When the clock strikes 12

Photo 1 by Seth Jacobson. Photo 2 by Sarah Warda. Photo 3 by Kim LaViolette

Here’s where to see out the old year (and toast to the fact that the Mayan Calendar didn’t spell the end, after all) and ring in the new. All addresses are in Asheville unless otherwise noted. For more events, check out Clubland and Calendar.

In downtown Asheville:

The New Year's Eve Throwback Throwdown at Asheville Music Hall (31 Patton Ave.) is all about funk, rock and soul. Prog-funk quintet The Fritz splits the bill with up-and-coming rock and pop act The Broadcast. 8:30 p.m. $10 in advance or $12 day of show. http://ashevillemusichall.com.

Emancipator (aka Douglas Appling) is a trip-hop producer from Oregon. He's been to Asheville before — he played Moogfest in 2011. His particular brand of electronic music fuses organic samples with danceable beats. And, even better, he's joined on stage by violinist Ilya Goldberg. See for yourself at The Orange Peel (101 Biltmore Ave.) 8 p.m. $25 / $30. Show is 18 and up. http://theorangepeel.net.

Metropolis and Club Remix (38 N. French Broad Ave.) are the dual sites of World Championship NYE: AVL. According to the event invite, “General athletic, super-hero, super-human and super-creature attire is encouraged.” The local showcase includes Aligning Minds, Sex Panther, Medisin, Disc-Oh!, Sound Pimp, Brett Rock, Bowie van Ling, Olof, Splynter, Josh Hughey of Earthtone Soundsystem and Sky Walkers. Tickets are $15 advance at http://www.themusicspecialist.com, or $25 at the door.

TallGary's Cantina (4 College St.) rings in 2013 with classic rock act Mojomatic. 9:30 p.m. http://www.tallgarys.com.

The Cisco Playboys perform Western Swing at Barley's (41 Biltmore Ave.). 10 p.m. Free. http://www.barleystaproom.com.

Looking for another free show? Newly opened Timo's House (5 Biltmore Ave.) offers up an open jam starting at 10 p.m., followed by a countdown to the new year and then a set from Asheville’s own instrumental space-rockers, A Ghost Like Me. Info at: http://avl.mx/oc.

Tressa’s annual New Year’s Eve Bash starts at 9:30 p.m. with “Asheville’s finest blues/R&B/soul/funk/MoTown and more.” There will also be Champagne fountains, a midnight toast, party favors, a balloon drop and a soul-food buffet. More info at http://www.tressas.com.

The gleeful rockers David Earl and the Plowshares take the (tiny) BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave.) stage at 10 p.m. Special guests are promised. “Come declare your intentions for a great year,” says Earl. $8. http://www.bobogallery.com.

Surf-rock your way into the new year with The Krektones. The scorching, swaggering combo play a free show at The Lab (39 N. Lexington Ave.) from 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. http://lexavebrew.com.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue holds its New Year's Eve Masquerade Furball at Céline and Company (49 Broadway St.). Make an evening of it: There will be heavy appetizers, an open bar, music, local entertainment and a silent auction. Dress is semi-formal (that means cocktail attire for women, suit and tie for men); attendees are also asked to wear a stylish mask. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Tickets are $75 each or $140 per couple and are available at www.bwar.org. All proceeds benefit homeless animals.

The Gauche Vibrations and Circutree Records party takes over the Emerald Lounge (112 N. Lexington Ave.). The packed electronic/dance bill features Panther God, Samuel Paradise, Woodwork, Deflon and D: Raf. 9 p.m., $6. http://www.emeraldlounge.com.

Pack's Tavern (20 S. Spruce St.) rings in the new year with a bash on three floors, looking out on Pack Square. Two DJs perform. 9 p.m., $10. ($50 includes a buffet in the Century Room.) http://packstavern.com.

The New Year's Eve Party at The Grove House (11 Grove St.) is three clubs' worth of parties for one ticket price. There are DJs, hors d'oeuvres and party favors in all three venues (Eleven on Grove, Scandals and The Boiler Room), along with a midnight Champagne toast, balloon drops and prizes. 9 p.m., $25. http://www.thegrovehouse.com.

Just outside downtown:

Celebrate the spirit at Sangita Devi’s New Year’s Eve Celebration of Kirtan, Tea & Dance. The “Sacred, Playful and Illuminated” evening takes place at Homewood (19 Zillicoa St.) with Kirtan led by Sangita Devi and friends beginning at 7:30 p.m. There will be a New Year’s Eve Ceremony to create intentions for 2013, ecstatic dance with world fusion beats by Saki
and a tea room hosted by the Infusion Lounge. Tickets are $25 in advance at http://avl.mx/ob, or at the door on a $35-$45 sliding scale.

JP Harris and the Tough Choices strum it up at the New Year’s Eve Honky Tonk Blowout, held at Toy Boat Community Art Space (101 Fairview Road). Doors at 9 p.m. with JP Harris spinning honky tonk records. Hearts Gone South (from Asheville) and Corn Cutters (from New York) also perform, with the headliner at 11:50 p.m. The evening also entails a Champagne toast in a take-home boot cup, photo booth, best dressed cowgirl/boy prizes, light snacks and surprises. $15. http://www.toyboatcommunityartspace.com.

Roots music is kindof like getting back to the basics. In a fun, high-energy way. Which seems like a fitting metaphor for ending one trip around the sun and beginning the next. A trio of roots acts take the stage at The Grey Eagle (185 Clingman Ave.): Hackensaw Boys (Americana), Danny Barnes (banjo folk) and Woody Pines (retro folk, jazz and ragtime). 9 p.m. $13 in advance or $15 day of show. http://www.thegreyeagle.com.

In West Asheville:

Crank it up with some of the patented tunes we expect from our free community media operation when Asheville Free Media hosts a dance party at Desoto Lounge (504 Haywood Road). With DJ Lovebird Jewel, Jonathan Price of Tenor to Tabla and the Phoney Roney Song Selectah. 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Proceeds to Asheville Free Media. http://ashevillefm.org.

On the outskirts:

A buzzed-about reunion: Boogie to the rag’n’roll of Asheville throwback The Blue Rags, who play a free show at the Black Mountain Ale House (117 Cherry St., Black Mountain) starting at 10 p.m. Original members Abe Reid, Jake Hollifield and Scott Sharpe join with Mike Rhodes and Korey Dudley to form an evening of breathless dance mayhem. http://www.blackmountainalehouse.com.

In case you didn't get the blues for Christmas, Purple Onion Cafe (16 E. Main St., Saluda) will make sure you get the blues (and a healthy dose of soul) for New Year's Eve. Jim Peterman Quartet (aka JPQ) plays music made for dancing as part of the Purple Onion's special dinner. 5:30 p.m. http://www.purpleonionsaluda.com.

Oskar Blues Brewery (342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard) celebrates not just the start of a new year, but the start of a new business with its North Cackalacky New Year's Eve Grand Opening Hootenanny. Here’s the big surprise: Jupiter Coyote (who got their start in Brevard) reunite for the party. The Foxfire and Pisgah Pickers with Jeff Sipe also perform. Special beers will be released, and there will be food from Lowdown Southern Should Food and Tin Can Pizzeria. 6 p.m., $15 or $25 including a bus pickup from Asheville at either 5:30 or 6:30 p.m. http://oskarbluesncnye.eventbrite.com

White Horse Black Mountain (105 Montreat Road, Black Mountain) serves up a New Year's Eve dinner (starting at 7 p.m.) that will fuel the subsequent dance party. Firecracker Jazz Band performs. More info at http://www.whitehorseblackmountain.com.

Do-si-do into the next year at the Old Farmer’s Ball New Year’s Eve Contra Dance. The high-energy event is held at Warren Wilson College. Great Bear Trio plays with caller Beth Molaro. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door. 8:30 p.m. http://www.oldfarmersball.com.

The Madison County Arts Council has this suggestion: Make it a Marshall New Year’s Eve. Local bluegrass band Sons of Ralph, featuring Ralph perform. Josh Goforth opens. The show will be at the Madison County Arts Center (90 S. Main St., Marshall). 9 p.m., $15. http://www.madisoncountyarts.com.

If Cajun country is your style, you can two-step your way into 2013. Jackomo puts on a Cajun Zydeco Dance Party at Jack of Hearts Pub (10 S. Main St., Weaverville). 9 p.m., $10. http://jackofheartspub.com.

Phoenix Lounge (14 S. Gaston St., Brevard) hosts Howie Johnson's NYE House Party Bash, starting at 9 p.m. http://www.reverbnation.com/venue/thephoenixloungebrevard.

— A.M.