Monday 12.31
Swingin' on a Star
Jade Monkey Lounge, 4 pm
DJs Astroglide (from Portland, Ore.), Pillallo (from Chicago) and Jake Munz (from Madison) perform for free at this cocktail-lubricated event.
U.S. Bank Eve
6 pm onward
The annual party offers family-friendly fun at seven locations. Monona Terrace features juggling by Truly Remarkable Loon, music by Wild Heart and Ken Lonnquist, magic by Rick Wilcox, and a huge inflatable gym. At the UW Space Place (2300 S. Park St.) you can peep through the telescope and watch demonstrations on the science of sound. Olbrich Botanical Gardens has crafts, games and the fabulous Holiday Train Display. The Madison Children's Museum caters to younger children with hands-on exhibits and a strolling magician; the Wisconsin Historical Museum gives kids all they need to make party hats; and the Henry Vilas Zoo allows you to celebrate with the birds and monkeys. At U.S. Bank on the Square there'll be games, hayrides and music by steel-drum band OD TAPO IMI. U.S. Bank's kiddie-countdown balloon drop is at 7:30 pm, and at 10:05 pm fireworks sparkle over the Capitol.
Lou and Peter Berryman
Zion Lutheran Church, 8 pm
Those who prefer goofy Wisconsin-centric folk music with a heavy dose of accordion on New Year's Eve (you know who you are) can check out the Berrymans' annual fund-raiser for the Goodman/Atwood Community Center.
Westside Andy and Mel Ford Band
Brink Lounge, 8 pm
A wine bar's not the first place you'd expect Andy and Mel to be digging into their muscular blues, R&B and more recent rockabilly material. Then again, these road-tested vets could fire up a tea dance. Keyboardist Dave Stoler kicks off the night.
DJ Corey Lee
Cardinal Bar, 8 pm
As 2007 fades into memory, DJs Corey Lee, Von Stoll and David Muhammad trade off on disco, funk, house, electronic and hip-hop sets for your dancing pleasure.
A Very Majestic New Year's
Majestic Theatre, 8 pm
Isthmus presents Irish rockers the Kissers, New Orleans-style honkers Mama Digdown's Brass Band, and retro-soul merrymakers Marcus King & Thee Royalty in a dance-happy soiree that doubles as a cure for SAD.
Mike Schneider Band
Essen Haus, 8:30 pm
The Milwaukee band is a ton of pure polka fun. And so is the Essen Haus' collection of Deutsche brews on tap.
Great Dane
At the downtown Great Dane, the affable Hometown Sweethearts play a wide range of pop, rock and country (9 pm). The Hilldale outlet features Benefits of Being Paranoid, Madison's answer to Dave Matthews (9 pm), and the Fitchburg location has DJ Bill Finn (10 pm).
DJ Pete Augusta
Cafe Montmartre, 9 pm
Augusta is joined by fellow house lover Wyatt Agard for set after set of booty-shaking bliss.
Devil in a Woodpile
Harmony Bar, 9 pm
They may be acoustic, but the old-time blues/rag specialists are hardly reserved. The frisky Joel Paterson Group and febrile Cash Box Kings light your fire in the opening slots. As usual, the Harmony pairs some scrumptious victuals with the musical menu.
DJ Alex Hall
Inferno, 9 pm
Instead of the usual latex and leather, the Inferno requests that attendees slip into starchy business wear for a naughty night of dance sets spun by Alex Hall and DJs Koob, Wyatt Agard, Psychotron, Cykophuk and Dave J.
Primitive Culture
JT Whitney's, 9 pm
The funk/groove practitioners should have this reliable bierstube in a lather well before midnight.
Y-Lab
Klinic Bar & Grill, 9 pm
Punky rockers Y Lab, Sounds of Reason and Sophia's Revenge are sure to shake the foundations of this medically themed watering hole.
Lube
Club Tavern, 9 pm
The FM hits just keep on coming as Lube make their way through a crowd-pleasing set of hard rock, alternative and contemporary country covers.
Booze Brothers
Dejope, 9 pm
A full night of gambling and a Blues Brothers tribute into the bargain? Could they be having any more fun in Vegas?
Anthony & Leslie Cao
Ivory Room, 9 pm
It's sing-along night at the piano as the Caos feature choice selections from the Great American Songbook as well as the requisite Elton John and Billy Joel.
Blue Bazookas
Come Back In, 9 pm
If you fortify yourself at the Come Back's all-you-can-eat, chances are you'll be dancing to the Blue Bazookas' wide-ranging sets of blues-rock until the final cork's been popped.
The Crest
King Club, 9 pm
The local hip-hop greats swagger and sway; Desdemona and the Last Hope open.
Things Fall Apart
High Noon Saloon, 9 pm
Things Fall Apart close out an evening of noisy punk and post-punk fabulousness. Whore du Jour, Screamin' Cyn Cyn & the Pons, the Dials, Transformer Lootbag, Awesome Car Funmaker and DJ Jake Shut make certain that quiet time is at a minimum.
Rigel
Wonders Pub, 9 pm
Making the most of their time on the boards, Celtic types Rigel celebrate both the release of a new CD and the dawning of a New Year. Oak Street Ramblers also appear.
Northern Pines Band
Pub, 9 pm
The jam-friendly roots rockers offer State Street revelers some real Wisconsin boogie with their Jello shots.
Sleeping in the Aviary
Orpheum Theatre, 9 pm
The demonically clever post-indie rockers head a gargantuan bill dedicated to all the good people in the local service industry. A Paper Cup Band, DJ Zombie Cocktail Party, Mike Carlson, Real Jaguar and more contribute to the nonstop frivolity.
Super Tuesday
The Bean, 9:30 pm
From Bon Jovi to Kelly Clarkson to Mellencamp, Super Tuesday covers the kinds of acts that heartland audiences can't get enough of.
Baghdad Scuba Review
Pooley's, 9:30 pm
Baghdad Scuba Review and Yokanizu Project jam out for neo-hippies and all the other furry freaks who make their way to the far eastern precincts of the city for this rare New Year's Eve freebie.
Pupy Costello & His Big City Honky Tonk
Crystal Corner Bar, 9:30 pm
Expect the heroes of the Grand Ole Opry to get their due as Pupy's fun-lovin' crew join Earl Foss & His Brown Derby Boys for an evening of retro-country delights.
Blackstar Reggae
Annex, 10 pm
Blackstar bring the roots sounds in the headline spot, but there really is something for just about everybody at the Annex's eclectic New Year's Eve affair, including rock (Cudasigh), funk and R&B (Adam Isaac & the People) and blues Paul Filipowicz).
Rock Star Gomeroke
Brocach Irish Pub, 10 pm
The Gomers provide the live karaoke backing, you provide the vocals. Here's hoping they save "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the shank of the evening.
DJ El Niche
Dobhan, 10 pm
El Niche's salsa and reggae should go well with Dobhan's South Asian feast, which is included in the cover.
Los Surenos del Norte
Restaurant Magnus, 10 pm
Magnus hosts an all-night celebration of Latin American sounds and flavors.
Run Side Down
Mr. Roberts, 10 pm
RSD keep Jerry Garcia's memory alive down at the east-side jam-band power spot.
Tuesday 1.1
Wednesday 1.2
Thursday 1.3
Chicago Afrobeat Project
Cafe Montmartre, 10 pm
The group pay homage to Nigerian superstar Fela with their politically charged African grooves.
