What's 24 years old but always seems like it's just starting out?
It's the annual
Citytv New Year's Eve bash, a Toronto tradition that dates back almost a quarter of a century. The biggest party in town will usher in 2009 at Nathan Phillips Square with another line-up of some of the best entertainment in the GTA.
And like in year's past, it's all free.
The show will be hosted by
Citytv's Gord Martineau,
CityLine's Tracy Moore and
BT's
Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese, staying up well past their normal bedtimes.
The guest list includes Suzie McNeil, Kreesha Turner, Shiloh, Danny Fernandes, Dru, Tristan Avakian and the cast of the hit play, "The Jersey Boys," based on the lives and careers of 60s greats Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Suzie McNeil is a Toronto native who was born to rock and roll as evidenced by her latest album "Rock-n-Roller" and her first single, "Let's Go." She was one of the few Canadian contestants on the TV show "Rockstar: INXS" and captivated the fans and judges alike with her impressive style. She's also appeared in "We Will Rock You" and is nominated for a Juno.
Kreesha Turner is a Jamaican-Canadian from Edmonton who brings the best of both worlds to the stage with urban hits like "Bounce With Me." You can be sure the crowd will be on December 31st.
Dru is another T.O. native who won a Juno and is riding the charts with his latest R&B single, "Never Too Late." As it turns out, New Year's Eve is just on time.
Tristan Avakian is a much admired guitarist who has played with Lauryn Hill, Biohazard and Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. And his talents have extended to the stage in plays like "Movin' Out," the Billy Joel musical. He's also been with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Cirque du Soleil.
Shiloh's first single "Operator (A Girl Like Me)" has made the 15-year-old a sensation.
To say
Danny Fernandes can dance is like saying Elvis could wiggle a bit. As the youngest member of the Toronto Raptors Dance Pack, he's since landed professional gigs with the likes of Aaron Carter, Blackstreet, Deborah Cox and his brother, Shawn Desmond. And he's no slouch as a singer, either.
The Jersey Boys cast is one of the hottest tickets in town and the music is the reason. Tunes like "Sherry," "Rag Doll," and "Dawn" make the soundtrack as infectious as the play itself, and you can be sure there will be another Four Seasons tune that will aptly match their New Year's Eve performance: "Oh What A Night."
The show will be broadcast in HD on
Citytv stations across the country and there will be a 'pre-game show' hosted by
Farah Nasser and Roger
Petersen at 9pm, before the main attraction hits the airwaves at 10:30pm and the countdown begins.
The alcohol-free event makes it family friendly and officials are expecting as many as 50,000 to show up.
Not near a TV screen? The show will also be streamed live to the world on
Citytv.com
.
It's quite a line-up. In fact, there's so much going on, it's going to take us 'two years' to get through it all. And it won't be the same without you there to see it happen.
TTC free on New Year's Eve