FINALE BANDS!! Countdown to Midnight!
Your New Year Starts Here! This year's finales will be held indoors, so whatever the weather you can see in the New Year in style! The venues open at 11:00 PM and all the festivities at both venues begin at 11:15, culminating with a countdown to midnight. Space is limited, so a Finale ticket (no extra cost to button-holders) is required to get in. PICK UP YOUR FINALE TICKET by showing your FNM button at the Portola Plaza ticket booth (look for the signs!) after 8:00 PM. Both bands also have an earlier set, so you will have the opportunity to enjoy both bands.
Special surprise guests may be dropping in to join the bands at either venue - you never know what might happen at a First Night finale! At either venue, whether you want to be on your feet dancing or just sitting back and enjoying the tunes, you can guarantee a fun and exciting time into the New Year! Have fun, and have a Happy New Year – First Night style!
WROCKINFOOSE
at the Golden State Theater
Wrockinfoose, is a band made up of some Monterey’s finest. They bring a blend of original music and obscure covers. Their music is at times genre bending, but mostly steeped in American roots music, and often tinged with a strong and steady New Orleans (R&B/funk) lean.
The band is lead by Luca Fredericksen, who spent his formative years as a sideman with: California blues band ‘the Pontiax’, New Orleans legend ‘Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters’, and Tower of Power frontman Lenny Williams.
This newest venture is Luca’s first as a singer, songwriter. The band started as a quartet in 2019 and was quickly recognized for its signature sound. This band is for "listeners who appreciate a good funk bass line, a gritty soulful vocal, with the down home feel of a crisp rhythm section, warm, B-3 organ and piano topped by soaring and funky guitar leads.." - according to an extensive article about Luca and his band featured in the Monterey Herald, written by Beth Peerless, in Feb 2020.
Band members include Luca Fredericksen - keyboards, vocal; Sam Nilsson - guitar; Joe Johnsson - bass, vocal; Mike Shannon - drums; Paul Tarantino - sax; Brian Stock - trumpet; and for this special engagement, featuring Shannon Casapia and Amber Guzman on lead and background vocals.
Get ready to groove into 2026 with Wrockinfoose bringing the energy and great vibes!
EVERYDAY PEOPLE
in the Serra Ballroom
Everyday People is an electrifying 11-piece band out of Salinas, CA, bringing an irresistible fusion of Classic Latin Rock, Latin Jazz, R&B, Funk, Old School, and Tejano-style Cumbias to every stage they hit. Known for their high-energy performances and smooth, crowd-moving grooves, they’ve become a staple on dance floors throughout the Central Coast and beyond.
Founded in 2015 by veteran Timbalero Andy Sierra, Everyday People is a celebration of musical passion and community spirit. Inspired by legends like Santana, Gloria Estefan, Malo, El Chicano, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Tower of Power, the band delivers a powerful blend of sound that spans generations and genres—from Evelyn "Champagne" King to Buena Vista Social Club and Lydia Pense and Cold Blood.
With two standout lead vocalists, a fiery, percussion-driven rhythm section, and a top-tier horn trio, this band knows how to entertain. Their chemistry, showmanship, and versatility turn every performance into a celebration, earning them a loyal fan base and the respect of event organizers across the region.
At the heart of Everyday People is a simple yet powerful message: Peace, Love and Music. It’s not just a mantra—it’s the spirit they bring to every performance and every crowd they connect with.
Just let the rhythms dance you into 2025!