New Year’s Eve: Debbie Duncan/Nachito Herrera at the Dakota

New Year’s is one of those holidays where you can find yourself in a roomful of friendly strangers. In recent years, though, we’ve come to view it more like Thanksgiving—it’s so much more fun to be with people you know and love. Well, Debbie Duncan certainly qualifies. She’s one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved jazz artists, and we can’t think of a more suave New Year’s party than hanging at the Dakota. In with the new, too: Cuban pianist Nachito Herrera, who emigrated to the Twin Cities last year, shares the chores. Herrera didn’t waste any time setting up shop at Bandana Square—his recent and acclaimed debut album was recorded live at the St. Paul bastion of beat. If hot and cool jazz doesn’t bake your New Year’s brownie, perhaps you’ll want to make twang your thang, over at the Turf Club’s third annual bash with alt-country locals Accident Clearing-house. Last year’s was so well-attended we had to wait half an hour in the freezing cold to get in—and it was worth it. Dakota: (651) 642-1442, www.dakotacooks.com; Turf Club: (651) 647-0486, www.turfclub.net