By Michelle Picardo

It’s time to ring in the New Year and get your plans in check for the big night. New Year’s Eve promises to be HUGE-“ah” in Rochester so be sure to scan our Club Calendar for all of your many options, and here is just a sampling of ideas...

Enjoy the best of the blues at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que as Joe Beard and Steve Grills join forces...

Two more stalwarts of our local music scene, The Hi-Risers and John Cole Blues Band “Swing in the New Year” at the German House...

There is a flurry of festivities planned for your holiday season, and here’s a heads up on some of the highlights (more things are covered in our Holiday Happenings section)...

The 1st annual “Twas the Night Before Christmas Eve Bash” (Tuesday, Dec. 23) takes over the Upper East End including A-Pub Live, The Pig, Daisy Dukes and The Bar, with a huge musical event in store that will feature members of The Taint, Mike Z & the Circus, Drama Queen and Zero Gravity coming together for one special performance...

Here’s a cause we can all get behind… “Rock Out For Vets” at Water St. Music Hall on Friday, November 7th (6:30pm), and help raise funds for the awesome work they do over at the Veterans Outreach Center. During this time of war, there’s nothing better we can do than salute our soldiers in one way or another, and being a part of this benefit show is the perfect choice. The evening will feature cool music from Uncle Plum and Joey T & the Formula, as well as a live auction with Brother Wease

It’s that scary time of year…when Halloween and Election Day come together and bewitch the nation. Some of us are going to be frighteningly happy and some of us will be fearfully morose when the results come in November 4, but whatever the case, there’s a lot of partying to be done before! Grab a costume and check out our Club Calendar section, noting that many venues are celebrating the holiday the weekend prior, and some on Halloween weekend itself. Also take a gander at our Halloween Happenings article, and enjoy the season!

A consummate artist, Matthew D. Guarnere, a.k.a. M.D.G. picks his projects with a deft touch, and his rare hometown performances are always special events. While the singer/songwriter is best known for his own material, he’s decided to venture into no-M.D.G.-land, and surrender to the songs of Cheap Trick with his group, No Clones (featuring members of The Meddling Kids, who will also open the show) for one-night-only at High Fidelity on Saturday, October 11. Ever a fan of Zander & company, M.D.G.