Celebrate The New Year All Around Dallas, Dance Your Ass Off At Lights All Night At Dallas Market Hall And Go TO Possum Kingdom With Toadies At Billy Bob’s.

In years prior, it was said that Big D just wasn’t getting enough big-time shows. People dared even to question Dallas’ status as a major music city.

But in 2017, this city got some rather amazing shows — so many, in fact that we threw together a list of the best shows we went to this year around town (at both large venues and small).

This list includes names like Jay-Z, Father John Misty, Cuco and the currently controversy embroiled Post Malone. So head on over and see how we ranked the shows we went to his year.

But before you do, check out what’s going on in town this weekend — including Monday. And pay special attention to Sunday as our article features some of the best parties going on around town where you’ll be able to ring in the new year. Cheers. Be safe out there and don’t forget to Uber or hitch a free ride on DART if you’re planning on turning up tonight. Happy new year from all of us here at Central Track! — Obed Manuel

Friday

The Nixons, Bowling For Soup at The Bomb Factory
OKC-based band The Nixons will be playing at the Bomb Factory alongside local favorite Bowling For Soup. Slow Roosevelt and South FM also perform. — Kelly Benjamin

Shinyribs at Kessler Theater
Shinyribs is an all American band that tries its best to make sure the crowd is having a good time with its soulful singing and hip-shaking melodies. David Beck opens. — KB

Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium
The Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the USC Trojans in this college classic that’s beein going strong since 1937. — OM

Ottoman Turks at Double Wide
Enjoy the blues rock of Ottoman Turks while tossing back a few cheap Lone Stars and whiskey specials. — OM

The Suffers at Curtain Club
This Houston band infuses classic American Soul with rock and roll elements for a danceable sound for the crowd to enjoy. Kirk Thurmond also performs. — KB

Forgotten Space New Year’s Run at Deep Ellum Art Company
Forgotten Space, a Grateful Dead tribute, will play this epic, three-day show hosted by Deep Ellum Art Company. The band will work its way through its arsenal of Grateful Dead covers for the three days before it goes on hiatus. Food trucks will be on site to keep your hunger satiated. — KB

Doyle Bramhall III at Granada Theater
Eric Clapton’s guitar sideman and producer is doing his own thing with his “In The Flesh Tour.” Mur will also take the stage. — KB

Lights All Night at Dallas Market Hall
The biggest EDM and New Year’s Eve party in Dallas is back, and with the stacked lineup, you can bet you’ll be able to dance your ass off in that pink tutu and glowstick ensemble. — KB

Eli Young Band at Billy Bob’s Texas
The Denton-bred band Eli Young Band comes back to Dallas for a c of country music at Billy Bob’s. Doors open at 6 p.m. — KB

A Hard Night’s Day at Dan’s Silverleaf
As Texas Music Magazine considers these dudes “the best Beatles tribute band in Texas”, Dan Silverleaf’s will be hosting them at the venue this Friday. — KB

Pablo & The Hemphill 7 at Main at South Side
 Pablo & the Hemphill 7 will be playing a show at South Side this Friday. With tons of guests ranging from Sage Mode Rex and Neptune Locals, this definitely looks like a show to not be missed before the New Year. — KB

Robert Earl Keen at House of Blues
 Robert Earl Keen will be playing at the House of Blues. Country music artists will also get a huge kick out of the other artists such as The REKs Fam-O-Lee Back To Country Jamboree and The Quebe Sisters Band. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. — KB

100 % Pure Love Vol. 3 at The Nines
Show up looking like the ’90s! 100% Pure Love is back at the Nines kicking it old school (well, not that old) with Dallasites before the New Year. There will be all kinds of ‘90s to early ‘00s tunes and tons of eurotrance to dance to. — KB

Henry The Archer, Big Red Ants at Division Brewing
What’s the best way to celebrate the weekend? Live tunes and brews of course! Division Brewing in Arlington is hosting a slew of bands for your rock pleasure. The show starts at 9 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to get buzzed and full of delicious food before the music starts. — KB

DJ Pauly D at Lava Cantina
The Jersey Shore comes to The Colony. You don’t actually have to go to this one. We just thought it was amusing that the former Jersey Shore star was coming to town. Did you hear that rumor about a potential reunion? So did we — we just don’t care. — OM

Final Friday’s Hip Hop: New Year’s Weekend at Three Links
Start getting in that New Year’s Eve celebratory spirit by hitting up the last Final Friday’s Hip Hop show at Three Links. The final showcase will feature Buffalo Black, Sivion and many more. DJ Will Majors will keep the tunes going all night. — OM

Friday’s With Red Eye at Beauty Bar
At this edition of Fridays With Red Eye, it’ll be an ’80s themed party, so glow up in your best neon and jean jackets. The music starts at 10 p.m. — OM

Saturday

Dead Prez at Trees
Dead Prez has never been a group that has shied away from using its music to bring attention to system inequalities and racism. It’s Saturday Night Fever show at Trees will likely carry the same burning passion that the duo has been using as motivation since it first burst onto the scene in 1996. Bobby Sessions, RC & the Gritz, DJ Jay Clipp and Topic also perform. — OM

Oh, Sleeper at The Door
The penultimate show at The Door will feature Christian metalcore band Oh, Sleeper as it celebrates the 10th anniversary of its debut album, When I Am God. — OM

Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat at Kessler Theater
The Dallas band will take the Kessler stage with the hard blues rock style that has helped it develop a following even outside the U.S. Mike Zito also performs. — OM

Bob Schneider at Granada Theater
The Austin indie singer-songwriter heads up I-35 to play jams at the Granada on New Year’s Eve’s Eve. Yeah, that’s totally a thing. Roxy Roca, Ryan Berg and The Velvet Ears also perform. — OM

Nick Armstrong & The Thieves at Twilite Lounge
The band from Newcastle is now based in Texas — Austin, to be specific. But that doesn’t mean it’s lost its Brit Rock style and essence. It’s jams will remind you of a cross between Arctic Monkeys and folksy tunes. — OM

New Year’s Eve’s Eve at Double Wide
Five bucks gets you in to the pre-NYE party where you’ll enjoy jams from DJ KMOR, Natural, Hiigh and Black Taffy. — OM

Toadies at Billy Bob’s Texas
If you missed Dia De Los Toadies this year, then worry not because the guys will be playing all the classics tonight at Billy Bob’s…so help them, Jesus. — OM

Gost at The Rail Club
Head on over to Funkytown if you’re in the mood for some of Gosts’ synth electronica that draws inspiration from an otherworldly presence. Vectorwolf and DJ Priest TD also perform. — OM

Drowning Pool at The Bomb Factory
Let the bodies hit the floor. — OM

Dallas Mavericks Blood Drive at Dallas Mavs New Training Facility
If you’re trying to end 2017 on a note of a good deed or good karma (if that’s your dig), then head on over and check out the new Dallas Mavericks training facility… you know, one that’s ACTUALLY IN DALLAS. — OM

Ten Hands at Club Dada
The North Texas ‘80s staple will headline this show. Since J. Paul Slavens Ten Hands teased back in 2014 that the band might have a new something something up its sleeve, we haven’t heard much. But hey, maybe the guys will be in the sharing mood as the new year approaches. Skinny Cooks opens. — OM

Locked & Loaded at Armoury D.E.
Playing tonight are Chakra Khan, lorelei K and Harry Zimm. As always, the show is free and the music starts at 9 p.m. — OM

Vision Board Party at Toasted Coffee + Kitchen
Visualize it and believe. That’s the whole point of vision boarding, yeah? Leave the negatives of 2017 behind and visualize yourself having success in 2018. –– OM

Sixth Anniversary Party Session II at Peticolas Brewing
Celebrate six years of Velvet Hammer. Tickets are sold out, but if you’re holding, don’t forget to head on in and sip some of that sweet, sweet brew. — OM

Daikaiju Attacks! at Three Links
The last few times mysterious, masked Alabama surf rockers Daikaiju have played Links, they’ve literally set the building on fire. Not sure how they’re going to top that. A bigger fire? American Shit Storm and Bargoyles open.– Cory Graves

The Freestyle Kingz: Lil Flip, E.S.G. at Curtain Club
The Freestyle Kingz tour comes to the Curtain Club for a pre-New Year’s Eve freestyle session with two of the best in the game. — OM

Sunday

New Year’s Eve with Ishi at Trees
It’ll be a night of funky, soulful, folksy tunes when headliner Ishi and openers Medicine Man Revival and Broncho take the stage at this one. — OM

New Year’s Eve with Sevendust at Canton Hall
The New Jersey metal band will play the last show at the brand new Canton Hall along with Crobot, Downlo and Stareview. If you’re trying to close out 2017 with some serious headbanging, this is the show for you. — OM

Dancing & Desserts: NYE at Kessler Theater
A ticket to this gig gets you dessert and some champagne so you can toast to the new year as The Signapore Slinger and La Pompe get you dancing to burn off some calories from whatever big meal you had earlier that night. — OM

10th Annual NYE Bash at Granada Theater
The Granada’s 10th annual New Year’s Eve bash will have a twang to it this year, as Jonathan Tyler will headline with his style of soulful rock. Many other special guests, including Texas Gentlemen and Vandoliers, are slated to play. — OM

New Year’s Eve at Three Links
Atlantis Aquarius and The Roomsounds will play their way into 2018. — OM

New Year’s Eve with Hard Night’s Day at Sundown at Granada
Ring in the new year with classic Beatles jams all while enjoying some tasty, tasty food from Sundown. — OM

Randy Rogers Band New Year’s Eve at Billy Bob’s Texas
The final show at Billy Bob’s will feature Randy Rogers Band as the Texas five-piece band plays tunes from its latest album, Nothing Shines Like Neon, as well as other favorites from its other albums. — OM

Rockin’ ‘80s New Year’s Eve at House of Blues
House of Blues will be celebrating the new year in each of its rooms. In the main room, Metal Shop and Infinite Journey will be playing some of your favorite ‘80s jams while you prep for the final countdown… — OM

NYE 2018 at Foundation Room (House of Blues)
The Foundation Room at HOB will host this shindig with two seating times at 7 and 9:30 p.m. The full package includes a seven-course dinner so you can end 2017 with a belly full of food. — OM

Gary Owen at Verizon Theatre
The comedian has featured in films like Think Like A Man, Daddy Day Care, Little Man and now he wants to help you close out 2017 with some side-splitting jokes. Show starts at 9 p.m. — OM

Disco, TX Does Double Wide
Denton’s own Sudie and Dallas’ DJ Blake Ward will be laying down some boogie-worthy jams that’ll get all the butts at the Double Wide shaking. The evening will also be full of burlesque, drag shows and even a pole performance. — OM

NYE Gala 2018 at The Door, Prophet Bar
This celebration will be a bittersweet one as it will be the last event at The Door before it closes up for good and moves away from Deep Ellum. Still, you’ll be able to explore two themes in the adjoining bars: Times Square and Paris. So…au revoir. — OM

New Year’s Eve at Hyena’s Fort Worth
Close out 2017 with some much needed laughs that will be provided by funny people Dustin Ybarra and JR Brow. — OM

NYE at The Rustic
Ring in 2018 at The Rustic with rising blues star Charley Crockett, who happens to be a direct descendant of Texas legend Davy Crockett. — OM

Brew Years Eve at Noble Rey Brewing
For the craft beer lovers who want to close out 2017 and start 2018 with a cold pint of craft beer in their hands, the folks over at Noble Rey Brewing are throwing this shindig where Gypsy Bravado, Ducado Vega and DJ System will perform. A ticket gets you in, food and drink. Proceeds will benefit Foundation 45. — OM

NYE at Club Dada
Ring in the new year with the Faded Deejays crew with a champagne toast. — OM

New Year’s Eve Bash at The Foundry
Feast on grub from Chicken Scratch and enjoy live tunes from Happy Bullets. — OM

NYE at Armoury D.E. 
Shaquan Bivens, Monoculture, Chilldren of Indigo and Huss Onthebeat will all play their tunes at this free as always showcase to close out the year. — OM

The Downtown Party New Year’s Eve at The Statler
If you’re trying to ring in 2018 in style with your pinky in the air holding a glass of fancy champagne, then head over to the resurrected Statler, where they’re throwing a lavish get together to celebrate the end of 2017. — OM

New Years Party at Texas Theatre
Celebrate the new year with a human ball drop, live music and burlesque at the historic Texas Theatre. –– OM

NYE 2018 Masquerade Ball at Old Red Museum of Dallas
This one is apparently among the best New Year’s eve parties in the world. So if you’re feeling extra this year, then you should see about getting some tickets because last we checked this one was 95 percent sold out. — OM

Monday

New Year Good Luck Stew & Potluck & College Football Playoffs at Three Links
If you’re still feeling that hangover, Three Links is hosting this little get together where you’ll be able to feast and get some of the hair of the dog that bit you while you watch some college football. — OM

Lightwire Theater’s A Very Eclectic Christmas at Winspear Opera House
Lightwire Theatre will continue hosting their “A Very Eclectic Christmas” at the Winspear Opera House, just in time the close out the holidays. The Christmas themed tale is suited for all ages, so parents can definitely get a huge kick out of taking their kiddos! — KB

Hogg Brothers Holiday Howdown Jam at Andy’s
Grab your ugly holiday sweater with some overalls and head towards Andy’s for the Hogg Brothers Holiday Hoedown! There will be a costume contest of the best redneck or barnyard animal impression, and you even join the band to learn/play a song with them. Yee-haw y’all! No cover. — KB

Yoga Flow & Moon Workshop at v12
It’s Day One. If your resolution for the new year is to be more active and lose weight, then here’s your chance to make sure you hold yourself accountable and maybe make sure that your chakras are aligned and whatnot. — OM

New Years Day Brunch at The Rustic
The Rustic will host this Jam & Toast-style brunch until 3 p.m. That should give you plenty of time to recover a bit from the hangover and then head over for a mimosa or two. — OM

Rose Bowl Watch Party at Capitol Pub
The Rose Bowl this year features the Georgia Bulldogs taking on Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma. Be sure to get there early in time to pre-game before the scheduled 4 p.m. kickoff. — OM

To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our event directory.

Cover image via Pixabay.

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