Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Looking to ring in 2017 with some live music? There are a bunch of options around Ithaca on Saturday night.

Afro-beat funksters Big Mean Sound Machine will play their annual New Year’s Eve show at Lot 10, joined by special guests Tenzin Chopak (who released a great album this fall) and DJ Gourd (who always plays cool stuff at these kind of events). Big Mean will showcasing material from its forthcoming album (more on that below) as well its excellent past releases.

That’s not all, though. Big Mean will also play Friday night show at Lot 10 as the Ndor Band, backing singer Cha Cha (of Mosaic Foundation) and special guest Jay Spaker of John Brown’s Body (who they backed a few years ago and also recorded an album)

Doors open at 8 p.m. for both shows. Tickets are $25 for the New Year’s Eve show, available in advance at lot10.ticketleap.com/nye15/.

But wait — there’s more! All month, Big Mean has been conducting a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the release of its next album, “Runnin’ for the Ghost.” Earlier in the week, the band was about halfway to its goal of raising $15,000. On Thursday, the group will host an online variety show at its Facebook page “full of live performances, skits and playing tracks off the new album to help push us over the finish line,” according to the band.

To learn more, visit www.bigmeansoundmachine.com.

Other New Year’s Eve shows around town include:

•The Range will feature an eclectic triple bill of Kitestring (roots rock), Viva Mayhem (ska punk) and the duo of Samuel B. Lupowitz and Mandy Goldman (soul) for its first-ever New Year’s Eve show beginning at 9 p.m. Cover is $5.

•The Jeff Love Band will return to Agava for a 10 p.m. set of classic funk, soul and R&B. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. If you want to reserve a table for dinner before the show, call 319-4366 or visit www.agavarestaurant.com/reservations.

•The Destination, who were originally set to play at the now-closed Rongovian Embassy, will take its soul-funk party to the Dock beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance.

•DJ Tuggle will set up shop at Silky Jones, spinning tunes starting at 10 p.m. There will be free food from Viva Taqueria, Luna Inspired Street Food and Bandwagon Brew Pub as well. Next door, Taste of Thai will feature DJ Jah Stone, Gunpoets’ DJ Double A and others at a Great Gatsby Party. There’s a $20 cover charge at the door.

•K-House Karaoke Lounge and Suites will host a Black and White party starting at 4 p.m., with Arthur B and the Planetary Mix performing a set of live music from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., followed by more karaoke until 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Call 339-8981 or email khousekaraoke@gmail.com for more information.

•The Argos Inn is hosting an upscale New Year’s Soirée featuring the Analogue Sons (Michael Stark, Lee Hamilton, Aaron Speiser and Lars Burggren) joined by several guest vocalists. Admission is $25 for the 8 p.m. event, which also includes a photo booth, fire pit and more. Visit www.argosinn.com to reserve a ticket.

•The Haunt will host the BOUND New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball, presented by Model Citizen. DJs Rob Haze and Dark Fader will provide the sonic backdrop to this unique event, which recommends a mask combined with formal, semi-formal, cocktail, Victorian, antique or vintage formal attire. Admission is $15 for those in costume, $30 for everyone else. Visit www.facebook.com/events/1162127903906006 for the full scoop on the event.

•For something a bit different, Opera Ithaca is hosting a New Year’s Eve gala at the Kitchen Theatre featuring an all-star cast in a production of Mozart's comedy “Abduction from the Seraglio.” Tickets are $50 for the 8:30 p.m. show. Visit www.operaithaca.org for more information. (You can read more about this elsewhere in Go.)

• In Trumansburg, Pete Panek and the Blue Cats will return to the Silverline Tap Room for a free 7 p.m. show, while Atlas Bowl will host a “Rock and Bowl New Year's Eve Extravaganza,” with $7 flat rate bowling and tunes after dinner from DJ RAF. Visit atlasbowl.com for information.

• In Cortland, Tribal Revival will be at BRU 64 for an evening of classic rock favorites and Ten Man Push returns to the Stone Lounge with their modern metal sound. Both shows kick off at 7 p.m. and have no cover charge.

•If you feel like taking a road trip to catch a New Year’s Eve show, a bunch of local favorites are playing around the state. The Blind Spots are in Saranac Lake for a First Night celebration, John Brown’s Body and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad are teaming up at Anthology in Rochester, Driftwood is at the Ransom Steele Tavern in Apalachin and Jimkata is at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo.

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More shows

Besides Driftwood’s two-night stand at the Haunt on Thursday and Friday (to find out more, read my story elsewhere in Go), there are a few other shows happening in the coming days.

•Thursday, the Fall Creek Brass Band will continue its residency at the Range, hosting its open funk jam at 7:30-10:30 p.m.

•Friday, the Blind Spots return to Brix in downtown Cortland for an 8 p.m. show. The band has had a pretty busy year, touring up and down the east coast and even out west, and is looking forward to putting out a new album in 2017. Visit www.theblindspots.com to learn more.

•Friday, Lunar Carnival returns to Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Dryden for a free happy hour show. The Cortland band plays string music with a classical twist. There’s no cover for the 6 to 8 p.m. show.

•Friday, Bad Alibi will bring their classic rock songs to the Range beginning at 9 p.m.

•As always, don’t forget about the regular recurring events throughout the week: Galactic Mondays at Casita del Polaris, Irish Sessions at Rulloff’s (Tuesdays), Tuesday Bluesday at the Dock, Jazz Night at the Dock (Tuesdays), Reggae Night at the Dock (Wednesdays), the new Musicians’ Noodle Bowl at Lot 10 (first and third Wednesdays), and various open-mic nights around towns.

Catalano has covered the local music scene since 1992. Follow him on Twitter at @IthacaMusicNews, and email him at jimcat@aol.com.