Looking for more to do this week? Check out the latest on Gambit’s calendar at calendar.gambitweekly.com.
New Year’s Eve fireworks
There are fireworks over the Mississippi River and downtown riverfront to usher in 2023. The show also will be livestreamed on wwl.com. Visit crescentcitycountdown.com for details.
Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton
Guitarist Jesse Dayton is best known for his work with country music legends including Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. But the Texas native has also delved into punk, rockabilly and more. He and New Orleans blues rocker Samantha Fish recorded an album together that is due out in summer 2023. They’re on tour together and perform at Tipitina’s. Eric Johanson opens at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. Tickets $32 at tipitinas.com.
Billy Strings
Guitar phenomenon Billy Strings won a 2021 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy award for his album “Home.” In November, he released a “Me/And/Dad,” a bluegrass and classic country collaboration with Terry Barber, who raised him. He’s in town for shows at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, and 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at the UNO Lakefront Arena. Find tickets via arena.uno.edu.
Sugar Bowl
The Alabama Crimson Tide face the Kansas State Wildcats in the Sugar Bowl at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, in the Caesars Superdome. Events surrounding the game include a parade with floats and marching bands, which begins at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 on Elysian Fields and Decatur Street. There’s a tailgating festival in Champions Square beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. Visit allstatesugarbowl.org for information about tickets and events.
DJ Soul Sister’s New Year’s Eve Soul Train
“Queen of the Rare Groove” DJ Soul Sister hosts the 20th edition of her funk and soul New Year’s Eve celebration. The party also will feature vintage “Soul Train” clips and video projections, the Booty Patrol Dancers and special guest dancers Marco De Santiago and Freddie Mae Maxie, two “Soul Train” alumni. DJ Soul Sister’s 20th annual New Year’s Eve Soul Train starts at 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at the Civic Theatre. Tickets are $50 advance via civicnola.com and $75 day of the show.
Big Night New Orleans
The New Orleans New Year’s Eve party celebrates its 10th anniversary with performances by Big Freedia, Tank and the Bangas, Choppa, Kid Kamillion, Lolo Mayhew, DJ Rozay Rell, Pretty Na$ty, DJ Zeus and the 610 Stompers. There also will be a silent disco, party favors and midnight celebration. Big Night New Orleans opens at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at Mardi Gras World. General admission tickets start at $79.99 and include drinks. VIP tickets are $194.99 and include food and drinks. Find more information at bignightneworleans.com.
Kwanzaa celebrations
The New Orleans Kwanzaa Coalition this week hosts daily events to celebrate Kwanzaa, which runs Monday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 1. Each day will feature African American performers, panel discussions, presentations on the values of Kwanzaa, children’s activities, food and crafts vendors, dance workshops and more. Performers throughout the week include Flagboy Giz, Sunni Patterson, Silhouette Dance Ensemble, Nana Love and more. Most events will take place at the Andre Cailloux Center for Performing Arts & Cultural Justice as well as Muhammad Mosque No. 46, St. Peter Claver Church Hall and Beacon Light Baptist Cathedral. For more information, call (504) 252-0463 or visit facebook.com/nolakwanzaacoalition.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
For some people, a holiday playlist wouldn’t be complete without Vince Guaraldi. He wrote the piano music for the animated Peanuts holiday special. An adaptation of the Charles M. Schulz’s story, complete with music, dance and a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, comes to Orpheum Theater. There are performances at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27. Find tickets via acharliebrownchristmaslive.com.
Community
Almost 20 years ago, New Orleans rock band Community released its self-titled, full-length album on burned CD-Rs, passing them out to friends, at shows and on tour, and it had a lasting impact on the city’s DIY music community. Community’s album is now getting a reissue from Community Records and Strange Daisy Records, and the band is reuniting for a show at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Siberia. Mesopeak opens. Tickets are $10 advance via siberianola.com and $15 at the door.
A Trippy Tribute
Central City’s Rabbit Hole is the psychedelic venue inviting Deadheads to unite for the “Superdome Bodhi.” This trippy tribute to the late Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia features a lineup of local artists, led by Robbie Smith of Cardboard Cowboy. Dave Easley, Blake Quick, Michael Fouquier, Adam Kelly and Owen Finley will also jam out Friday, Dec. 30. More information and tickets can be purchased through rabbitholenola.com.
Saturn Bar NYE
New Orleans punks Gland, sludge metal band Thou, and psych-punk project STEEF play New Year’s Eve at Saturn Bar. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Cafe des Exiles
Lost Bayou Rambler fiddler Louis Michot leads an evening of music based in French language dialects. He’s joined by cellist Leyla McCalla, accordionist Corey Ledet, Ashlee Michot and more. At 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Music Box Village. Tickets $18 via musicboxvillage.com.
‘Nutcracker!’
The Moscow Ballet is based in North America and is in its 30th year of presenting the holiday classic on tours of Canada and the U.S. There are performances at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Saenger Theatre. Find tickets via saengernola.com.
Galactic New Year’s Eve
Galactic holds a New Year’s Eve throwdown at its home at Tipitina’s. Vocalist Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph joins the band. Funk and soul band Pimps of Joytime open at 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. General admission is $76, and $201 VIP tickets include food, open bar and a Champagne toast. Find tickets at tipitinas.com.
