First Night Boston ready to ring in 2012

The Daily ItemBOSTON – This year, First Night Boston celebrates the 36th edition of the country’s oldest and largest New Year’s Eve arts festival by announcing a line-up of world class events that offer something for everyone.On Saturday from noon to midnight, First Night presents its annual day-long festival of art, music, dance, ice sculpture, and more. First Night will showcase 1,000 artists in 200 exhibitions and performances in locations all over downtown Boston, from the Waterfront to the Fenway.First Night welcomes children, families and revelers of all ages to celebrate community through the arts. First Night organizers strongly suggest visiting the interactive planner at www.firstnight.org to plan attendance. The schedule is subject to change and updates can be found on the website.All First Night outdoor events are free, though supported by sales of the First Night button, which is the ticket for admission to indoor events. Buttons are $18 (children under 4 admitted free) and are available at dozens of locations, including Shaw’s Supermarkets, Star Market, Tedeschi’s, and Au Bon Pain.For more information, call 617-542-1399 or visit the website.First Night highlights include:Suzanne Vega, New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 9 p.m.Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang what has been labeled contemporary folk or neo-folk songs of her own creation in Greenwich Village clubs. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has given sold-out concerts in many of the world’s best known halls. In performances devoid of outward drama that nevertheless convey deep emotion, Vega sings in a distinctive, clear vibrato-less voice that has been described as “a cool, dry sandpaper- brushed near-whisper” and as “plaintive but disarmingly powerful.” Sponsored by WFNX.Mavis Staples, Symphony Hall, 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.The legendary soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples is responsible for blazing a rhythm & blues trail while never relinquishing her gospel roots. Rolling Stone named the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There” and “Respect Yourself” among Top 500 Songs of All Time. She was featured in The Band’s “The Last Waltz” with The Staple Singers. Her collaborations and appearances with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bill Cosby to Presidents Kennedy, Carter and Clinton to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Prince, Bob Dylan, Los Lobos, Aretha Franklin, Ry Cooder and Jeff Tweedy rank among Mavis’ many career highlights. This appearance at the venerable Symphony Hall will be her First Night debut. Sponsored by 92.5 The River. (Reserved seating is available for this show. Visit www.firstnight.org for info.)Mike Daisey: “When the Clock Strikes,” Boston University Theatre, 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.Mike Daisey, described by the New York Times as “the master storyteller” weaves together a performance on the turning of the year: that bizarre annual ritual when we drink too much, resolve to change everything about ourselves, and have much less fun than we are certain we should be having. With incandescent wit and heart he’ll explore our obsession with the future, hilariously skewering our assumptions all the way, and and carry the audience with him right up to the brink of a brand new year. (Reserved seating is available for this show. Visit www.firstnight.org for info.)Boston Poetry Slam, Hynes Convention Center, Room 208, 7:30, 8:15, 9, 9:45, 10:30 p.m.Poetry slam is a fast-paced competition where poets have a limited amount of time to impress judges randomly selected from the audience. Storytelling, lyricism, and stand-up comedy all come together in what’s evolved to a modern oral tradition.Face Painting, Hynes Hall C, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.Imaginations run wild, as face painters transform little faces into works of art!Magic Lantern P