Team Bear Club is back in Lawrence for ‘Midnight Kiss,’ a decadent NYE party

Six months ago, Phil Canty – known largely by his stage name Morri$ – left Lawrence for Los Angeles, and the fate of his elaborate music collective, Team Bear Club, was left in the air. Or, at least, it might have seemed that way – Canty, on the other hand, never had doubts. Now, the acclaimed producer and DJ is back home for the holidays, and he’s rallying the troops for the third-annual Team Bear Club New Year’s Eve bash at the Eighth Street Taproom in Lawrence.

See also: Team Bear Club spins Lawrence a new beat

“It’s kind of a grand affair,” Canty says. “Everything that we do comes from a collaborative perspective. This is kind of a black-tie event. There’s a couple other events going on in Lawrence that night, and they’re sort of a ratchet, ass-shaking kind of thing. This is a little more grown-up.” 

According to Canty, a slew of special guests are on deck – and though he was tight-lipped about naming names, he hinted that there would be some esteemed Team Bear Club members and friends who have been out of the picture in recent times. 

Team Bear Club at the Eighth Street Taproom, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. Tuesday, December 31. Details here.