Want to ring in 2024 with music? See a dozen options for New Year's Eve in New Orleans

Disappointed that “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024” won’t showcase the celebration in New Orleans? Go out and experience the festivities firsthand.

It’s always New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street. But beyond Bourbon, you’ll find an abundance of options to suit most musical tastes.

Many music venues and musicians offer a little lagniappe on New Year’s Eve, whether it’s playing super-late or serving a complimentary glass of bubbly at the stroke of midnight.

Tickets certainly aren’t less expensive on New Year’s Eve. Buying in advance can sometimes save a few dollars, depending on service charges.

Here are a dozen highlights of the not-so-silent night that is the finale of 2023.

GALACTIC

TIPITINA’S, $76

The members of Galactic have a lot to celebrate, now that they’ve finally gotten a couple of more or less “normal” years of Tipitina’s ownership under their collective belt. As they have for years on celebratory weekends, the Galactic boys, joined by powerhouse vocalist Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, will deal forward-thinking funk-jazz deep into the night. J and the Causeways open the show. ($76).

JUVENILE

SAENGER THEATRE, $69 and up

Terius “Juvenile” Gray enjoyed a huge 2023. For starters, it was the 25th anniversary of his 1998 release “400 Degreez,” one of the best-selling albums ever released by a New Orleans artist. Certified for sales of more than 4 million copies, it yielded the hits "Ha" and "Back That Azz Up." The latter song, also released as a clean version titled "Back That Thang Up," largely introduced New Orleans bounce to a national audience and endures as a cultural phenomenon. Also in 2023, Urban South Brewery released his Juvie Juice spiked tea/lemonade blend and CheeWees rolled out a limited edition of Hot 400 Degreez CheeWees. Juvenile’s performance for NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series with a live band, Mannie Fresh and special guests Jon Batiste and Trombone Shorty proved to be extremely well-received. He’ll cap off his big year backed by a band and Fresh at the Saenger Theatre. Tickets start at $69 plus fees.

BIG FREEDIA’S BOUNCE BALL

Orpheum Theater, $39.50 and up

Big Freedia's up-from-the-bottom, only-in-New Orleans success story spans surviving a tough Third Ward neighborhood as a self-described "sissy” to emerge as the meticulously made-up national face of bounce, a highly energetic and risque hip-hop sub-genre. Freedia’s career includes a long-running reality TV side career and giving Beyonce and Drake singles some Freedia flavor. Freedia’s frenetic beats and call-and-response choruses are well-suited for getting revelers up and moving. Rap-cabaret performer Boyfriend, who has co-written songs for Freedia, is also on the bill. The show starts at 9 p.m. The Orpheum's floor and upper balcony are general admission; the middle balcony is reserved seats.

TOMMY McLAIN with CC ADCOCK, DICKIE LANDRY

CHICKIE WAH WAH, $45 or $75

Southwest Louisiana guitar-slinger CC Adcock teamed up with 80-something swamp-pop legend Tommy McLain to produce the acclaimed 2022 album “I Ran Down Every Dream.” They’ve maintained a steady collaboration ever since, performing songs from McLain’s catalog as well as those of his contemporaries. They’ll headline the “Country Comes 2 Town” NYE’s show at Chickie Wah Wah, sharing the bill with another Lafayette-area legend, 85-year-old saxophonist Dickie Landry and his Quad Sax Experience. Rounding out this swamp pop Sunday, DJ Alligator Chomp-Chomp will spin vintage south Louisiana vinyl between and after the live performances. General admission is $45; VIP table seating is $75.

MAHMOUD CHOUKI NEW WORLD ENSEMBLE

SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO, $40/$50

Mahmoud Chouki is a Moroccan-born, New Orleans-based master of many stringed instruments. His “Mahmoud’s Blues” project reimagines New Orleans music through a world music lens, creating something both familiar and fresh. On New Year’s Eve, he’ll be joined by saxophonists Brad Walker and Khris Royal, pianist Oscar Rossignoli, bassist Lex Warshawsky and drummer Sam Shahin at Snug Harbor. Sets will start later than normal at Snug — at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tickets for the early show are $40; admission to the late show is $50.

BIG NIGHT NEW ORLEANS

FILLMORE, $70 and up

For several years, “Big Night” events in various cities have offered revelers an all-inclusive option with multiple bands and deejays. The Hyatt Regency hosted Big Night New Orleans for years; it was at Mardi Gras World last year. This Sunday, the local Big Night is at the Fillmore. Featured entertainers include hip-hop duo the Ying Yang Twins — best known to Saints fans as creators of the battle cry “Halftime (Stand Up and Get Crunk)” — local brass band/hop-hop hybrid the Soul Rebels, the Infernal Burlesque troupe, deejays Pretty Na$ty and DJ Jess, Daniel Heartless and more. The event has various ticketing options. VIP tickets include buffet dining from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. plus open bar. “Main event” tickets can be purchased either with a more limited open bar option, or a cash bar option. Ticket prices for all packages increase closer to the event; VIP tickets are in excess of $200.

SOUL BRASS BAND

d.b.a., $125

The Frenchmen Street mainstay d.b.a., which changed ownership this year, has three separate shows on New Year’s Eve, for three different prices. The Treme Brass Band fires up at 2:30 p.m.; cover charge is $15. The Palmetto Bug Stompers then put their spin on traditional-ish jazz at 5 p.m.; admission is free. The room will be cleared at 9:30 p.m. ahead of the main event: the versatile Soul Brass Band for a VIP-style, “all-inclusive,” high-dollar throwdown. The $125 ticket includes an open bar from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., “nosh”-style food and a Champagne toast at midnight.

FLOW TRIBE

BLUE NILE, $25 (advance)

For nearly 20 years, Flow Tribe has cranked out its own brand of “backbone-cracking music,” i.e. airtight, funky grooves that keep a room full of backbones, and backsides, in motion. On record, Flow Tribe has collaborated with the likes of Mannie Fresh and Ivan Neville. Onstage, the band whips through original compositions and well-chosen covers. Flow Tribe throws a year-end party on Frenchmen Street in the Blue Nile’s main downstairs room starting at 11 p.m.; tickets are $30. Meanwhile, the Blue Nile’s upstairs Balcony Room hosts the Street Legends Brass Band at 11 p.m. for free.

HOT 8 BRASS BAND

HOWLIN' WOLF, $30

The Grammy-winning Hot 8 Brass Band, one of the city’s hardest-hitting brass ensembles, fires up at the Howlin’ Wolf in the Warehouse District most Sunday nights. The musicians will bring a little extra fire on NYE ($30).

THE QUICKENING

MAPLE LEAF BAR, $30

Guitarists/vocalists Blake Quick and Rachel Murray formed The Quickening in New Orleans in 2012. Both are fans of the Grateful Dead and the Beatles; not surprisingly, their own band favors organic jams, often with a clearly defined, funk-based groove and an uplifting message. The band focuses on original material, but also spotlights like-minded covers, such as the Allen Toussaint/Lee Dorsey workout “Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky.” The Quickening ushers in 2024 at the Maple Leaf. Tickets are $30 at the door and include bubbly at midnight and, per Maple Leaf tradition, a “guaranteed kiss.”

THE BOOGIE MEN

ROCK 'N' BOWL, $30

The Boogie Men will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2024. Now a 10-piece unit with four horns and both a male and female lead vocalist, they cover the gamut of popular rock, soul and pop from the 1960s to today, with a dose of New Orleans classics thrown in for good measure. Popular at weddings, corporate events and Carnival balls, they make occasional visits to Rock ‘N’ Bowl, which is where they’ll fire up an end-of-the-year dance party.

BILLY STRINGS

UNO LAKEFRONT ARENA, $49.50 and up

The young, tattooed bluegrass rock star picks an acoustic guitar at lightning speed while singing in a nasally twang right out of a Kentucky holler (even though he was actually born in Michigan). After selling out two nights at the Lakefront Arena to close out 2022, Strings is doing three shows this weekend, concluding with a New Year’s Eve blowout that is likely to sell out.