You did it, friends! You made it to the end of 2025! Sometimes it felt like it was dragging along, but sometimes it just flew by! We love to take moments like this to reflect on the past year. What shows did you enjoy the most? Who would you like to see again? The music scene has always been there for you, and that won’t change going into 2026 as a host of concerts are set to help you ring in the new year. Here are some ways you can enjoy live music on New Year’s Eve.
Split Lip Rayfield / Deadman Flats / DeWayn Brothers
The Bottleneck | December 31st (7:30 p.m.)
One thing we love about this music scene is consistency, and every year the Bottleneck delivers a bluegrass show to remember on New Year’s Eve. This time, Split Lip Rayfield are taking the stage. Now these guys have had an absolute banner year. They were the big draw at this year’s Kaw River Roots Fest and the guests of honor at Free State Fest, which showed a documentary film in their honor.
They’ll be joined by Deadman Flats and DeWayne Brothers. You can expect only good vibes, because that’s generally what’s associated with the local Americana scene.
Carswell & Hope / Hello Biplane
The Replay | December 31st (early show at 6:00 p.m.)
This has become a newer tradition in recent years. The Replay will hold their annual barn burner of a NYE show (we’ll talk about that one later), but not before their early show for families. This is so that kids can do the countdown while watching live music (usually happens around 8:00 p.m. or so) and then go to bed at a reasonable time (be real, did any of us ever make it all the way to midnight as kids?). Carswell & Hope craft a very family-friendly environment with sing-alongs that kids will know by heart. They’ll be joined by fellow family-friendly entertainers Hello Biplane.
Greg Wheeler and the Poly Mall Cops / Ebony Tusks / Jackoffs / Arc Flash / Pimp Magic Guts
The Replay | December 31st (late show at 9:00 p.m.)
Wow, that is an insanely stacked lineup. The Replay tends to reserve NYE as a sort of “family night” for bands, featuring musical acts that frequent the dive punk bar throughout the year. If we were going to pick one place to get rowdy, this would be it. Greg Wheeler and the Poly Mall Cops are from Iowa, but it’s common for people to mistake them as Lawrencians because they play here so often. They’ll be joined by noise rap Ebony Tusks, punk rockers Jackoffs and Arc Flash, and experimental group Pimp Magic Guts. The music starts at 9:00 because of the number of acts on the bill. This show will likely be one-in-one-out, especially due to the wild dance floor outside.
Live Karaoke with Coversmith
Lucia | December 31st (6:00 p.m.)
This is a really cool concept we haven’t seen recently in Lawrence. Coversmith is inviting y’all to sing along with them onstage at Lucia this NYE. That’s right, they’ll serve as the backing band for anyone who signs up. There’s a pre-signup link that will make this a lot easier on them if you’re interested, and you can find that here. The cutoff for sign-ups is December 26, so get those in now! If you’re not much for singing on stage, it’s still great fun to go out and see others try their hand at live karaoke with Lawrence’s most high-profile cover band. Bonus points for spending your NYE at Lucia during their holiday pop-up. If you haven’t been inside to see the insane decord they put up fort he month, this is a MUST-see for everyone.
The Crumpletons
Jazzhaus | December 31st (7:00 p.m.)
This one’s for all you folks who like to go to bed at a decent time! The Crumpletons will be taking the Jazzhaus stage by 7:00 p.m., and out by 9:00 p.m. This is a band full of beloved local musicians familiar faces, specializing in music from the 60’s. Come for a cool vibe and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.
Cryin’ Out Loud / Lorna Kay’s Country Club
Northside Social | December 31st (8:00 p.m.)
We get it. Going downtown on the craziest party night of the year isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for some more chill vibes, head to Northside Social. In addition to their specialty cocktails, they’ll be hosting two honky-tonk acts. So don your Western attire for Cryin’ Out Loud and Lorna Kay’s Country Club. Music starts at 8:00 p.m., but festivities run all night.
This is the place where Nirvana & Green Day played in a small, standing-room-only shack. This is the place where Janelle Monae packed in her hometown crowd. George Clinton has funked up our streets and we “fought the power” with...
