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Red Curtain Addict’s 2025 Top New Year’s Eve Arts Experiences

December 18, 2025

Ring in the New Year with rhythm, soul, and a standing ovation.

New Year’s Eve is more than a countdown. It’s a chance to celebrate creativity, community, and the electric energy of live performance. From straight-ahead jazz and blues to Baroque brilliance and high-style cabaret, these hand-picked experiences define how arts lovers should welcome 2025. 🎉🎶

Here are Red Curtain Addict’s Top New Year’s Eve Arts Experiences for 2025, each one offering a memorable way to toast the year ahead.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band : Ring in the New Year at SFJAZZ

SFJAZZ Center, Miner Auditorium

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New Orleans funk, jazz, and soul collide as the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band brings unstoppable energy to one of the Bay Area’s premier music halls. Expect infectious grooves, virtuosic brass, and a dance-worthy start to 2025.

American Bach: A Baroque New Year’s Eve at the Opera

Herbst Theatre

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Elevate your evening with timeless elegance. American Bach delivers a luminous Baroque program in one of San Francisco’s most iconic venues—perfect for those who prefer refinement, beauty, and historical grandeur as the clock strikes midnight.

Brian Culbertson’s New Year’s Celebration

Blue Note Jazz Club, Napa

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Smooth jazz superstar Brian Culbertson hosts a high-energy, feel-good celebration blending contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B. Sophisticated, soulful, and festive, this is NYE with polish and groove.

Tony Lindsay NYE Midnight Ball Drop

Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio

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Former Santana frontman Tony Lindsay brings powerhouse vocals and pure joy to an intimate jazz club setting. The midnight ball drop adds sparkle to an already soulful evening of funk, jazz, and celebration.

NYE 2026 at Black Cat ft. Benny Benack III Quartet: Cheers 🥂 to LIFE!

Black Cat Jazz Supper Club

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Swing into the New Year with trumpet phenom Benny Benack III and his quartet. This lively, forward-looking celebration blends classic jazz spirit with youthful brilliance—perfect for jazz fans who love tradition with a twist.

New Year’s Eve at “El Matador!”

Keys Jazz Bistro

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Keys Jazz Bistro channels late-night mystique and fiery performances with this sultry NYE event. Expect bold sounds, intimate vibes, and a stylish crowd ready to welcome 2025 with rhythm and flair.

Boney James: Celebrating NYE & His Album Slow Burn

Yoshi’s Oakland

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Contemporary jazz icon Boney James headlines a smooth, soulful New Year’s Eve celebrating his acclaimed album Slow Burn. A perfect blend of romance, virtuosity, and laid-back sophistication.

New Year’s Eve with M’sippi Slide & Sam Rudin

The Back Room, Berkeley

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Blues lovers, this one’s for you. Raw, rootsy, and deeply expressive, M’sippi Slide and Sam Rudin deliver an authentic blues celebration to close out the year with grit and heart.

Paula West — Countdown to New Year’s Eve!

Feinstein's at The Nikko

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Cabaret royalty Paula West brings wit, warmth, and world-class musicianship to an elegant countdown performance. Intimate, intelligent, and effortlessly chic—this is NYE for true connoisseurs.

Ring in the New Year with the Blues!

The Sound Room, Oakland

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Close out the year with soul-stirring blues in a welcoming, community-driven venue. Passionate performances and a relaxed atmosphere make this a heartfelt way to greet 2025.

🎭🥂 Explore events, grab your tickets, and ring in 2025 the artful way.
Visit RedCurtainAddict.com and make this New Year’s Eve one for the curtain call.

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