We have an impressive slate of live music happening on this Thurs., Dec. 31 — New Year’s Eve, y’all. Take a look at the breakdown below…

New Year’s Eve with People’s Blues of Richmond, Poetry N’ Lotion, John Nowicki Things are gonna get all wild up in here when blues-howling, psych-oozing, gypsy-creeping and heavy metal-slamming trio People’s Blues of Richmond bring their high-octane rock-outs to Ella’s to headline the café’s annual NYE party, laying down a whirlwind of cock-rocking riffs and fret-riding solos, lowend pulse and groove, and tempos that switch from deliberate and slinky to fast-pounding fast-paced assails. Drummer/guitarist/singer/everyman John Nowicki opens the evening, then Poetry n’ Lotion spurs the evening’s festivities ever more with their horn-busting genre-blurring fusion of instrumental rock. The $40 ticket includes dinner, champagne toast, kill the keg and drink specials. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa)

New Year’s Eve Party feat. Butch Trucks & The Freight Train Band’s with The Ries Brothers The long-sitting drummer for the Allman Brothers Band and one of its founding members, Florida native Butch Trucks has been assailing the kit for more than four decades. After ABB’s dissolution last fall, Trucks formed a new project with bassist Berry Oakley, Jr. (son to ABB’s original lowend caresser) that finds the pair supported by a rotating group of guests dubbed ‘The Freight Train Band.’ For this NYE Party (and sole appearance in the Sunshine State), they’re joined by Trucks’ guitarist son Vaylor, the Bay area’s own blues singer, guitar-slinger-and-slider Damon Fowler (who sat in with Trucks when he played Bradenton in September) and keyboardist/B3 organ extrordinaire Bruce Katz. The show ends at midnight with a New Year’s Eve countdown. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Punk Rock New Years Eve Party Rock out with your cock out (or, to avoid possible backlash for indecent exposure, with your sock out) and kiss 2015 goodbye when five punk-kicking bands rage the Local 662 stage. Joining Bay area faves Mosquito Teeth, Dead Cat Lounge and tiefighterdown are a couple of bands from Cuba that got a work visa just to play the Florida tour bringing them here – and these mark their first-ever dates in the U.S. (really, the first U.S. tour of any Cuban punk bands): youthful riff-thrashing heavy four-piece Adictox; and Arrabio, an intense metal-inspired hardcore quartet formed in 2001 and situated at the forefront of their native country’s DIY revolution as led by guitarist William Garcia, also co-founder of the Solidarity Rock initiative to create cultural exchange with Cuba and foreign countries. The latter two bands also play Café Hey in Tampa on New Year’s Day. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)

Donna The Buffalo The biggest gathering of the Herd in Tampa Bay has historically happened on New Year’s Eve, and aside from a period between 2008 and 2010, roots-jam outfit Donna the Buffalo have played the year-ending holiday here a dozen times since 1999; six at the Skipperdome, six at the Coliseum. The 2015 throwdown marks No. 13, and attendees can expect the usual festive atmosphere, a Dead-y opening set by Uncle John’s Band, a champagne toast at midnight (party favors included), and a breakfast buffet to soak up all the bubbly before the drive home. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)

 Freekbass He’s not from around these here parts but the lowend-banging artist mentored by funk father Bootsy Collins (who gave Chris Sherman his Freekbass handle) has ensconced himself in the Dunedin music scene. This marks his second consecutive NYE gig at Dunedin Brewery, not to mention Freakbass’ fifth time playing there since last August. It’s also an ostensible release show; he arrives on the heels of dropping a fresh album, Cincinnati, his debut on Ropeadope Records that synthesizes a varied palette of ass-shaking sounds, from rubbery electro-funk to thumping disco grooves to heady sax-blasted groove-outs. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) 

SOJA with Collie Buddz There’s a show catering to pretty much any taste on this eve of the New Year and over at Jannus, you’ll find the anticipated reggae sounds (and likely heady smells) wafting on the nighttime breeze. SOJA (aka Soldiers of Jah Army) have been dishing up their brand of swaying, rocking and dubbing sounds since forming in the late ‘90s, and have the distinction of receiving a Grammy nom for their last album, 2014’s Amid the Noise and Haste, which features guest spots by the likes of Damian Marley, J Boog and Collie Buddz. The latter warms the stage with his dancehall and soca-soaked sounds. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

NYE 2015 with GTA, Wiwek, Vincent Miami DJ/production duo GTA (Matt Toth and Julio Mejia aka Van Toth & JWLS) and Wiwek have a new trap mix out, “Blow Up,” built on a hard-pounding moombahton-dropping beats, spliced and repeated vocal samples, and warped and skewed raps spitting a skipping refrain: “Pick it up, pick it up, back it up, ya’ll know what’s up / shake shake shake that ass like it gonna blow up …” Generally, however, GTA takes a “death to genres” position, which means you could hear electro rock, hip hop, trap and even Latin music in their tracks. Champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight for this special NYE/EDM throwdown. (Amphitheatre, Ybor City)

Swingin’ in the New Year with Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88’s The annual New Year’s swing party begins with a dance lesson from 8 to 9 p.m. (no partner needed) followed by the party kick-off with live music by New Orleans-brewed, California-based boogie-woogie piano man Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s, which features players on bass, guitar, drums and horns. They deliver covers and originals inspired by jump n’ boogie outfits of the late 1940s and early ‘50s, but given fresh swinging, jiving and rocking life along with NOLA blues flavor in a sound Woods has dubbed “rock-a-boogie.” Dress to impress (party and vintage attire encouraged, with a photo shoot and contest for the latter), all ages are welcome, and there’ll be the obligatory countdown and balloon drop at the climactic stroke of midnight. (Coliseum, St. Petersburg)

The Compound Collective Second Annual Love Thy Neighborhood Artist Showcase Billed as “An evening paying tribute to the city that we call home and the talented individuals that make our area unique,” this year-ending blowout spotlights 18 local visual artists (among them, Esben Ray, Krystal Ralph, Tom Kiernan, Josh Bowser, Anell Morillo, Casey Wayne, Chopper Chermont, Chevy Chevarria, Darrell Arden, Cheryl “ Jujmo “ Weber and Sara Marshall) and three musical performers – soulfully conscious hip-hop emcee Mike Mass, emotive indie rockers Brother Cephus, and slick-spitting alt rapper/producer Gatsby. Also featured: a pop-up shop by War Wagon (which hawks ironic redneck/biker inspired tee-shirts, undies and the like), a midnight champagne toast and drink specials throughout the night. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

ALSO HAPPENING TONIGHT
New Year’s Eve w/Ajeva/No Need Ringside Café, St. Petersburg
Stormbringer Local Brewing Company, Palm Harbor
New Year’s Eve Bash w/Bonesaw/Dropkick/Holyman Fubar, St. Petersburg

This article appears in Dec 31, 2015 – Jan 6, 2016.