Grooveyard, When I'm Kissing My Love from Nikku Nayar on Vimeo.

The Rex’s Annual New Year’s Eve Bash with Grooveyard

Thursday, December 31st, 2026

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Ring In 2027 in Style!

End the year on a high note at The Rex! Enjoy a lively evening of live funk, soul, and R&B, our full dinner menu, and a bubbly toast at midnight.

This year’s returning headliners, Grooveyard, are guaranteed to keep you grooving all night - whether you’re dancing or relaxing with great food and company.

 

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Live Music Schedule:

8:00 PM — Brenda Earle Stokes

Start the evening with jazz vocals and piano from the acclaimed Brenda Earle Stokes, praised by Time Out New York as “a breezy delight.”

9:30 PM – After Midnight — Grooveyard

Toronto’s own funk & soul powerhouse returns! Expect dance-floor favorites, retro grooves, and good vibes all night.

The Band:
Lester McLean (Vocals/Sax) • Michael Occhipinti (Guitar) • Paul Neufeld (Keys) • Nikku Nayar (Bass) • Doan Pham (Drums)

 

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Dinner, Drinks & Details

• Doors & Dinner open: 7:30 PM (no entry before)
  
  

• Full Menu Available: Order à la carte
  
  

• Cash Bar: Open all evening
  
  

• Sparkling wine at Midnight: Included with your ticket
  
  

 

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 Tickets

$85 + Tax
Includes all performances & midnight celebratory drink.
Available online or at the door (if not sold out).

Seating Info

• Seats assigned by purchase date (earlier = closer to the stage). SEATS ARE ASSIGNED AHEAD OF TIME
  
  

• WANT TO BE SEATED TOGETHER?...LET US KNOW Contact us if you bought tickets separately
  
  

• Parties >6 may be split across nearby tables
  
  

• Singles may be seated with other patrons
  
  

• No physical tickets — your name is on the guest list (bring photo ID). NO PHYSICAL TICKETS, NAME AT DOOR
  

 

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 Important Notes: (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)

• $10 cancellation fee until Dec 21st; no refunds after Dec 21st
  
  

• No coat check or storage — please limit valuables.
  
  

• Dancing is encouraged, but you can celebrate however you like!
  
  

 

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 About the Artists

Grooveyard
Toronto’s ultimate party band! Blending funk, soul, R&B, reggae, and disco, Grooveyard features Juno Award–winning musicians and frontman Lester McLean, whose charisma and energy make every show a blast.

Brenda Earle Stokes
A talented vocalist-pianist known for her smooth jazz phrasing and global influences — the perfect way to start your evening.

 

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 Celebrate New Year’s Eve at The Rex — great music, great food, great vibes, and the best crowd in town!

Grooveyard is a sizzling soulful band with an eclectic repertoire and a performance energy that makes the group distinct in the Toronto area. lead singer Lester McLean is a talented and versatile vocalist and saxophone player whose friendly presentation and ability to get an audience having a good time is unmatched. Guitarist Michael Occhipinti and keyboardist Paul Neufeld are both Juno award winning musicians who co-lead one of Canada's most critically acclaimed jazz groups. Together with bassist Nikku Nayar and drummer Doan Pham, they bring a very high level of musicianship to Grooveyard.

Grooveyard's repertoire draws on everything from classic funk and soul to reggae, disco, jazz, '80's new wave, classic rock, and, when required for weddings; traditional music. The band puts its own distinct stamp on the music it performs and the group is definitely not just another cover band. Flexible in its size (the band performs dance music as everything from its core 5-piece to a 9-piece or a trio for smaller events. We can also add female vocalist(s) and horns), Grooveyard is able to break into smaller groups for different functions (for example, a classical flute/guitar duo, cocktail piano, a jazz trio for dinner music).

Brenda Earle Stokes is a rare jazz artist with a true command of both the voice and the piano. Hailed as “a breezy delight” by Time Out New York, Brenda’s music is rooted in the jazz tradition with influences ranging from Brazilian music to rock radio. As a bandleader she has toured clubs and festivals across the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and has released 6 albums own her own label. As a follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2014 studio album Right. About Now, Stokes sought to challenge herself to dig deep and share the full scope of her talents in the most intimate setting possible.

Brenda Earle Stokes has performed as a side person with John Riley, Dick Oatts, Joel Frahm, Roxy Coss, Wycliffe Gordon, Maurice Hines and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. She has held residences at the Kennedy Center and Banff Center for Fine Arts, was a finalist of the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition and was a winner of the IAJE Sister’s in Jazz competition, identifying her as one of the top emerging jazz artists of her generation.