OUR TOP PICKS
Willie Nelson hosts three nights of revelry at ACL Live. Suzanne Cordeiro/For American-Statesman
Friday-Sunday: Willie Nelson & Family New Year at ACL Live. This one’s too big for a single night. After Nelson began playing New Year’s Eve at this marquee downtown venue when it opened in 2011 (his statue presides out front), the event quickly grew into a two-night, and now three-night, affair. His sister Bobbie has always been in the band on piano, but this year it’s an even broader family affair: Willie’s sons Lukas and Micah Nelson open all three shows with their Promise of the Real and Particle Kid bands, respectively. The focus is fitting given this fall’s release of “Willie Nelson and the Boys,” which featured Willie, Lukas and Micah joining voices on a dozen country classics. $99-$157. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 9 p.m. Sunday (with Blackberry Smoke added to the bill). 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. acl-live. — P.B.
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Sunday: Austin’s New Year at Auditorium Shores. Pop quiz: Where in town can you ring celebrate the end of 2017 to the sounds of, not one or two, but four Austin360 Artist of the Month alums? Latin funk powerhouse Brownout takes top billing at this family-friendly (and alcohol free) bash. Soul dynamo Tomar & the FCs, fierce full-band hip-hop act Magna Carda and indie-pop breakout Mobley will all put in sets. Also on the bill are Seattle-via-Austin blues-rocker Ian Moore plus Charlie Faye & the Fayettes, Jane Ellen Bryant and many more great local artists. If your New Year’s resolution is to spend more time listening to Austin bands, this party is just the ticket. Free. 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. 900 W. Riverside Drive. austinsnewyear.com. — D.S.S.
RELATED: Ring in 2018 with music at these Austin shows
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Sunday: Doyle Bramhall II, Emily Gimble, Lou Ann Barton at Antone’s. Bramhall left Austin for Los Angeles many years ago, but he’s still so connected to the city that any trip home is a celebration. Last year’s “Rich Man,” his first album in 15 years, included the song “November,” a tribute to his late father, one of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s close friends and writing partners. Helping to spark the countdown party will be two of Austin’s best female blues acts spanning a couple of generations, with Barton representing vintage Antone’s history and Gimble proving that younger singers can still get the blues big-time. DJ Mahealani spins records upstairs after Bramhall’s set, with complimentary breakfast tacos. $75. 9 p.m. 305 E. Fifth St. antonesnightclub.com. — P.B.
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Sunday: Grupo Fantasma, Capyac at Empire. Oh, you’re into dancing? Austin’s world class cumbia ensemble has the hip-switching grooves to make you move, and electro funk duo Capyac spent the year destroying dancefloors around the country. Capyac served pancakes on stage at their Austin City Limits Music Festival set this year, so who knows what they’ll cook up for New Year’s Eve. Superfónicos, Trouble in the Streets and Continental Drift also play the two-stage bash. $31.56-$43.56. — D.S.S.
Sunday: NYE 1976 at Hotel Vegas. Each year, club owner Jason McNeely leads the artists who play his east side dive on a journey back in time. This year the club will embody the spirit of 1976 with members of Sweet Spirit and Digital Wild playing the Bee Gees, Leo Rondeau and Mike & the Moonpies flying like the Eagles, and Moving Panoramas taking on Blondie. The evening also includes tributes to the Ramones, Sex Pistols, Abba, Fleetwood Mac, Queen and many more. 7 p.m. 1502 E. Sixth St. texashotelvegas.com. — D.S.S.
ALSO PLAYING
Friday-Sunday
Mike Flanigin Trio with Jimmie Vaughan and George Rains at C-Boy’s
Friday
Neon Indian, Slugbug, New Rebecca at Mohawk outdoor
Reverend Horton Heat, Jesse Dayton, Rosie Flores at 3Ten
Jonathan Tyler, Texas Gentlemen at Sam’s Town Point
Greyhounds, Tameca Jones, Jai Malano at Scoot Inn
Songs of Paul Simon with Will Taylor & Strings Attached at Townsend
Milligan Vaughan Project at El Mercado Backstage
Wagoneers, Two Tons of Steel, Blues Specialists at Continental Club
Linda Gail Lewis, Danny B. Harvey, Roger Wallace, Missy Beth at White Horse
Jackie Venson at Radio Coffee & Beer
Mike Zito & Jim Suhler, Dylan Bishop Band at Antone’s
Latin at Heart, Denny Freeman at Saxon Pub
Two Hoots & a Holler at ABGB
Rubilators at Guero’s
Adrian Ruiz Quintet at Elephant Room
Sobscene Indie Disco, Sideways Grimace at Hotel Vegas
Hamilton Loomis CD release, Leeann Atherton at One-2-One Bar
Saturday
Reckless Kelly’s Heartbreakers Ball: A Tribute to Tom Petty at Antone’s (sold out)
Suffers, Money Chicha at 3Ten
Los Atzex at One-2-One Bar
Jackie Venson at Geraldine’s
South Austin Moonlighters, Mandy Rowden at Saxon Pub
Booze Weasels, Redd Volkaert at Continental Club
Dale Watson at Broken Spoke
Cornell Hurd Band at Driskill Bar
Ali Holder Band, Christy Hays at Radio Coffee & Beer
Strahan & the Good Neighbors, Ricky Stein, Dave Insley’s Careless Smokers at White Horse
Rachel Reese, Grace Pettis at El Mercado Backstage
Frank Hannon, Jo Hell at Townsend
Rich Hands, Bad Lovers, Borzoi, Brother Sports at Hotel Vegas
Zoomountchi, Executive Steel Band, Afro Jazz at Sahara Lounge
Samiyam, Wallaby & Bobbes, Casey Cuts, Deli at North Door
Sunday
Bob Schneider at Paramount Theatre
Ghostland Observatory’s New Year’s Eve 2017: A Space Oddity at Mohawk
Golden Dawn Arkestra, Holy Wave, Daikaiju at Barracuda
Peterson Brothers, Tomar & the FCs at Continental Club
Party for the People with Summer Salt, Ghost Wolves, Big Bill, etc. at Spider House Ballroom
NYE Reset with Henry + the Invisibles, Bishops, more at Parish
Body Rock ATX Moon Masquerade at Sahara Lounge
Chromeo DJ Set, Harry Paradise at Emo’s
Silent Disglo at Scoot Inn
Keep it Quiet 2017 at Fair Market with DJ Mel
Nightowls, Kev Bev & the Woodland Creatures at Stubb’s indoor
Saved by the Ball with Go Fever, Gentlemen Rogues, more at Cheer Up Charlie’s
Jimmy LaFave tribute with John Inmon Group & Jaimee Harris at Threadgill’s North
Deadeye (Grateful Dead tribute) at One-2-One Bar
Heart Byrne (Talking Heads tribute) at 3Ten
Reggae Ball with the Mau Mau Chaplains at Flamingo Cantina
Akina Adderley & the Vintage Playboys at Geraldine’s
Carolyn Wonderland at Saxon Pub
Ephraim Owens at Elephant Room
Eastern Sea and friends at Friends & Allies Brewing
Goblin King’s NYE Ball at Elysium
Headbangers Glitter Ball at Indian Roller
Dirty Charley and Pals at Beerland
Gary P. Nunn at Poodie’s Hilltop Tavern
Alvin Crow at Broken Spoke
Donn & the Station Masters at Donn’s Depot
Josh Lightnin’ Band, Jake Penrod at Little Longhorn Saloon
Ruby Dee & the Snakehandlers, Just If at Driskill Bar
Mayeux & Broussard, Silo Road, Armadillo Road at White Horse
Ty Gavin, Eric Hisaw, Differentials, Steve McCarthy at Carousel Lounge
Dave Biller Trio, Lo Jinx Orchestra at Continental Gallery
Flow Tribe at Lamberts
