13 festive ways to ring in 2020
The Bay Area comes alive on New Year’s Eve. From grand concerts to jam sessions and parties in historic buildings, arenas and cozy clubs, the end of the year always brings a dazzling selection for revelers who would prefer to spend the last hours of 2019 surrounded by raucous celebration and entertainment.
Here’s a list of events and venues hosting unique bashes around San Francisco and beyond for the 21andolder crowd. Bar Fluxus: Excited for 2020 but wishing it was the 1960s or the 1970s? The HellaMotown New Year’s Eve Dance Party will be a night of throwbacks
from the Temptations, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder and more.
10 p.m. Dec. 31. $15$70. Bar Fluxus, 15 Harlan Place, S.F. www.eventbrite.com
Brick and Mortar Music Hall:
Chicago’s notoriously raunchy rapper CupcakKe (born Elizabeth Eden Harris) is scheduled to perform at a special New Year’s Eve show at Brick and Mortar. Fans of the 22yearold rapper, whose hits include “Deepthroat” and “Vagina,” will be excited by the news of her performance, considering the show comes just four months after the rapper announced she was retiring from music after a series of mental health issues.
10 p.m. Dec. 31. $32.50$125. Brick and Mortar Music Hall, 1710 Mission St., S.F. www.ticket web.com
Brix 581:
For East Bay dwellers, the bar plans to host an energetic New Year’s Eve bash with two rooms of music from a group of Bay Area DJs. Sake One (San Francisco DJ), Lady Ryan (part of Peaches Crew), and Soul Luciani (DJ founder of Evolve) are all scheduled to spin tunes downstairs. Upstairs DJs include David Montoya, Coflo and longtime Oakland DJ (also part of Evolve) Rahiem Jihad.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $25$35. Brix 581, 581 Fifth St., Oakland. www.eventbrite.com.
The Chapel:
Longtime Oakland resident Fantastic Negrito will be bringing his unique blend of blues and roots music to the Chapel for a twonight New Year’s Eve residency. Special guests will join him, including Oakland band Tory and the Teasers.
8 p.m. Dec. 30 and 9 p.m. Dec.
31. $40$70. The Chapel, 777 Valencia St., S.F. www.event brite.com
Chase Center:
If dimly lit and hot dance clubs aren’t your thing and you’d prefer spending your last days of the year enjoying some infectious and hearty jams, snag a ticket to see Dead & Company. The band — made up of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, along with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti — are scheduled to perform at the new home of the Golden State Warriors for two nights.
7 p.m. Dec. 30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 31. $45$200. Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way, S.F. www.ticket master.com
The Knockout:
The cozy dive on the outskirts of the Mission District is always a fun place to catch local acts, including Bay Area DJs spinning the best in funk, soul and disco. The Sweater Funk crew and DJ collective is putting on a soulthemed New Year’s Eve party. If you’re looking for a celebration that’s a little more lowkey and downhome, this party’s for you.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $15. The Knockout, 3223 Mission St., S.F. www.soulpartysweaterfunknye. brownpapertickets.com
Mezzanine:
Prominent DJ Claude VonStroke, remix master and Dirtybird label owner, plans to host an allnight set at the San Francisco venue. VonStroke has released three albums and has performed around the globe. He’ll be spinning alongside Christian Martin, another Dirtybird member and DJ.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $80$120. Mezzanine, 444 Jessie St., S.F. www.eventbrite.com
Midway:
This San Francisco venue is known for its New Year’s Eve parties, which usually feature big performances from a wide range of DJs and producers. This year’s fete is no different, as the British electronic music producer Bonobo and Brooklyn producer Chrome Sparks are set to perform on the main stage. Other acts include the renowned DJ Marques Wyatt, Rachel Torro, Tobin Ellsworth and Matt Trujillo on the Gods & Monsters Stage as well as a number of other DJs on the patio.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $69.50$200. The Midway, 900 Marin St., S.F. www.bigneon.com
Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio:
For a more intimate celebration, this cocktail bar is hosting an evening of live jazz and funky soul from Charles
Unger and his Quintet. Tickets to the celebration get each guest two drink tokens, food and a Champagne toast at midnight.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $100. Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio, 39 Fell St., S.F. www.mrtipplessf.com
MTV’s SnowGlobe Music Festival:
SnowGlobe is the sprawling New Year’s Eve celebration away from busy city streets in snowcovered South Lake Tahoe.Artists on the bill include electronic dance music producer Skrillex, Bay Area rap hero E40, rap master JPEGMafia, beat producer Flamingosis, rapper Vince Staples and many more.
Dec. 2931. $30.95$50.95. South Lake Tahoe Community Playfields and Bijou Community Park, 1 College Way. www.event brite.com
The New Parish:
The Oakland record label and collective Text Me Records is teaming with Soulection, the independent music label and radio show, to put on a huge New Year’s Eve bash at the New Parish. The night is expected to include sets from Oakland standout DJs Tia Nomore, Ricky Lake, Drew Manga and Nanosaur, as well as Soulection’s Andre Power and Sasha Marie.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $20$40. The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. www.eventbrite.com
Public Works:
Mark Farina, the king of Mushroom Jazz, is scheduled to headline this San Francisco event to close out the year. Since 1992, Farina — a prominent DJ who lives in the city — has been releasing his unique collections of Mushroom Jazz mixes, which blend sounds from lounge music, downtempo, jazz, R&B and hiphop. Farina is set to perform in the main room all night, while the Bay Area’s Make It Funky crew take over the Loft with a special guest: LCD Soundsystem’s Pat Mahoney.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $40$95. Public Works, 161 Erie St., S.F. www.bigneon.com
San Francisco Mint:
The historic space will transform into an entertainment engine this New Year’s Eve with New Bohemia NYE, featuring more than 21 areas to explore, dancers, dozens of musical acts, a kink lounge, tarot readings, augmented reality and live VR painting, a black light art gallery, and more.
9 p.m. Dec. 31. $70$95. The San Francisco Mint, 88 Fifth St., S.F. www.eventbrite.com
Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.