Techno legends Carl Craig(from left), Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson perform at The Max Sunday. 10 p.m.
-4 a.m. Sunday 9 p.
m. Sunday Admission for all ages is $15 in advance, $20 day of the show. Admission $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
21 and older. M usic lovers at loose ends for New Year's Eve can choose from high-energy parties at three local venues that are sure to suit a spectrum of musical tastes.
The Max M.
Fisher Music Center offers a night of cutting-edge techno; rock and blues lovers will fit right in at Royal Oak Music Theatre's Blue New Year; and '80s music fans can dance the night away during the Magic Bag's Ultimate Retro New Year's Party.
Electronic music luminaries Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Carl Craig bring Metro Detroiters into 2007 in The Music Box at The Max with their blend of techno, hip-hop and pop, while DJs Theo Parrish and Al Ester spin in Allesee Hall. Food service and a cash bar will be available throughout the evening.
"When we say Detroit legends of techno music, these are the men," says Kendra Whitlock of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. "They don't perform in Detroit that often, so it's a big deal."
May, along with friends Juan Atkins and Saunderson, were commonly known as the Belleville Three and were at the forefront of techno music, releasing genre classics such as 1987's "Strings of Life.
" May produced Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival in 2003 and 2004.
Craig, the original artistic director of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, hatched the idea for the New Year's Eve event with Whitlock. Craig has been at the forefront of the second generation of electronic music with his remixes of world beat and jazz songs.
"I wanted to do something extremely special in terms of bringing this music to a new forum, The Max," Craig says. "There are so few things like this that go on. It's as exciting as the first electronic festival for me.
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This event will offer VIP ticketholders access to raised cabanas in the performance spaces, which include private bars and bottle service. VIP tickets also provide valet parking, hats and noisemakers and exclusive access to the second floor of the atrium and its upscale lounge and outdoor smoking lounge.
The Royal Oak Music Theatre plans to celebrate the New Year with blues and bluegrass, featuring Detroit rockers Howling Diablos, Catfish Mafia and The Reeferman, with DJ Linda Lexy spinning old-school funk between sets.
"We rolled with a similar lineup last year, and it seemed to really fit the niche around this area," says ROMT general manager Justin Miller. "It gives people an affordable option. Three bands plus a DJ is a lot of great entertainment for your dollar.
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The Howling Diablos were the house band at the blues club Sully's in the mid '90s. They've backed up the likes of Earl King, Johnny Adams and Albert Collins, toured with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic and opened for Hank Williams Jr.
ROMT's Blue New Year will offer a full cash bar, food available for purchase, a champagne toast included in the ticket price and a balloon drop at midnight after the Diablos count down the final seconds of 2006.
Dance into the New Year to your favorite '80s tunes when the popular band the Mega 80s takes over the Magic Bag.
The group, known for its high-energy shows and note-by-note replication of '80s hits, has made the Bag's annual party a sell-out every time it's played, says owner Jeremy Haberman.
Fans of the group will be happy to know that its New Year's Eve show features plenty of new material.
"New Year's Eve is when we change the whole show around," lead singer Carey Denha says. "We always kick off with all new tunes and all new visuals. We've been working on this stuff since last April.
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"The Mega 80s really go all out," Haberman says. "It's not just a bunch of dudes up there playing '80s music. You've got costumed performers doing note-for-note renditions of '80s classics while they have this spectacular video show behind them, tailored to the songs they're doing.
"You've got the best party band in the city," he says. "For someone looking to do something special on New Year's Eve, this is really it."
Alexa Stanard is a Metro Detroit freelance writer.
Copyright 2007 The Detroit News. All rights reserved.
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