Bands
Jetty Rae
First Presbyterian Church
6:15-7:00, 8:00-8:45, 9:45-10:30
Singer and songwriter, Jetty Rae, takes the stage performing from her original albums which have gained recognition from big name stars like Miranda Lambert and Sarah McLachlan. Her ability to marry her words and melodies is a things to see, and will leave you captivated.
FlyPaper
www.flypaperrock.com
First Congregational Church
7:00-7:45, 9:00-9:45, 11:00-11:45
Featuring soulful vocals, fiercely elegant guitars and a high energy rhythm section, this nationally touring power trio fuses elements of rock, folk, and blues into an unforgettable musical experience. With catchy songs, command of their instruments, and a powerful stage presence, Fly Paper will be remembered long after the stage lights go out!
An Dro
An Dro takes you on a musical adventure. You'll hear traditional Irish melodies, medieval French songs, Breton dance tunes, Scandinavian refrains, Appalachian influences, Arabic rhythms, and African grooves all performed with joy and freshness. Watch, listen, and dance as these four seasoned instrumentalists take you across the globe, reaching back to the past, with an eye to the present and the future.
Zion Lion
www.zionlionreggaeband.com/
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
5:45-6:30, 7:45-8:30, 9:45-10:30
Zion Lion is the "baddest” band to hit the Kalamazoo music scene. The members are a combination of several bands from the Kalamazoo area that crossed each others path along the way and decided to form what we believe to be the right mix of reggae.
Ben Coopes
Epic Center Theater
8:30-9:00, 10:00-10:30
With a smooth, raspy voice that resembles artists like Jack Johnson and Keith Urban, Ben Coopes is a talented local Mattawan High School student who can belt anything from country to pop. With an assortment of covers of today’s hits, watch as Ben put his acoustic spin on the songs and don’t be afraid to sing along.
Roland Sunkins
Seventh Day Adventist
7:30-8:15, 9:30-10:00
Roland is a versatile musician who performs a variety of musical styles including contemporary gospel ,classical, and jazz. Roland is a master violinist , vocalist, pianist, and guitarist who writes , arranges, an composes music for individual instruments to full symphony orchestras! He has written and toured with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra as well as many professional musicians, and churches. This evening be prepared to listen to music from the release of his upcoming CD “Worthy."
Bronson Park Celebration Tent
The Family Tent
Located right in Bronson Park, this 30 by 60 tent will be the location where families can pop in to participate in a make it-take it art project, get a family photo taken, or visit with a princess or maybe even a prince. Scheduled performances in this tent will include the Once Upon A Princess. This tent will be overflowing with good times for the whole family.
PhotoBooth Pictures
Bronson Park Celebration Tent
5:30- 9:00 p.m.
Portraits and silly fun shots are all part of the new tradition to capture your New Year’s Fest memories. Dominick Gladstone of Act Naturally Studios, will be at the photo booth. All Fest photo’s including portraits will be available online at www.actnaturallystudios.com. Look for the link on the home page.
Princess Katheryn Parker
www.princesspartymichigan.com
Bronson Park Celebration Tent
5:45-6:30, 6:45-7:30, 7:45-8:30
Join storybook characters from Once Upon A Princess for an enchanted evening of events! Singing, dancing, and storytelling for families and children, with an opportunity for photos and autographs before and after all performance times.
Line Dancing
Bronson Park Celebration Tent
10:00-11:45 p.m.
They call it urban line dancing, and it is easy to do because you dance in a line with lots of other people. Oh, and you laugh too. Plus, with DJ Monte Janssen making the calls, anyone can do it.
The Magical Morgini
Bronson Park Celebration Tent
6:00-9:00 p.m.
The Magical Morgini (Morgan Hause) specializes in family friendly entertainment. In the past, he’s worked alongside the Kalamazoo Men’s Chorus and Kalamazoo Ballet Arts doing special guest appearances. Morgan is 23 years old and he has been performing magic for 13 years and his brand of clean comedy paired with illusion and ventriloquism will uplift and mystify.
The Celebration Tent will be filled with arts & crafts, face-painting, a firebreather and more. You don't want to miss out!
Specialty Acts and Theatre
Magician Alan Smola
www.alansmolalive.com
Radisson Kalamazoo Room-Lower Level
5:45-6:15, 7:30-8:00, 9:15-9:45, 11:00-11:30
Fresh off a 60-show tour of South East Asia, comedy magician Alan Smola is thrilled to be returning once again to the Kalamazoo New Year’s Fest. This year’s show promises to be the best ever, with flashy stage effects, hilarious family comedy, and lots of brand new illusions.
Kenny Ahern
First Presbyterian Church
5:30-6:00, 7:15-7:45, 9:00-9:30, 10:45-11:15
Through his inventive comic wit, Kenny Ahern causes riotous laughter with his pleasantly refreshing physical comedy. It is an unforgettable show, where stupendous artistry collides with hilarious audience interplay, for all to enjoy.
Zeemo The Magnificent.jpg)
First United Methodist Social Hall
5:45-6:30, 7:00-7:45, 8:15-9:00, 9:30-10:15
He does it all! With over 200 different yo-yo tricks in his repitore, Yo-Master Zeemo performs a fast-paced one man circus act filled with tricks, classic juggling, precarious balancing stunts, and dazzling magic. Zeemo's zany personality and flare for excitement entices every audience.
Bitter Sweet Acres Belgians
www.bitter-sweetacres.com
City Hall
5:30-10:00
Enjoy the sounds of gentle horse hoofs as you ride through the sites, sounds and fesitivities around downtown Kalamzoo. Continuous carriage rides start in front of City Hall, taking you on a route throughout the streets of the city, and stop at The Epic Center.
First United Methodist
5:30-6:00, 7:15-7:45, 9:00-9:30, 10:45-11:15
He’s not just a comedian, not just a juggler. Jason Huneke, will take the stage with interactive performances full of humor and entertainment for all ages. Known for his Michael Jackson routine on America’s Got Talent, Jason has travelled nationwide captivating audiences with his original Comedy and Juggling routine that will be sure to have you roaring with laughter and stunned by his skills.
Cirque Amongus
www.cirqueamongus.com
First Congregational Social Hall
6:00-6:45, 7:15-8:00, 8:30-9:15
Cirque Amongus is a circus skills based company. A show is a surprising combination of comedy, circus skills and audience participation. Children and parents are guaranteed to be amazed and delighted. It’s a show full of surprises- guaranteed to captivate all, even the oldest child at heart!
The United Teen Talent Show
Epic Center Theater
6:15-6:45, 7:45-8:15, 9:15-9:45, 10:45-11:15
The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, together with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo hosted the one-of-a-kind United Teen Talent Show. Talented youth between the ages of 13-19 from the Kalamazoo area competed for a series of cash prizes. The top finishers together with other available contestants will perform a similar talent show at New Year’ s Fest.
Anthony J. Hamilton
Epic Center Theater
5:30-6:00, 7:00-7:30 p.m.
The winner of the United Teen Talent Show for several years in a row, Anthony puts on a show that resembles Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior. Watch out Vegas, because the giltz is about to begin.
Crawlspace Eviction
www.crawlspaceeviction.com
First Congregational Church
6:00-6:45, 8:00-8:45, 10:00-10:45
Back by popular demand, this improv troupe takes your suggestions and weaves them into comedy gold. If you’ve got a craving for the odd, the spontaneous, and the hilarious, then come be entertained by the group’s unique comedy.
Kalamazoo Public Library
6:00-6:30, 7:30-8:00, 9:00-9:30, 10:30-11:00
You'll be delighted by the fun-filled wizardry of Mike Runyan playing harmonicas large and small, in styles from Country to Classical to CRAZY!
Lego City
 First Baptist Social Hall
5:30-12:00 am
Visit an amazing Lego City, designed and created by the Western Michigan Lego Train Club.
Doug Church , The True Voice of Elvis
www.dougchurchusa.com
First United Methodist
6:15-7:00, 8:00-8:45, 9:45-10:30
The King lives! Doug Church, known throughout the world as “The True Voice of Elvis,” is coming here to Kalamazoo, performing and astounding audiences along the way with his redition of the King’s music.
Brandon Styles.jpg)
From Frank Sinatra to Justin Bieber, Brandon Styles will amaze you with his perfect mix of impressions, comedy, dance, audience participation, and award winning magic. Brandon performs all over the country and entertains crowds of all ages. This is a one of a kind show that you will find NOWHERE ELSE!
Jazz & Classical Acts
Lana Hawkins Trio with Steve and Barry Ross
www.facebook.com/pages/Lana-Hawkins
First Baptist Church
7:00-7:45, 9:00-9:45, 11:00-11:45
Get ready because this trio will play all the jazz standards and classics, with some pop and country favorites thrown in!! Band members Lana Hawkins, Steve Kamerling, and Barry Ross guarantee that their music will make you want to dance as they take you right back to the big band swing era.
Kalamazoo Brass
Seventh Day Adventists
6:30-7:15, 8:30-9:15, 10:15-11:00
Back by popular demand! Established in 2005, this entertaining and exciting Brass Quintet will present selections from a wide variety of American musical styles including the Brand Band Era, Jazz/Blues, Broadway Show Tunes, and more!
Trumpet Invasion
http://brandonridenour.com/
First Baptist Church
6:00-6:45, 8:00-8:45, 10:00-10:45
Come hear some of the greatest music ever written - invaded by the Trumpet and Piano! These diverse, creative arrangements are sure to captivate audiences of all ages. Kalamazoo native, Brandon Ridenour has been the trumpeter with Canadian Brass since 2006. He has appeared at the Kalamazoo New Year's Fest nearly every year since he was a high schooler at Portage Northern. Naomi Kudo is no stranger to Kalamazoo either; she was the recipient of the 2008 Young Gilmore Artist award. Both Brandon and Naomi hold degrees from the Juilliard School in New York City. 
Ein Prosit
www.einprosit.us
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
6:45-7:30, 8:45-9:30, 10:45-11:30
Take a trip to Germany without leaving Kalamazoo! Ein Prosit is a show band that provides entertainment for the entire family. In addition to traditional instruments, it includes ten alphorns. Memebers play polkas, marches, and waltzes and dress in authentic trachten.
Grace Notes
Kalmazoo Public Library
6:45-7:15, 8:15-8:45, 9:45-10:15, 11:15-11:45
Grace Notes is an eight-member cello choir, directed by Grace Field of the Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo. Many of the cellists are Kalamazoo Junior Symphony members, who will play blues, rags, tangos and a few light classical pieces.
Tuba New Year
Bronson Park Stage
5:30-6:00
Watch as over 30 members from all over the Midwest team together for an incredible one-time experience in a New Year’s Fest tradition. Hear the booming and thundering of the Tuba New Year as they produce electrifying sounds, providing the perfect way to kick off New Year's Fest. The artists/players for this performance practice at 3:45 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
Ruth Ann Plue, Organist
Seventh Day Adventist
5:30-6:15
Ruth Ann Plue studied organ with Warren Becker at Andrews University, were she received both her B.Mus. and M.Mus. degrees in organ performance. She is currently the organist at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Muncie, Indiana. |
