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This Sunday night, the heavily-booked troubadour from Woodstock will make an exception, leading his soulful funk ensemble Toast into The Skinny Pancake in Hanover to turn the last page of the calendar — and to unveil the group’s new name.
The first part of that decision is voluntary.
“This band is very exciting,” Yeager, who also plays with other Upper Valley groups and performs many solo gigs in the area, said on Tuesday. “Plus, The Skinny Pancake is a fun place to play.”
Along with ushering in 2018, the group, which formed in 2015, will be granting the wish of a band of the same name — and of longer vintage — in western Vermont.
“They were very nice about it,” Yeager said. “They messaged us in September and said, ‘Hey, we’ve been playing together since 1993.’ Once we knew we had to change the name, we talked about how to go about it and finally our bass player, Scott Paulson, said, ‘Why not have a contest?’ ”
The band, which also includes former Party Crashers saxophonist Barb Smith and drummer John Foster, posted a notice on its Facebook page, and also received a number of suggestions by private message.
“There were a lot of interesting responses,” Yeager said. “It came down to five serious ones, and we ended up naming ourselves. It was me. It’s one word.”
In addition to announcing that word, the band will play a mix of cover songs and “the other 30 to 35 percent from our original stuff,” which is based on the funk and soul music on which Yeager grew up in Philadelphia.
“We’re hoping to play a lot more shows in 2018, with a focus on getting to more festivals, to play more of our original songs,” Yeager said. “We’ve had many people come up to us and say, ‘We love your original stuff.’ ”
Toast plays its last gig under that name at The Skinny Pancake in Hanover on Sunday night at 9; admission is free.
While Toast bids farewell to 2017 and to its name on Sunday night, The Conniption Fits will be channeling the vibe of the 1980s by headlining a dance party on the theme of “Prom Night” at the Fireside Inn in West Lebanon. They’re encouraging revelers to wear clothes from the era and tease-up their hair for the occasion.
“Some of our fans, they never went to their own prom,” bandleader Stevens Blanchard said recently. “When I suggested it to the band, everybody just lit up. … Our ’80s playlist has grown. The focus is on the vibe and the cheesiness and the fun: Take your mind off all the political craziness and just unwind.”
The Fits, who have set the rhythm for New Year’s Eve celebrations around New England since 2005, have previously played Mardi Gras-season masquerade shows at the Fireside, with packages that include dinner and an overnight stay at the inn.
“People have their rooms and don’t have to drive,” Blanchard said. “That’s been a big thing for me, that people feel safe.
“New Year’s Eve is always a special event. They’re looking for something that’s a cut above the average Friday or Saturday night.”
The Conniption Fits perform at the Fireside Inn in West Lebanon on Sunday night starting at 9. Admission is $25 for the show alone, $84 for the show plus dinner and $135 for overnight accommodations, the show and the dinner. To reserve tickets (limited to 300) and learn more, call 603-298-5900.
Additional New Year’s Eve entertainment options for adults in the Upper Valley, by venue, follow:
Seven Stars Center, Sharon — The nonprofit arts center closes its 15th anniversary year with a New Year’s Eve performance by Bow Thayer and his band. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the band starts up at 9. There will be “homemade treats” to sample, and the party is BYOB. Admission is by a suggested donation of $20. To reserve a ticket and for more info, go to www.sevenstarsarts.org.
Public House, Quechee — Kim Wilcox and Anthony Funari of The Wheelers play dance music from 6:30 to midnight, when there will be a champagne toast. Reservations recommended by calling 802-295-8500.
Inn at Weathersfield — Guitarist Ed Eastridge serenades 2017 into oblivion starting at 7.
Salt hill Pubs — Starting at 9, the performers ushering 2017 out the door are: The Tricksters in West Lebanon; The Party Crashers in Lebanon; and Flew-Z in Newport. Admission to the West Lebanon and the Newport shows costs $10 in advance and $15 at the door; tickets to the Lebanon celebration are $15 in advance and $20 at the door ($25 and $30, respectively, for spectators staying for dinner). To learn more, visit salthillpub.org and click on the calendar page for each pub.
Windsor Station — Moxley Union and Maiden Voyage join forces to welcome in 2018, starting at 9:30.
Family Friendly
Briggs Opera House, White River Junction — Enfield-native singer-songwriter Brooks Hubbard returns to the Upper Valley from Nashville to play an early-bird special concert with his band, starting at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Adults with valid identification can bring their alcohol of choice, and pay $5. To reserve seats and learn more, call 1-800-622-1124.
Woodstock Inn — While the inn’s gala for adults is sold out, parents can bring their kids to the New Year’s Eve party that starts at 6 in the evening. Dinner is served from 6 to 8, and dancing runs from 7 to 9. For reservations ($40 per child) and more information, call 802-457-1100.
Claremont First Night — The fun begins at 6, with horse-drawn wagons shuttling revelers between Arrowhead Mountain ski area and the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center through 9.
At Meyer Maple Lanes from 6 to midnight, activities include bowling, a live disc jockey and a photo booth.
Arrowhead offers tubing, skiing and ice skating from 6 until 9:45, before the fireworks show goes off at 10.
Activities at the community center include swimming, gym games, midway carnival games, magician Robert Clarke’s shows at 6:15 and 8:45, and a 7:30 performance by the Off Broad Street Players.
At the Claremont Opera House, the teen actors, singers and dancers from the World Under Wonder theater program perform scenes from their upcoming adaptation of The Tempest.
Admission to Claremont First Night costs $1. Parking is available at Arrowhead Lodge, the community center and Claremont Savings Bank. To learn more, visit facebook.com/claremontfirstnight.
Tracy Hall, Norwich — Cuckoo’s Nest sets the rhythm and Tony Parkes calls the steps for Muskeg Music’s New Year’s Eve contra dance at Tracy Hall in Norwich on Sunday night at 8.
Parkes and the band will lead a walk-through for newcomers and for rusty dancers at 7:45. All dancers should bring clean, soft-soled shoes as well as finger food for the potluck snack break. Admission is $9 to $15, and additional donations are welcome to support the Muskeg series in 2018. To learn more, visit uvdm.org.
Best Bets
Hanover native Celia Woodsmith leads her roots-rock ensemble Say Darling into The Skinny Pancake in Hanover on Friday night at 9. For tickets ($12 to $15) and more information, visit skinnypancake.com or call 603-277-9115.
The 24-member Full Circle chorus ranges across religions and seasonal traditions during its annual holiday concert at the Bradford, Vt., Congregational Church on Friday night at 7:30. Pianist Patricia Norton accompanies the singers, and Jennifer Yocom directs. Admission is by donation.
Looking Ahead
The Chilean theater company Teatro Sur will stage the U.S. debut of Inutiles (Useless) at Dartmouth College’s Moore Theater at 8 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 6. The satire explores the reaction of a Chilean colonial matriarch to a rebellion by her family’s indigenous servants. For tickets ($25 to $35) and more information, visit hop.dartmouth.edu or call 603-646-2422. At 7 on both nights at the top of the Hopkins Center, Dartmouth Professor Analola Santana and Hop director of programming Margaret Lawrence will lead a discussion about Chilean theater and what to expect in the show.
Pomfret’s father-and-son string players Will and Eric Wright will play Celtic music at the Seven Stars Arts Center in Sharon on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. Eric Wright, a cellist, will team with Cape Breton fiddler Andrea Beaton, while Will Wright, a multi-instrumentalist, will collaborate with Brookfield, Vt.-based fiddler Beth Telford. Tickets cost $5 to $15 in advance and $7 to $18 at the door. To learn more, visit sevenstarsarts.org or call 802-763-2334
Theater/Performance Art
Northern Stage continues its production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction through Jan. 7, including performances on Sunday and Monday afternoons (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, respectively) at 2. For tickets ($15 to $69) and more information, visit northernstage.org or call802-296-7000.
AVA Gallery and Art Center is inviting aspiring yarn-spinners to sign up for its March session of The Mudroom, which will focus on stories on the theme of “The First Time.” Feb. 25 is the deadline to submit a story idea to mudroom@avagallery.org. Applicants should send a two- or three-sentence summary of their story plot. The Mudroom will select five stories for the March 15 gathering.
Bar and Club Circuit
Singer-guitarist Dave Clark performs a solo session of roots music at the Woodstock Inn tonight starting at 5, and returns on Friday night at 5 to play with fiddler Jed Dickinson.
Guitarist Ted Mortimer, bassist Peter Concilio and fiddler Thal Aylward across a wide spectrum of genres at the Peyton Place restaurant in Orford tonight, between 6 and 9.
Singer-songwriter Andrew Merzi performs at the Taverne on the Square in Claremont tonight from 6 to 9.
Singer-songwriter Jason Cann plays the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor tonight at 7.
The Jim Yeager Band pulls into Windsor Station tonight at 7:30. The Dr. No brings on the funk-rock on Friday night at 9:30 and Chris Kleeman leads his band into the venue on Saturday night at 9:30.
Saxophonist Mike Parker and singer-guitarist Alison “AliT” Turner perform at the Stony Brook Tavern in Stockbridge on Friday night from 6 to 9.
John Lackard sings and plays the blues at Big Fatty’s BBQ in White River Junction on Friday night at 6. On Saturday night at the same time, singer-songwriter Jason Twigg Smith appears at the venue.
Rocker Johnny O performs at the Inn at Weathersfield in Perkinsville on Friday night at 6.
The Repeat Offenders set the rockin’ rhythm for dancing at the Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners on Friday night starting at 8.
The Boneshakerz kick off the weekend of music with a set of rock at Salt hill Pub in Hanover on Friday night at 9. Singer-songwriter Chris Powers plays the venue on Saturday night at 9.
Whiskey Crossing plays upbeat country at Salt hill Pub in Newport on Friday night at 9, and singer-songwriter Wayne Canney performs there on Saturday night at 9.
The Conniption Fits rock Salt hill Pub in downtown Lebanon on Friday night at 9, followed on Saturday night at the same hour by the rock ensemble SIRSY.
The Never Too Late folk trio of Hilde Ojibway, Adam Sorscher and Sharon Whyte performs at Salt hill Pub in West Lebanon on Saturday night starting at 9.
The Wheelers rock the Public House in Quechee on Saturday night at 7.
Saxophonist Mike Parker and guitarist Norm Wolfe play jazz at the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm on Wednesday night at 6.
Open Mics
Jim Yeager hosts the following open mics over the coming week: at the Public House in Quechee on Tuesday night at 6; on Wednesday night at Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners; and next Thursday night at 7 at ArtisTree Community Arts Center in South Pomfret.
Ramunto’s Brick & Brew Pizza in Bridgewater hosts an open mic starting at 7:30 on Thursday nights. Participants get a free large cheese pizza.
String players of all ages and abilities are welcome at the weekly acoustic jam session at South Royalton’s BALE Commons on Friday night from 6:30 to 10.
Fiddler Jakob Breitbach leads a weekly acoustic jam session of bluegrass, Americana and old-timey music on Tuesday nights at 7 at The Filling Station Bar and Grill in White River Junction.
Tom Masterson hosts the weekly open mic at Bradford’s Colatina Exit on Tuesday nights at 8.
David Corriveau can be reached at dcorriveau@vnews.com and at 603-727-3304. Entertainment-related news and announcements also can be sent to highlights@vnews.com.