Music - Rocking in the New Year at Outerland

By Tony Omer - January 3, 2008

Johnny Hoy keeps the music coming. Photo by Susan Safford. Click photo for larger version.

The New Year was ushered in with Island panache at Outerland's Rockin' New Year's Eve on Monday evening by approximately 270 patrons and Johnny Hoy. Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish kept putting down dance tunes that made it hard to sit. There were Islanders like Janet Holladay who were not seen off of the dance floor all night. It was a fun evening. English jazz-pop-crossover artist Jamie Cullum made a surprise appearance for one song with the band that brought a bevy of young English model types to the floor from an adjacent wedding party. The dancing was only interrupted by the brief deployment of a huge screen on which was projected the surreal, ghostly visage of Dick Clark as he robotically counted down the waning seconds of the old year. Then it was more rocking.

Due to financial concerns, Outerland, in spite of its intention to stay open all year, had to close its doors for the rest of the winter as the party ended. 2007 was a good year for those of us who frequented Outerland with a number of new programs and many great acts. Outlander owner Barry Rosenthal said he is shooting for an early spring opening with similar programming.