk Cousin, and Metasequoia. “Get Ready To Ring In The New Year With Some Rock and Roll!”
When: 9 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Range
Cost: $18 in advance, available online here; $25 day of show
More Shows
The Argos Grove Trio plays jazz at the Argos Inn at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
The Green Street Jazz Band is at Brookton’s Market at 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
Two Johnson Horse brings its tribute to 2 Horse Johnson to Scale House Brewery at 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
Dan Segal of Flea Circus is at Salt Point Brewing at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday
DJ Dale hosts Trivia Night at Revelry Yards at 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays
Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday
The Upstairs hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
Salsa Ithaca presents the weekly “Salsa Wednesdays” dance event at the Range at 8 p.m. Wednesday
The Brewhouse Blues Jam returns to Hopshire Farm and Brewery at 6-8 p.m. Thursday
Scale House Brewery hosts Open Mic Night at 6-8 p.m. Thursday
Mike Aiken and Pat Nadge are at Cortland Beer at 6-9 p.m. Thursday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse to CrossRoads in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Atlas Bowl in Trumansburg hosts the weekly Vinyl Showcase at 7-10 p.m. Thursday
DJ Dale hosts Karaoke Night at the Upstairs at 10 p.m. Thursday
Travis Knapp is at Finger Lakes Cider House at 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday
DJ Dijon spins “boogie, disco, and funk” at South Hill Cider at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Bad Alibi plays classic rock at Hopshire Farms and Brewery at 6-8 p.m. Friday
The F.A.R. Trio is at Scale House Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Friday
The Ripcords are at Heuga’s Alpine in Tully at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Michael Francis McCarthy is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Rick Starmer is at the St. Charles Hotel at 7-9 p.m. Friday
Marc Ryan and Monica are at the Dryden Hotel at 7-9 p.m. Friday
Homebrewed Comedy returns to McGraw Box Brewing at 7 p.m. Friday
Steve Romer is at the Hiawatha Inn in Truxton at 7:30 p.m. Friday
Exit 11 is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
DJ ha-MEEN gets back to the 80s at the Range at 10 p.m. Friday
JT and Sam from the Petty Thieves are at Treleaven Winery at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
Prime Box is at Brookton’s Market at 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday
The John West Trio is at Summerhill Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Destination Unknown is at McGraw Box Brewing at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday
The Pizza Steve Band is at Scale House Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
The Small Kings are at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
People People is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
Root Shock and Stephen Phillips are at the Middle Ages Brewing Company in Syracuse at 8 p.m. Saturday
A Kid Called Danger hostsan album release show for “Cowards & Kings” at Funk 'n Waffles in Syracuse at 8 p.m. Saturday; AUK, DooWiTTle, and Slack round out the bill
DJ Hot Cole is at the Range at 10 p.m. Saturday ($5)
NEW YEAR'S EVE
The Scale House Brewing hosts a “Noon Year’s Eve” party at 12-4 p.m. Sunday
Tom Gath is at ONCO Fermentations in Tully at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Marc Ryan is at the Cortland Country Club at 4 p.m. Sunday
The Sorters are at Grist Iron Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Sunday
Marcie Beaton is at the Royal Court at 6 p.m. Sunday
K-House Karaoke Lounge and Suites hosts a New Year’s Eve Pajama Party at 6 p.m. Sunday
The Hotel Ithaca will host “Saturday Night Fever” New Year’s Eve, a disco-themed dance party, at 7 p.m. Sunday
Throw Down Cold is at the Double Down (formerly Punk’s Place) in Candor at 7 p.m. Sunday
M3 is at the Cortland DAV at 7 p.m. Sunday
Chasing Neon is at Average Joe’s Beernasium in Baldwinsville at 8 p.m. Sunday
Sophistafunk rings in 2024 at Funk N’ Waffles in Syracuse, joined by Transient Kicks and Roots Collider at 8:30 p.m. Sunday
Modern Alchemy Game Bar will host Emo New Year's at 9 p.m. Sunday
DJ Awesome Sauce (aka Eliot Rich) spins tunes at Longshots Sports Bar and Grill at 9 p.m.
The Song and Dance in Syracuse hosts “Gimme Gimme Disco: The New Year’s Eve Disco Ball” at 9 p.m. Sunday
Tim Herron is at the Glen Haven at 9 p.m. Sunday
