1 Twin Cities troubadour Frankie Lee garnered a strong buzz in Europe with his 2015 album, "American Dreamer," which actually isn't set to be released stateside until 2016. The sweet-voiced Americana rocker is back home to celebrate New Year's with a promised batch of "friends," of which he has many. McNasty Brass Band, BB Gun and Alpha Consumer will all play opening sets. (9 p.m. Thu. $20. 1601 University Av. W., St. Paul. 651-647-0486. turfclub.net)
2 The nicest new music venue in town is winding down its grand-opening year with an old favorite, the BoDeans, of "Closer to Free" and "Good Things" hitmaking notoriety. Singer/songwriter Kurt Neumann is still helming the band without his original partner Sammy Llanas, but he brought back drummer Kenny Aronoff to help craft a familiar-sounding 2015 album, "I Can't Stop." Fellow Milwaukee-area Americana rockers Trapper Schoepp open. (8 p.m. Thu. $30-$85 or $100 VIP. Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. ordway.org)
3. Allan Kingdom, the 21-year-old St. Paul rapper, just got two Grammy nominations for his collaboration with Kanye West on "All Day," and now he's headlining the "Glam: NYE" celebration, which features DJs, stilt-walkers, aerialist bartenders and a midnight balloon drop. (9 p.m. Thu., Muse Event Center, 107 3rd Av. N., Mpls. $60 or $100 for VIP, www.musemn.com/nye-2016)
4 The club that replaced the AQ has its own big night in store with one of the biggest and brightest voices in town, PaviElle French, for the big night. The good-vibing, St. Paul-bred R&B/soul powerhouse singer started the year with a breakout set at 89.3 the Current's 10th anniversary party. She and her innovatively funky band will be nicely matched with the venue's New Orleans menu. (10:30 p.m. Thu. $25. Vieux Carré, 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 612-332-5299 or vieux-carre.com)
5 Artists' Quarter owner Kenny Horst pledged to keep the AQ spirit alive even after his beloved St. Paul jazz club closed, and that's exactly what will happen when torchy vocalist Carole Martin revives her NYE show — a popular AQ tradition — in a different basement space in a different downtown. Guitar legend Dean Magraw will join her again, as will Horst on drums and bassist Phil Aaron. (9 p.m. Thu. $65 package. Hell's Kitchen, 80 S. 9th St, Mpls. 612-332-4700 or hellskitcheninc.com)
6 The biggest and undoubtedly rowdiest NYE party for Minnesota hip-hop lovers isn't actually happening in the Cities, but rather St. Cloud, where south Minneapolis' madcap wiz Prof will wind down his biggest year yet. He and DJ Fundo had one of the most energetic sets at the Rhymesayers 20 earlier this month and put out one of the wildest and weirdest albums in the label's history in October, "Liability." There are plenty of nearby hotels to lessen revelers' liability. Two of the state's best MCs, Haphduzn and Baby Shel, open. (9 p.m. Thu. $20. Red Carpet, 11 5th Av. S., St. Cloud. 320-251-4047 or redcarpetnightclub.com)
A few more options:
DANCING
BRO SAFARI: With Etc! Etc! and Nghtmre. 7 p.m. Thu. $35. Skyway Theatre, 711 Hennepin Av., Mpls. 612-333-6100. Skywaytheatre.com
CRYSTAL BALL: Featuring Doomtree. 8 p.m. $60-$200. International Market Square, 275 Market St., Mpls. crystalballmn.com
FIRST AVENUE'S NEW YEAR'S EVE DANCETERIA: With DJs Get Cryphy, Roy Freedom and Smitty. 8 p.m. Thu. $5-$20. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. First-ave.com
GROOVY AT THE GUTHRIE: A New Year's Eve soiree with DJ and Guthrie artists. 8 p.m. Thu. $125. Guthrie Theater, 818 S. 2nd St., Mpls. 612-377-2224. guthrietheater.org.
HIPSHAKER/HOTPANTS NYE: Vintage funk and soul on vinyl. 9 p.m. Thu. $10-$20. Kitty Cat Klub, 315 14th Av. SE., Mpls. www.facebook.com/events/1532669290391126/
JIMMY2TIMES: Rap and R&B bangers. 10 p.m. Thu. $15-$50. Honey Lounge, 205 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls. honeympls.com
NEW YEAR'S EVE EVENING OF DANCE: Contra and international dancing. 8:30 p.m. Thu. $6-$15. Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls. 612-722-2914. tapestryfolkdance.org.
SPACE: NYE 2016 : DJ Paris Blohm headlines a night of House and EDM. 9 p.m. Thu. $60. Union Restaurant and REV Ultra Lounge, 731 Hennepin Av., Mpls. Unionmpls.com/nye-2016
STUDIO 54 NYE: A carnival-themed party with three rooms of music featuring DJs Strangelove, Dudley D and Tink. 9 p.m. Thu. $30-$60. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. 612-370-1463. nyempls.com.
MUSIC
TICKLE TORTURE: With Eric Mayson, Perfume Monster and Suzie. 8 p.m. Thu. $20-$50. Fine Line Music Café, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-338-8100. Finelinemusic.com.
KILL THE VULTURES: With the Cloak Ox, Greg Grease and Cherry Cola. 8 p.m. Thu. $20. 7th Street Entry, 7th St. and 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. First-avenue.com.
WOOKIEFOOT: 9 p.m. Thu. $20-$25. Cabooze, 917 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. 612-338-6425. Caboose.com
DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS: 6 & 10 p.m. Thu. $94-$112. Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. 612-332-1010. Dakotacooks.com
LAMONT CRANSTON: With Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys and the Jimmys. 7:30 p.m. Thu. $35-$269. DoubleTree Hotel, 7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington. 952-893-8430.
BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY: 7 p.m. Thu. $37. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake. 952-445-9000.
REO SPEEDWAGON: 9 p.m. Thu. $55-$70. Treasure Island Casino, 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd., Red Wing, Minn. 1-800-222-7077.
HAIRBALL: With Austin Healey. 8:30 p.m. Thu. $32. Medina Entertainment Center, 500 Hwy. 55, Medina. 763-478-6661.
THROWDOWN 2 MOTOWN: The music of Motown with Alex Rossi, Elliott Blaufuss and others. 8:30 p.m. Thu. $15-$20. Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. 612-338-6424.
COMEDY
ACME COMEDY COMPANY: Kermet Apio. 8 p.m. Thu. $15-$30. Historic Itasca Building, 708 N. 1st St., Mpls. 612-338-6393. Acmecomedycompany.com
AMES CENTER: Louie Anderson. 7 p.m. Thu. $32.95-$102.95. 12600 Nicollet Av. S., Burnsville. 952-895-4685. Ames-center.com
BRYANT-LAKE BOWL: Scrimshaw and Custer New Year's Eve Comedy Countdown. 9 & 11 p.m. Thu. $15-$20. 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. 612-825-8949. Bryantlakebowl.com.
CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER: Lizz Winstead. With Frank Conniff and Sam Breckenridge. 7:30 p.m. Thu. $40-$65. 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. 612-338-2674. Thecedar.org.
NEW HOPE CINEMA GRILL: Tiffany Norton. 9:30 p.m. Thu. $15. 2749 Winnetka Av. N., New Hope. 763-417-0017. Cinemagrill.com/comedy
RICK BRONSON'S HOUSE OF COMEDY: Andrew Norelli. 10 p.m. Thu. $13-$46. 8100 24th Av. S., Bloomington. 952-858-8558. Houseofcomedy.net
Melissa Walker contributed to this story.
