Fakefest for New Year's Eve

The days around and including New Year's Eve used to be a time of major concerts on the Strip from acts as varied as Guns & Roses and Barbara Striesand. But in the last couple of years, New Year's in Vegas became more an event in itself and resorts began to cut back on the big-name talent. Of course, there are some performers such as Fergie at the Venetian. And the Las Vegas Sun is offering a rundown and coverage of all the New Year's Eve events in Vegas here.

But I think the most bizarre of the New Year's Eve concert offerings is the $20 ticket to this year's version of Fremont Street Experience's "America's Party New Year's Eve." The idea behind "America's Party" was that this outdoor canopy connecting many downtown casinos (pictured) could one day rival that big ball in New York as an iconic Western live television shot of the New Year arriving. That never happened, especially since the Strip began adding fireworks at midnight, offering an even more iconic shot. But in past years "America's Party" has had some success drawing people and attention by being affordable and offering well-known, if past their prime, entertainers.

But this New Year's Eve the list of classics being pumped out from the stages under the canopy is going to be truly unbelievable: the Eagles, David Bowie, U2, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Kiss, the Rolling Stones and Queen. And, it is unbelievable, of course, because none of these bands or performers will actually be partaking in "America's Party." Instead, impersonators will be on hand for the concerts dubbed "Tribute Palooza." So, U2 songs will be performed by the band 2U. Queen songs will be performed by a band called Queen Nation.

FYI: admission is free with a Nevada I.D.

Photo credit: Sarah Gerke