New Year's Parties in The Holiday Break

Christmas has come and gone, but the city is still incredibly festive, because as far as most Russians are concerned, the biggest party of the year is yet to happen. I'm talking about New Year's Eve, of course, and Moscow is gearing up for some round-the-clock rock! So instead of telling you about live gigs in our fair capital, I thought I would give you a quick guide to the best New Year's parties lined up for next week — let's have a look at what's in store.

One of the most eagerly awaited events is Troy Pierce's New Years set at Arma 17. Pierce has been on the scene long enough to make his mark, and has developed into a pillar of the modern techno community thanks to world tours, live shows, albums and EPs under a number of aliases and as part of more than one studio collective. Fusing techno with minimalism and heaviness with rhythm, this American has never been afraid to experiment — which is one of the many reasons his fans love his work.

Troy Pierce will not be alone at Arma, of course: German glitch-project Byetone, the Comeme techno-collective and many others will work their magic to give you the best New Year's Eve party, so get your tickets now by logging on to the Arma 17 website! The show kicks off at 10 p.m.

If you want a little more from your New Year's celebrations, then Artplay is the place for you. The design centre is hosting its third annual Forma festival, and this year's lineup includes 16 Russian and foreign artists like Sonic Death, Fanny Kaplan, Naadya, Secrets of the Third Planet, Haarps, Super Besse, Wild Islands and many more. But don't worry, it won't all be about the music — guests will have a chance to check out the "Keywords" modern art exhibit and take a stroll through Le Picnic market, which will be open throughout the night. Tickets will cost you 1,500 on the day of the event, but if you register on the center's website, you can get a 500 ruble discount, so keep that in mind.

And if you fancy dressing up and adding some carnival flair to your celebrations, then you might want to check out Empress Hall on Prospekt Mira, because they are hosting a Great Gatsby-themed party on Dec. 31. So if walking down the red carpet surrounded by paparazzi, or grabbing a glass of bubbly from the champagne pyramid sounds like your thing, head on over there. Tickets are pricey and start at 6,000 rubles, but your dinner and drinks are included in the price, and you'll also get a chance to compete for some pretty cool prizes — all the while looking like a true 1920's star, of course.

If you're looking for something a bit more hip, then I'd suggest checking out Flacon. They too are preparing something special for New Year's Eve: a party they're calling Hip Hop New Year Celebration. The Warm Up team will be taking over the Cube, a transformer space at Flacon, and sending you into 2014 with some amazing hip-hop beats. A picnic with food and drinks is also in the program, as well as a snowboarding all-nighter, so this could definitely be a night to remember. Tickets cost 1,500 rubles, if you get them in advance, or 2,000 rubles on the day, and you can get your tickets by calling the design center.

For those wishing to rock out on New Year's Eve, however, there is only one place to be — the 16 Tons club. The stage will be owned by Russia's top rock band: Bi-2. During the first hour of the New Year Bi-2 will take over the stage and present their program, which they've prepared especially for this event. After the concert all guests will get to enjoy DJ sets by Robert Garaev, Garry Gorelov, Toni­que Le Deejay among others. The tickets go at 6,000 rubles, but the price includes an open bar and refreshments. For more information and tickets visit 16tons.ru

Hopefully, this gives you some ideas about how you want to spend your New Year's Eve — and remember, even if you decide to stay at home and celebrate with friends or family, just have fun! To paraphrase that famous holiday poem, 'The Night Before Christmas' — Happy New Year to all, and to all, a great night!