Free things to do this New Years Eve ft. Studio 54, Generic Greetings Collective + more

Studio 54 at Pen & Pencil
First of the New Year’s Eve picks is this 70s themed party at the Northern Quarter’s Pen & Pencil. New York’s Studio 54 club was an iconic disco institution, and that’s what this party is celebrating. Expect period tracks being spun by resident DJ Sam Flanagan, as well as special giveaways for those who turn up in fancy dress – so have your flares, platforms and afro wigs at the ready. They’re also putting on a range of themed cocktails on the night.
Sat 31 Dec, The Pen And Pencil, 57 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EJ. 7pm – 2am, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Bowie vs Prince at LEAF
Next up, the Portland Street tea specialists open up for the night to host a NYE party dedicated to just two of the artists that we’ve lost this year: Prince and David Bowie. You can spend the night dancing your way through the huge back catalogue of these two greats, and I wouldn’t be hugely surprised if they throw some Wham! and Status Quo into the mix too.
Sat 31 Dec, LEAF on Portland Street, 113–115 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 6DW. 8pm – 2am, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Generic Greeting Collective at Common
Edge Street’s Common is also hosting New Year this year, with this free party. There’s no gimmicks or themes this time: Just a great bar with back-to-back DJ sets from Szajna and Big Peace. The party’s being organised by arts collective Generic Greeting, who put on gigs and art shows all over the city. There’ll also be a collection for homeless charity The Mustard Tree on the night – accepting both monetary donations and unwanted Christmas gifts.
Sat 31 Dec, Common, 39-41 Edge Street, Manchester, M4 1HW. 8pm – 1am, www.facebook.com

Best of the Rest
The Northern Quarter’s Odd Bar are having Swiss Lips drummer DJ Nic Zube over to spin the tunes for their NYE party. Also in the Northern Quarter, The Blue Pig are boasting Reform Radio’s Rikki Humphrey. Meanwhile, over at Oddest in Chorlton, Taste The Diffrence’s DJ Cutterz will be playing hip-hop and electronica through ‘til the wee small hours.
Sat 31 Dec, Odd Bar, 30-32 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1ER. Tel: 0161 833 0070, 8pm – 2am, www.facebook.com
Sat 31 Dec The Blue Pig, 69 High Street, Manchester, M4 1FS. Tel: 0161 832 0630, 8pm – 2am, www.facebook.com
Sat 31 Dec, Oddest Bar, 414-416 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 0SD. Tel: 0161 860 7515, 8pm – 2am, www.facebook.com