Ring in the year -- or ringing in your ears -- with these rockin’ Vegas NYE concerts

With a storied 2017 in the books, what better way to ring in 2018 than to raise your glass and rock this New Year’s Eve weekend?

“New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas is the West Coast’s version of the ball drop in Times Square New York,” Fedor Banuchi, vice president of
entertainment at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, told the Vegas Guide.
“It’s one of the most highly programmed nights of the year with the biggest names in the world within a four mile radius.”

It’s the end of an era for one of the hottest tickets in town -- pop icon Britney Spears will take her final bow on Dec. 31, ending her Britney: Piece of Me” show, which made history at the Axis at Planet Hollywood for four years. “Before Britney there was Elton John, Celine Dion, Cirque du Soleil and the Jersey Boys,” Live Nation Las Vegas president Kurt Melien explained. “By adding a theater element to her performances, she’s opened that up and carved out a category that didn’t exist in the last 20 years.”

Grammy Award-winning superstar Bruno Mars returns to the Park
Theater at Monte Carlo on Dec. 30 and 31. Tickets for the erformances start at $99.50. “He’ll be doing something more up close and personal compared to his tour -- just him, the dancers and the band,” Melien said.

Choices, choices! Maroon 5 rings in 2018 with two New Year’s Eve
shows at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Seats range in price from $90 to $250. Expect to hear their infectious single “What Lovers Do.”
The Cosmopolitan has a dynamic lineup of chart-toppers from Friday through Sunday. “We were looking to book three arena acts over the
weekend that appeal to different audiences,” Banuchi said.

The Zac Brown Band kicks off the weekend with two performances on Dec. 29. The act plays The Chelsea at 9 p.m., then Brown will show off his newest project, Sir Rosevelt, at Rose. Rabbit. Lie. Ballroom at 11 p.m.

The iconic Duran Duran headlines The Chelsea on Dec. 30, at the
end of their Paper Gods World Tour. Tickets start at $100. Concertgoers get complimentary entry to Marquee Nightclub featuring DJ Mustard.

Closing out Sunday and for $150, the Foo Fighters take over The
Chelsea, rocking with songs from their No. 1 album “Concrete and Gold.” Later, French Montana leads the countdown to midnight at Marquee.

And for those who want to get things jolting a little earlier, the original
Misfits (Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only) bring their ferocious metal to
the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 28. Joined by openers Alkaline
Trio and Fear, admission starts at just under $40.

-Genevieve Wong, Tribune Content Solutions