Live music picks for MONDAY DECEMBER 31, 2012 through SATURDAY JANUARY 5, 2013.

MONDAY DECEMBER 31 / THE SADIES / HORSESHOE TAVERN / 368 QUEEN W / $31.50 / 19+

If you're still looking for something to do this New Year's Eve, this is a party that you'll definitely want to consider. Local alt-country legends The Sadies have performed at the Horseshoe on New Year's for the past 11 years, and it's always one of the better parties in the city. This is a band that's absolutely awesome live - I saw them open for the Sheepdogs back in September, and they killed it. They'll be playing two sets - one at 11:15 pm, and one at 1:15 am. Expect some special guests, too.

MONDAY DECEMBER 31 / YOUNG EMPIRES / LEE'S PALACE / 529 BLOOR W / $28.50 / 19+

If partying with The Sadies doesn't interest you, another Toronto band will be ringing in 2013 at Lee's Palace. Young Empires released their debut EP, Wake All My Youth, back in January, and it got extensive airplay on 102.1 The Edge and other radio stations; it also garnered considerable critical acclaim. Their unique sound, described by some as "future disco," may not be for everyone, but there's no doubt that this is a band that's going places. Decades, New Hands, and Coleco will offer support.

THURSDAY JANUARY 3 / RIVER TIBER / THE DRAKE HOTEL / 1150 QUEEN W / $10 / 19+

It's a great week for local acts playing in Toronto. River Tiber is the project of 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer Tommy Paxton-Beesley. On Thursday, he'll be celebrating the release of his new album Synapse at the Drake, along with support from James & Blackburn and Kwikfiks. If you're a fan of dark, experimental electronic music, you may want to check this one out.

SATURDAY JANUARY 5 / CONNIE KALDOR / HUGH'S ROOM / 2261 DUNDAS W / $27.50 - $30 / ALL AGES

Fans of Canadian folk music are probably very familiar with Connie Kaldor. The Regina native has been one of the genre's most consistent artists for more than 30 years, and in that time she's released no less than 14 albums, the most recent being 2009's Postcards From the Road. Shows like this tend to draw great crowds, and it's safe to say that Kaldor will be bringing her A-game to Hugh's Room.

SATURDAY JANUARY 5 / THE DREADNOUGHTS / HARD LUCK BAR / 812 DUNDAS W / $13.50 / ALL AGES

If you're looking for something a little harder than traditional folk music on Saturday night, look no further than the Hard Luck Bar, where Vancouver quintet The Dreadnoughts will be taking the stage. The band draws their sound from a number of different genres, including punk, folk, and polka. Yes, polka. It sounds very unusual, and it is, but it works - this promises to be a very fun show.

For more music listings, check out our events calendar.

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Photo of The Dreadnoughts courtesy of 803 on Flickr.