At a show at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City recently reviewer Kailyn Brown noted that songs from Lauryn Hill’s groundbreaking 1998 solo debut “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” were hardly recognizable as she and the band reinvented the songs and performed them in a fresh way. That’s how we’ll ring in the new year here in Columbia as Hill headlines this year’s Famously Hot New Year taking place downtown in front of the State House. It’s a wildly popular event no matter who is playing, with crowds stretching down Main Street and through its branches, the sounds of The Wallflowers and George Clinton have rung through the cool air in years past, Lauryn Hill is surely the biggest get the event has ever attracted. Live, Hill controls the stage, switching between solo acoustic performances of her songs, full band fresh takes on old favorites, and even some old Fugees songs along with some covers. That array of songs sounds like a perfect fit for a New Year’s performance.
Joining Lauryn Hill on the New Year’s stage are Charleston band Susto who have been quickly on the rise in the Alt Country/Americana market over the last year along with Columbia’s ColorBlind and Charleston’s Dead 27’s.
The event is free as it has been in years past and open to the public.
