If you're looking for a musical New Year's Eve aside from the downtown Peach Drop, here are a few possibilities. Note that some of these bands are playing the nights leading up to NYE as well.
Umphrey’s McGee
The band’s five-night stand will culminate with a New Year’s Eve bash. (They kicked off their Atlanta mini-residency on Thursday.) The Chicago sextet is celebrating 20 years together, as well as the recent release of studio albums “It’s Not Us” and “It’s You.”
With Southern Avenue. 8 p.m. Dec. 28-29; 7 p.m. Dec. 30; 8 p.m. Dec. 31. $39.50-$70. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Widespread Panic
Panic fans will tell you that there is always something special about seeing the band in its home state on New Year’s Eve. This will mark the sixth time the jam band veterans have helped turn the calendar with a show at the Fox (and don’t forget that they’re playing two pre-NYE shows as well).
8 p.m. Dec. 29-30; 9 p.m. Dec. 31. $92.25-$165.85. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org.
The Roots
The thought of spending New Year’s Eve with Questlove behind the drum kit equals instant enticement. The hip-hop crew, which busies itself year-round as the house band for Jimmy Fallon’s late-night show, is wrapping 2018 with a five-date “holiday tour” that swings through Boston, Montclair, N.J., Silver Spring, Md. and Miami Beach before wrapping with a night of funk at the Roxy.
With Victory Boyd. 9 p.m. Dec. 31. $65-$95. Coca-Cola Roxy, 800 Battery Ave. SE, Atlanta. ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000.
Michelle Malone Band
The searing blues-rocker will warm up with an early crowd and crank up her muscular songs even more for late show to usher in 2019. Her current album, “Slings and Arrows,” debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard blues chart; noteworthy for sure, but the stage is where Malone slays.
7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. (with Eliot Bronson at late show). $35-$60. Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404-377-4976, www.ticketfly.com.
Larkin Poe
If you missed the Georgia-bred duo of sisters Megan and Rebecca Lovell opening for Bob Seger last week(DEC22), truly don't fail to catch them in the comparatively intimate Terminal West. Their latest album, "Venom & Faith" assures they won't be playing clubs much longer.
With Andrea and Mud. 9 p.m. Dec. 31. $26-$126. Terminal West, 887 W. Marietta St. NW, Atlanta. 404-876-5566, ticketfly.com.
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