by Sam Katz

Asheville Music Hall will be closing out the year with an all-star Asheville mix of Afro-pop and Funk.

Celebrate New Years Eve in style with two great local bands! The Fritz and Zansa will come together to give Asheville one of the best musical nights it’s ever seen. This eclectic melding of genres will provide your feet with plenty of material to get them moving. This show takes place on New Years Eve, Wednesday, December 31 beginning at 8 p.m.

The Fritz is a funk, jam band, originally from Florida who transplanted to Asheville in 2010 as a whole unit. They were immediately, and warmly welcomed into the vibrant, local music scene and have continued to have solid success in Asheville, as well as touring all over the country.

Zansa is led by 33rd generation West African musician Adama Dembele. Zansa is a Nouchi slang word from Ivory Coast meaning “combination” or “blend.” The band describes themselves as “a synthesis of traditional and modern styles of West African afropop.”

This month AMH also hosts their annual Enter The Earth Xmas Party on Friday, December 12 at 9 p.m. This is one of best parties of the year. This year the party hosts local New Orleans styled brass band, Empire Strikes Brass, along with a few other special guests. Empire Strikes Brass is the creation of long-time Asheville musician Paul Juhl.

Empire started cutting their teeth by introducing second line parades to Asheville in 2012. They have since expanded to the stage with a 10-piece New Orleans brass funk band, and a groundbreaking DJ/Electronic/Brass section.

If You Go: Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave, Asheville. (828) 255-7777, or www.AshevilleMusicHall.com for more information.