Ring in the New Year with live music

New Year's Eve Party with the Sons of Billings and the Alex Nauman Trio includes several guest artists, including Parker Brown, Gy Moody, Tony Hammond, and (not pictured) Dan Page, Matt Fockler, Ben Johns, and Clay Green. (Photo by Jill Nauman)

In a merging of Billings musical powerhouses, the experimental fusion jazz group Alex Nauman Organ Trio and the blues rock boys of the Sons of Billings are hosting two New Year’s Eve concerts on Dec. 31: an early show at Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co. and a later jam to ring in the New Year at Bones Brewing.

The two groups will be joined by a variety of Billings-based musicians in a who’s-who of local and visiting talents. The early show begins at 5 p.m. at the Garage Pub, and a late show at Bones starts at 10 p.m.  The Caledonian Pipes and Drums of Billings will kick off the festivities at Bones starting at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $16 in advance (for both performances) or $10 each at the door. Advanced tickets available at Ernie November’s, Good Earth Market, Hansen Music, and Guido’s.

Plenty of other activities and live music are taking place New Year’s eve in Billings, including:

• Red Eye at the Vig Alehouse
• Downtime at Hooligans
• Dj Elovate hosts a masquerade ball at the Railyard
• The Mid-Life Chryslers perform at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center
• The 7th Avenue Band is in Laurel, performing at the Palace Bar and Lanes
• Zen is at Shooters
• Folk rock icon Don McClean (American Pie,  performs at the Alberta Bair Theater
• Hot 101.9 and Southern Play Productions host The Countdown New Year’s Party at the Holiday Inn

Anna Paige is a freelance writer and founder of Pen and Paige. Contact her at www.penandpaige.com.