Imagine Dragons, The Breeders, Jimmy's Punk/New Wave Reunion, the return of PM Dawn and New Year's Eve top this week's musical highlights in New Orleans.

The highlights of the week ahead, including New Year's Eve and Sugar Bowl festivities.

Friday: Rebirth Brass Band, PM Dawn, 10 p.m., The Howlin’ Wolf: Rebirth shows are still reliable, but the news here is the return of ’90s hip-hop artists PM Dawn with Prince Be. (tickets) Also on Friday: Bas Clas CD-release party, 10:30 p.m., Chickie Wah Wah; Strange Roux, Luxley, King Rey, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets); Little Freddie King, Guitar Lightnin’ Lee and The Thunder Band, 10 p.m., Siberia (tickets); Helen or Highwater, 8 p.m., Chickie Wah Wah

Saturday: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic New Year’s Masquerade Ball, DJ Soul Sister, 10 p.m., Tipitina’s: (tickets) Also on Saturday: Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Katey Red, Heavy Lids, Jean Eric, DJ Rotten Milk, 10 p.m., Siberia (tickets); George Porter Jr. and His Runnin' Pardners, 11 p.m., d.b.a.; Rosco Bandana, Will Vance and The Kinfolk, 9:30 p.m., House of Blues (tickets); Big Smo, New Rebel Family, 9 p.m., House of Blues' Parish (tickets); Jesse Tripp and the Nightbreed, Riffer Madness, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets); Josh Aaron Taylor CD-release show, Bayou Chieftains, 9 p.m., Gasa Gasa (tickets)

Sunday: The Breeders, Mahayla, DJ Gris Gris, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: The Last Splash lineup of the band complete with both Deal sisters has reunited for this tour, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album that spawned one of the great alternative rock singles - “Cannonball.” The show’s sold out, so you’re going to have to get creative. (tickets) Also on Sunday: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic New Year’s Masquerade Ball, DJ Soul Sister, 10 p.m., Tipitina’s: (tickets); Krewe of Julu Fundraiser feat. Gypsyphonic Disko, Corey Henry's Treme Funktet, 10 p.m., d.b.a. 

Monday: Better Than Ezra, 8 p.m., Harrah’s Casino (tickets): Better Than Ezra only play New Orleans on special occasions like New Year's and Mardi Gras.

Tuesday: Brass Bed, 9 p.m., Gasa Gasa: The Lafayette-based rock band released their most concise, poppy and best realized album this year with The Secret Will Keep You. (tickets). Also on Tuesday: The Revivalists, Dirtfoot, 9:30 p.m., Civic Theatre (tickets); Galactic, Orgone, 10 p.m., Tipitina’s (tickets); Dumpstaphunk, Hot 8 Brass Band, 10:30 p.m., The Howlin’ Wolf (tickets); Dirty Bourbon River Show, Debauche, DJ Jubilee, 10 p.m., The Maison (tickets); The New Mastersounds, Eddie Roberts’ West Coast Sounds, Gravity A, 8 p.m., Joy Theater (tickets); Eric Lindell, 10 p.m., Circle Bar; Rebirth Brass Band, 10 p.m., The Maple Leaf Bar; Tab Benoit, 8:30 p.m., Rock 'n' Bowl; Soul Rebels, Naughty Professor, 10 p.m., d.b.a.; 

Other Stuff

Jimmy’s is once again open, and Friday night it will host a New Orleans Punk and New Wave Reunion. The free show starts at 7 p.m. with Rick Sinai of Reality Patio, and he’ll be followed by The Unnaturals at 8, Stephie and The White Sox at 9, The Backstabbers at 10 and Sexdog at 11. 

The Allstate Fan Fest accompanies the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which takes place January 2 when Alabama plays Oklahoma in  the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (register here to try to win tickets to the game). At 6:15 p.m. on New Year's Eve, O.A.R. will play the Fan Fest in the Jax Brewery parking lot, then on January 1 at 6:15 p.m., Imagine Dragons will perform as well. 

Not only will O.A.R. perform in the French Quarter on New Year's Eve, but so will Eric Lindell and Honey Island Swamp Band, who'll start at 9 p.m. in Jackson Square.