Things to do in Denver for New Year's Eve

Flogging Molly New Year’s Eve Concert, Fillmore Auditorium

A marriage between punk rock and Celtic music shouldn’t seem like such an odd amalgam: Both feature jackhammer rhythms, raucous sing-alongs, and a tendency to get out of hand. Oh they also can both feature lots of drinking. Los Angeles’s Flogging Molly have known this for years, and they’ve coasted to the top of the punk/Irish music heap by honing their Green-Day-meets-County-Cork songs to a shamrock-green sheen. On their latest album, “Float,” Flogging Molly tip a little more toward the Irish side of their music and away from the punk, but you can bet they’ll unleash the hounds for this New Year’s Eve show. They’ve played to sold-out crowds at Denver’s Fillmore for the last few years, so get your tickets early if you want to join the Irish madness.

What: Irish punk band Flogging Molly performs a New Year’s Eve show.

Where: Fillmore Auditorium.

When: Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Cost: $40.

Info: www.livenation.com.

Flobots, Gothic Theatre

Since they’ve already been anointed as Denver’s next big thing, it’s only right and fair that the genre-blending Flobots return to their hometown to help ring in the new year at the fabulous Gothic Theatre. Their hit single “Handlebars,” from their debut “Fight With Tools,” took them across the country on a major tour and put them on the stages of Carson Daly, Conan O’Brien, and at some of the largest summer festivals in the country. Luckily, they didn’t forget their roots, and they’ll bring their alternative hip-hop/alternative-rock combo to the Gothic. With a whopping seven members dominating the stage, expect a raucous, socially conscious New Year’s Eve celebration. They’re expected to release a new album in 2009, so you’ll likely catch an early listen at some new tunes. Bonus: Since the show is 16 and up, it’s one of the few New Year’s shows where your high-school age kid brother (or kid) can join you.

What: Flobots perform.

Where: Gothic Theatre.

When: Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Cost: $25.

Info: www.gothictheatre.com.

New Year’s Nation, The Curtis

The Curtis is one of those trendy, quasi-upscale bars located in downtown Denver that shock you with a reminder of how trendy and upscale Denver can be. We’ve come a long way in the last century — from cow/mining town to a metropolitan powerhouse that can match practically any major city. This year, you can celebrate New Year’s Nation at the Curtis: Live video feeds will connect you to parties happening in 10 other U.S. cities, and 6 DJs and a live band will entertain all night. Plus, you can watch Travis Barker and DJ AM spinning together over the L.A. feed. Champagne toast, champagne reception, drinks, and incredible food like The Curtis’ famous Lobster mac n’ cheese will help you party your way into 2009. A 5-hour open bar and hors d’ouvres will also make sure you keep pace with other New Year’s cities like New York and Seattle.

What: New Year’s Nation party.

Where: The Curtis Hotel, Denver.

When Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m.

Cost: $135.

Info: www.clubzone.com/tickets/1/Denver/47849.html.

Menage A Trois, New Year’s Eve Party

Why settle for one bouncing club when you can get three? One ticket from Denver’s Menage A Trois New Year’s Eve Party gets you a passport to a trio of Denver’s hottest dance clubs: Below Bar, Pi, and Tryst. If you’re not feeling the vibe at one, you can easily cruise to one of the others — no waiting in a velvet rope line for you. In addition to an open bar, you can reserve table service for $380, which includes two bottles of premium liquor (including all mixers), two bottles of house champagne, and a table for your crew of four to six people. Tryst features an ultra-trendy club scene, while Below Bar showcases a dark, dance-dungeon vibe. Pi is a little bit of both, with a touch of class. With the Menage a Trois New Year’s eve ticket, you’ll never get bored from cutting a rug at just one club.

What: Menage A Trois New Year’s Eve Party Denver.

Where: Pi, Tryst and Below Bar.

When: Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Cost: $45 for one, $160 for a group of four, and $380 for a table service VIP package.

Info: http://dose.clubzone.com/events/event102614.html

White Rose Gala, Westminster

If you prefer your New Year’s Eve parties black tie and dripping with class, you’ll feel right at home at the White Rose Gala at Westminster’s Westin hotel. For New Year’s, the White Rose party planners take over the entire hotel, transforming it into a Bond-like event of intrigue and elegance. The opulent gala will feature several rooms full of diverse entertainment: The main room will play everything from top 40, hip hop, Sinatra to disco, while the Nightclub room will spin modern mash-ups from cutting edge artists like Girl Talk. The best part? The party doesn’t end at 2 a.m.: Instead, the festivities will move to the pool, where you can ditch your tux and take a dip or just keep rockin’ the night away to tunes from DJ Logic (Widespread Panic’s DJ), Alan Endorfun, Mikey P and more. For a fancy beginning to 2009, you can’t do much better.

What: White Rose Gala.

Where: Westin Hotel, Westminster.

When: Dec. 31, 9 p.m.

Cost: $60 general admission, $35 for poolside after party.

Info: www.clubzone.com/tickets/1/Denver/48011.html