SANTA’S COME AND gone and the presents have been unwrapped: the ugly sweater, the wrong-sized shirt or blouse and that tie that could only look good with a hickory shirt.
But there is a light at the end of the this dark and rainy week.
It’s New Year’s Eve and all the fun, food and folderol and dancing the light fantastic to live music.
There’s country, jazz, folk, rock, bluegrass and more to make your entry into the New Year a celebratory affair.
Port Angeles
■ Out at the Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 five miles west of Port Angeles, a Peninsula favorite and new band join up for a Tie-Dye New Year’s Eve with roots, folk, jam-band improvisation with a bushel basket full of original songs and tunes.
That could only mean Deadwood Revival and The CornStalks. Bring your dancing shoes to this party ’cuz you won’t be able to not dance at 9 p.m. into the New Year. Party favors, midnight toast, potluck and more fun for a $10 cover, $5 with potluck dish.
Need a ride? All Points Charters & Tours will be providing free transportation from within the city and west to Freshwater Bay. Phone 360-775-9128 to make a reservation. Pickups start at 8 p.m.
■ New Year’s Eve at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, features the Jimmy Hoffman Band playing your classic rock and country favorites at 8:30 p.m., complete with hosted toast at midnight and raffle prizes. Presale tickets are $5 per person, $8 per couple and $6 per person at the door.
■ On New Year’s Eve at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., celebrate with BBR (Barry Burnett, Bill Tiderman and Rudy Maxion) and their broad repertoire of classic tunes of the 1950s-1970s. The fun starts at 9 p.m. and goes on into 2012. $5 cover.
■ At the Coo Coo Nest, 1017 E. First St., there’s a New Year’s Disaster with 3-D Witch Hunt, Govinda, Robot Pi and return of Port Angeles’ fallen rock gods Myd Lyfe Krysys (Brenda Moore, Jake Werrion, Greg Marsh and Coog) at 10 p.m. No cover.
■ On Friday, Les Wamboldt and Olde Tyme Country perform at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On New Year’s Eve, Old Tyme Country and the Luck of the Draw Band celebrate a New York New Year’s Eve. They play from 6 p.m. until the ball drops in New York at 9 p.m. local time.
On Tuesday, Dave and Rosalie Secord and the Luck of the Draw Band play old-time music with guests the Hi Definition Band (Rusty, Duke and Crash) for an old-fashioned good old time from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ Every Tuesday evening at the Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets, the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally and the Boys playing ballroom dance favorites for the dancing pleasure of all adults 45 years and older from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $5 cover, first-timers free.
■ On Wednesday at Dupuis Restaurant, 256861 U.S. Highway 101, Bob and Dave play blues with a brew and barbecue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sequim and Blyn
■ On Friday at the Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., Denny Secord Jr. goes solo at 5:30 p.m.
New Year’s Eve features MLR (Moderately Loud Rock) from 8 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Blue Hole Quintet plays a jazz-infused mix of music for dancing and listening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ On New Year’s Eve, John Erskine tickles the ivories in a solo jazz piano gig at the Old Mill Cafe, 721 Carlsborg Road, Carlsborg, from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.
■ At The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Kelly Thomas and Victor Reventlow host the very popular and rousing open mic Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
■ On Friday at Stymie’s Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, Rachael and Barry perform Motown and classic rock from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ On Friday at Club Seven Lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, Joey James Dean performs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On New Year’s Eve, it’s an ’80s theme party with the ultimate ’80s tribute band, the M-80’s, from 9 p.m. to 1 p.m.
On Sunday, Soul Posse plays from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Monday, join Barry Burnett and world-class drummer Tom Svornich for We Be Jammin’, so bring your ax or tickled tonsils and join the fun from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Port Hadlock
■ The Hadlock House, 141 Chimacum Road, celebrates New Year’s Eve with two bands, Elf Holiday and Group Camp, on Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Port Townsend
■ Today at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., two popular local bands, Arcadia Terrace followed by Nowhere to Run, perform from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Adults $5, young adults younger than 25 $3.
On Friday, the Delta Rays play Cajun, rock, zydeco, roots and blues at 8 p.m. $8 cover.
The Mark DuFresne Blues Band presents a rollicking, rocking New Year’s Eve party Saturday at 8 p.m. This is the most honored band by the Washington Blues Society. Deluxe show/appetizer/entree/dessert/champagne toast/table $79, entree/show $59, show only $25.
Phone 360-385-2216 for info and reservations.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., it’s a New Year’s Eve eve party with the Solvents, the Peninsula’s “indie” rock group. Internationally known, this band is one of our Peninsula’s treasures.
Rock on starting at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
■ At the Undertown, 211 Taylor St., Ash Devine entertains Friday at 8 p.m. with a bluesy folk fusion.
Gerald Braude plays an acoustic guitar Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
■ On New Year’s Eve at Castle Key, Seventh and Sheridan streets, the Skip Morris Quintet plays from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. $10 cover.
■ On New Year’s Eve, the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., has Locust Street Taxi rocking into the New Year starting at 9 p.m. The $7 tickets are available at Quimper Sound or at the Uptown or $10 at the door.
■ Steve Grandinetti plays guitar at the Owl Sprit Cafe, 218 Polk St., today and Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Today, classical guitarist Trevor Hanson plays at Ichikawa Japanese Cuisine, 1208 Water St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Every Monday, Trevor Hanson plays guitar at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ Steve Grandinetti plays and sings at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe, Port Townsend, on Thursdays and Fridays from noon till 2 p.m.
High notes
■ May you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
________
John Nelson is a self-styled music lover and compulsive night owl who believes in “KLMA — Keep Live Music Alive” on the North Olympic Peninsula. His column, Live Music, appears every Thursday.
Are you performing in or promoting a live music gig? Contact John by phoning 360-565-1139 or emailing news@peninsuladailynews.com, with John Nelson in the subject line. And note: Nelson’s new deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. preceding Thursday’s column.
Also, check out “Nightlife,” a listing of entertainment at nightspots across the Peninsula, in Friday’s Peninsula Spotlight magazine.