New Year’s Eve? Forget it! It’s all about New Year’s Day!

This anticipation of the new year is an occasion that appeals across the board, and the magnitude we attach to the witching hour stretches across generations. As it approaches people will be coming together all over the world to celebrate the arrival of 2015 with their friends and family.

New Year’s Eve is historically one of the biggest nights out of the year, and as a result it attracts a vast audience – many of whom are not in the habit of going out too often. It is a good time of year for promoters and the industry, with countless parties and after-parties to choose from, yet over the past few years we’ve known many to shy away from going “all out” on NYE and consider it somewhat anticlimactic.

This year we have witnessed a noticeable increase in the number of New Year’s Day party offerings. Whilst the concept of a party of New Year’s Day is hardly an original one, this year sees a significant re-branding of the events to appeal specifically to the more seasoned of clubbers. All day NYD raves, once termed after-parties, are now being sold to enthusiastic ravers as an alternative to a traditional NYE splurge.

From Manchester venues the Warehouse Project and Sankeys to Day One Festival in Birmingham, Motion in Bristol and many, many more, promoters across the UK are preparing to host a series of cracking NYD raves. So the notion goes, starting the party on New Year’s Day is preferable for several reasons: you can start the new year without a hangover, avoid the huge crowds of NYE, and let your hair down with everyone who was working the night before!

Hit up Resident Advisor’s Events Listings for London and you’ll see a host of NYD parties as long as your arm: Zed Bias will be playing his last ever set for Vagabonz at Plan B, Berghain resident Efdemin and Detroit’s Patrice Scott play the Secretsundaze party at The Laundry, Âme and Marcus Worgull are headlining for XOYO, Four Tet and Daphni are pulling a back-to-back for The Hydra, whilst Joy Orbison, Boddika, Floating Points and more will play for Dollop’s party at Troxy..

Clearly DJ’s are still in high demand come New Year’s Day, with more than a fair few playing several shows over the course of the day. At Manchester’s Warehouse party the line up features the likes of Maceo Plex, Four Tet and Daphni, Julio Bashmore, Joy Orbison and Krystal Klear, whilst over at Sankeys Secondcity, Patrick Topping and Dale Howard top the bill. In Bristol, Motion will host the likes of George Fitzgerald, Magda and Dixon – who has been featured in RA’s top DJ’s list several times over the years.

So if you fancy an alternative to the classic NYE, look no further: it’s been handed to you on a platter! In years to come, perhaps the notion of NYE will be a thing of the past!

@geena_pellant