Particularly the motley crew known as Banished Fools. Each New Year’s Eve on what used to be called First Night Providence and has now become Bright Night, a band of tatterdemalions parade the streets of our fair city in costumes made from recycled fabric and bits of flotsam and jetsam they’ve scouted out. They grab hold of other pieces of junk which they can bang on, creating percussive medleys, solos, and cacophonous improvisations to scare away any goblins lurking from the old year and to welcome in the New Year. Led by musicians Rachel Maloney and Chris Turner (and self-baptized as “fools” by Maloney back in the ’80s when this all started), the Banished Fools amuse bystanders (who sometimes join in), greatly entertain themselves, and create a spirit of infectious revelry throughout the evening. Watch for them at Bright Night or catch Maloney, Turner and friends as the Wholebellies or in other melodious melées in Rhode Island. www.brightnight.org