Shakura S’Aida has been making waves with her powerhouse vocals for more than two decades, and she’s not slowing down. Her latest album, Hold on to Love, released in 2022, was nominated for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the 2023 JUNO Awards. S’Aida has performed at Base31 twice before and we are thrilled to welcome both her and you back for her third performance:  The 2nd Annual New Year’s Eve Bash with Shakura S’Aida. 

S’Aida will be joined by her band: Paige Armstrong, Brooke Blackburn, Roger Williams and Aubrey Dale.

Say ‘hello’ to 2025 in style. Check out our chat with Shakura S’Aida below.

B31: We’re thrilled to have you back again for New Year’s Eve. Last year we got a taste of the 60s. Can you tell us why you chose the 70s for this year’s event? 

SS: I really loved the musical variety that we got in the 70s. Electric blues was starting and there were so many bands that were out doing amazing stuff. What was also really cool about the 70s is that it went from this real hippy vibe to disco. The disco scene was completely different. Hippies were now dressing up in silver and sequins and dancing around a mirrored ball. The music that’s available for us to play is so varied that my biggest challenge is how I can fit it in that makes musical sense.

The punk movement was starting at the end of the 70s going into the 80s, and this cool soul thing happened: Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Diana Ross and Barry White. I’m very excited about going into this smörgåsbord decade and pulling out the best. 

B31: What do you want the audience to know about the night? What’s the vibe all about?

SS: I wanna hit on a lot of fun music. I want the night to be about dancing, thinking about what the 70s were but also how we can move forward with this joy. It’s the only time of the year that I get to do fun music that I love that I didn’t write. I really love that. 

I don’t think it’s a costume party but if you want to bring out your fringe vest and your platform shoes, or you wanna bring out your sequins and your bandanas, all power to you! I will definitely be dressing in some bell bottoms at some point. I think it really is about coming comfortable. If you’re wearing high heels, bring some flats you can change into so you can dance. As much dancing as there was last year, I imagine there will be just as much if not more this year. 

B31: What kind of music or songs will you and the band be performing this year? 

SS: This isn’t a soul event, this isn’t a disco event, this is a 70s event. I might even throw in a little Rod Stewart. Classic rock had a really great turn in the 70s. It’s going to a lot of music that’s tastefully curated. The great thing about the set is everyone in the band sings, so there will be a song that everyone will love. 

B31: What are you most excited about for this performance? 

SS: The minute I asked my team, ‘Who wants to play NYE at Base31?’ everyone emailed me back right away and said ‘I’m in, I’m in, I’m in!’ which I loved. Everyone has been sending me lots of songs they want to do. The way we were treated, the way we were welcomed at Base31, is second to none. It’s really become part of our family and certainly The County is part of my family because of our family’s history there with The Stache on Main [in Wellington]. 

What really surprised me last year and also the first time I performed was how many people I knew and how many new people that were there. What I said about not getting an opportunity to play cover tunes a lot, it’s not something I want to do on a regular basis but it’s something I feel safe doing at Base31 because I know it’s a place of love and a place of community. Community is number one for me wherever I go. I loved how people were talking and dancing, and some people were dancing by themselves and others would join them.  Everyone had smiles on their faces and enjoyed the music. 

Each one of us has a special connection to the songs and that’s what I’m working on making special. I pick songs that have connection, that resonate with all of us so that we can have those smiles and memories running in our mind as we move into a new year full of love. 

With these connections in mind, the evening will be filled with moments designed to make us feel that same sense of joy and togetherness as we celebrate the arrival of the new year.

What will the evening look like?

  • Ring in the new year Tuesday, December 31
  • Doors open at 9pm | Curated charcuterie plates will be available for every table to enjoy
  • Music starts at 10pm (with a brief pause at midnight for New Year’s kisses, a little feather-shaking and a complimentary toast with bubbly)
  • The celebration continues until 1:30am

Plus, a variety of beverages will be available for purchase to keep your energy up for dancing the night away. Our dress code is casual and comfortable, so you can move and groove freely on the dance floor.

We welcome you to travel safely on New Year’s Eve with our free shuttle. The bus picks you up from Wellington, Bloomfield or Picton and includes two scheduled drop offs after the event. Check out the schedule on our website.