Looking for budget-friendly New Year’s Eve parties? These free shows promise big fun.
• Count down to the new year with the Time Machine Dance Party. DJed by Ben Lovett, there’s a new musical decade each hour, starting with the ’70s at 10 p.m. Ring in 2016 between the ’80s and ’90s — make of that what you will. Hopefully we all get to party like it’s 1999. Held at The LAB. Lexavebrew.com
• One of Asheville’s smallest venues boasts one of the hottest New Year’s Eve lineups. 5 Walnut — whose crowds spill out onto the street on an average weeknight — will turn over the floor to glam-blues rockers Pleasure Chest, from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by bombastic one-man band Shake It Like a Caveman, 8-10 p.m. 5walnut.com
• DJ Molly Parti spins s celebratory soundtrack at The Market Place, starting a 6 p.m. marketplace-restaurant.com
• Pour Taproom offers a complimentary Champagne toast, free food and a dance party. pourtaproom.com
• Urban Orchard hosts a dance party and promises Highland Brewing Co.’s Cold Mountain on tap. urbanorchardcider.com
• If you recall rock and country-blues band Tennessee Hollow, then you know exactly how awesome it is that local musicians Dave Dribbon and Chris Budro are reuniting that group for a special show at French Broad Brewery. 6-8 p.m. frenchbroadbrewery.com
• Highland Brewing Co. suggests that craft brew fans Ring in the New Beer with the launch of a new West Coast Style IPA and music from DJ Marley Carroll. Music from 8:15 to 10 p.m. highlandbrewing.com
• The free Phuncle Sam show in Pisgah Brewing Co.’s taproom is an annual tradition. Join the party for Grateful Dead covers, a balloon drop and Champagne toast. 9:30 p.m. pisgahbrewing.com
• “Are you a disenfranchised loner and think you might stay in? We welcome you,” says the Facebook invite for New Year’s Eve with The Jangling Sparrows, held at Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria. “Do you wanna kick out with a fun band? This is the place to be,” the band, led by singer-songwriter Paul Edelman, promises. “We’re really going to have fun — no sh*t! And we’ll have a few surprises up our sleeves.” 9 p.m.
• If your New Year’s resolution is to rein in the spending, you can start with a free show at Ben’s Tune-Up. “This will be a happy, happy, fun time,” promises local indie-folk band Matt Townsend & the Wonder of the World, which will play two sets including originals and “a heretofore rare event in our shows: covers.” 9 p.m. benstuneup.com
• R&B band Blood Gypsies promise a soulful start to the new year. They’ll start playing at 10 p.m. at Foggy Mountain Brew Pub. foggymountainavl.com
