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• The first sounds of 2009: where to go for a good show on New Year's Eve

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The Iron Post

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See More About these Events

Mhondoro Rhythm Success/ Big Grove Zydeco »

• Event has already occurred
• Iron Post »
  120 S. Race St. Urbana, IL 61801
  (Show on map)

New Year's Eve 2008 Celebration w/the Piano Man »

• Event has already occurred
• Canopy Club »
  708 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
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New Year's Eve Party w/Elsinore, Greycoats, Common Loon and Vvvvv »

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• Cowboy Monkey »
  6 Taylor St. Champaign, IL 61820
  (Show on map)

With the rich musical tradition of the CU area, one would be lucky to spend the night in either town celebrating the coming of a new year. From the sing-a-long celebration of Piano Man at the Canopy Club to the worldly traditions of Big Grove Zydeco and Mhondoro Rhythm Success at the Iron Post, there is something to be found for the musical taste of just about anyone looking to spend an evening out on the town.

Let buzz suggest four different ways to musically ring in the New Year in CU.

The Highdive

If anyone knows how to start a new year off right, it would have to be DJ Delayney, also known as Douglas Layne, the Co-CEO of Power n Soul Pro and a local regular on the turntables. Delayney, along with DJ Kosmos will be pumping up the crowd at the Highdive's New Year's Eve celebration, which promises party favors, 500 balloons, a champagne toast at midnight and all around good times. With the combination of two DJs and an excellent downtown Champaign location, one would be hard-pressed to find a better location to dance through the end of 2008 and into a new year.

The Iron Post

If you're looking to fulfill a different musical niche on New Year's Eve, look no further than the Iron Post with the worldly combination of Mhondoro Rhythm Success and Big Grove Zydeco. Both Champaign-based acts integrate a number of traditional Western instruments with the less-familiar sounds of everything from the South American charango to the Zimbabwean mbira. Whether you want to dance to the rhythms, or sit back and take it all in, make 2009 the year you finally embrace the resolution to expand your musical horizons and check out the Iron Post for your solution.

Canopy Club

For the last several months, students and residents of CU alike have been entertained each Tuesday night by the musical styling of Piano Man. The moniker of Sangamon member, Shay Thiele, Piano Man has everything you could want from a celebration. Playing songs from a wide spectrum of genres, as well as the requests of audience members, Piano Man exudes the power of having a personal, interactive jukebox.

Rather than spending the evening attempting to entertain with a pre-made mix CD, take in the experience live as Canopy Club hosts the local sensation for a New Year's Eve celebration.

Cowboy Monkey

What better way is there to kick off 2009 than with the soaring harmonies and catchy hooks of CU favorites Elsinore? Fresh off of an East Coast run that is certain to have gained the band the cross-country following they deserve, the men of Elsinore will ring in the New Year at Cowboy Monkey joined by a captivating set of tunes ... and hopefully you. With a four band bill that offers not only the aforementioned Elsinore, but also the varied musical techniques of Vvvvv, Common Loon and Greycoats, there is something to be found for anyone craving a bit of rock at the Cowboy Monkey.