New Year’s Eve is coming fast, and every venue in San Francisco is gearing up for the big night in the best way. There are shows, club nights, cabarets, parties, comedy nights, and masquerade parties on deck, and we’re excited for the night. Here’s our breakdown of the best in the city this coming week.
You can start off your New Year celebrations at the Festival Pavilion at the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, where San Pedro’s Miguel is set to perform at the Eye Heart San Francisco Streets of San Francisco party, tearing it up over a night of open bars, champagne lounge, and a ball-pit playground.
Elsewhere, the pick of the parties could be the night of hip-hop, rare remixes, R&B, 90s Classics, and 00s hits, at 111 Minna Gallery, where DJ Umami, DJ Just-in, and Mackswell are all set to make the night a classic.
If you’re looking for a night of huge beats, The Great Northern is where you’ll want to be – they’re hosting The Queens Ball on New Year’s Eve, with a headline show from British DJ Ms. Maya Jane Coles, and performances by Deep House supremo Shiny Objects, techno DJ Lily Ackerman, and Los Angeles’ John Bryars.
If techno is entirely too recent for you, and if your heart truly belongs in the 80s, we suggest you go directly to Bimbo’s 365. Their show for NYE features SF’s own Soft Cell and 80’s tribute act Tainted Love, a highly stylized, non-stop show that will have you on the dance floor all night, partying like you’ve travelled back in time to the golden years.
If you’d rather have a more soulful night, the SF Jazz Center has you covered, with a show from American soloist and saxophone wizard Maceo Parker scheduled to grace the stage, bringing his particular brand of smooth, modern R&B.
And while we’re on the subject of soulful music, we’ve got to mention who’s coming down to the UC Theater for a New Year’s concert – every sentimentalist’s favorite singer, Mayer Hawthorne. If you’re a fan of his timeless vibes, head down to the venue to catch it live. The Warfield, meanwhile, will see Seattle production duo ODESZA take the stage for euphoric EDM into the early hours.
But if you’d like a round of laughter before you head out to dance, you can catch an early show at the Cobb’s Comedy Club, where Annie Lederman, Debra DiGiovanni, and Maureen Langan have two shows scheduled. And if you’re looking for a place to get started, Curio Bar has dinner, drinks, and an amazing lineup of DJs.
There’s a lot going on in the city as the year draws to a close, and the buzz only gets louder with each passing day. It can be hard to pick an event, but follow your heart – it’s been a great year, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that if you’re in San Francisco looking for a party, the city won’t let you down. Have a great night!
