Sammies. Friday night. Ace of Spades.

It’s Sammies’ 21st birthday. She’s finally legal! At last, she can chug a cold beer. And maybe some shots. And then some more. That’ll be a scene!

Yes, watching Sammie cut loose will be the top reason to attend the main event this Friday at Ace of Spades. But here are 20 more, anyway, because you can only make fun of drunk people for so long:

20. Balloons! It may be illegal to bring balloons to City Hall (it’s true, look it up) but Sammies be goin’ helium nuts this year.

19. U-N-I-T-Y. This night is the only time each year when every nook, cranny, clique and scene in the Sacramento music world comes together. And this year, it will not be outdoors, but under one roof. Could be scary, could be awesome.

18. The Sammies Shooter. Just order one at the bar (sorry, kiddos).

17. Collaborations. There are dozens of performers this year, many of which you’ve surely seen before around town. But tonight, the gigs will be special collaborations between bands and artists. So special.

16. Ace of Spades. Everyone’s fave central-city venue (really—voted by SN&R readers as 2012’s Best Place to See Live Music) hosts the Sammies for the first time. Show Spades who’s ace.

15. Hosts with da mosts. Andy Hawk of 98 Rock (KRXQ 98.5 FM) and Casey Lewis of KKDO Radio 94.7 FM will master these ceremonies—get your heckling one-liners primed.

14. Hot brass. Watch as the Elements Brass Band does its thing with hip-hop troupe Live Manikins, Sleeprockers and Random Abiladeze.

13. And a very loud special guest. We hear the Grant Union High School Drumline will be drum rolling in to make some noise. Boom.

12. Beats and jams. Host Lewis will sit at the kit as Inkdup with legendary local rocker and producer Z Rokk and members of Overwatch for a very special jam.

11. Arden Park Roots’ Hall of Fame set. That’s right, APR won too many Sammies over the years, so we had to retire them into the HOF. Don’t miss this year’s special guest appearances during the band’s end-of-the-show set.

10. Grimey after-party. Shows always end—but don’t bail on DJ Whores’ after-party set with his Grimey friends, who’ll be laying down beats until midnight.

9. Special Sammies show beers. For only a few bucks, courtesy of Blue Moon Brewing Company.

8. Big indie-love circle. Sharing the stage will be Autumn Sky, the Bell Boys, Musical Charis, James Cavern, Project4Trees and more. Bonus: Rumored cover of a Dr. Dre jam.

7. All your friends will be there. Including dozens of presenters from the 916 and 530 music scenes. Watch them get nervous and say something dumb!

6. Danger sun. Or Latin party starters Sol Peligro, who won too many Sammies, too, and join the HOF this year.

5. Cameo by SN&R office pug Leroy. Actually, he’s been eighty-sixed from Ace of Spades (crowd surfing, if you must know).

4. Guest deejays all night. Including DJ Oasis, DJ Roger Carpio and Tha Fruitbat (who’s a HOFer, BTW).

3. Induction of more HOFers. Jazz talent and promoter Ross Hammond and emcee Random Abiladeze.

2. Half-price tickets. The early bird will find the discounted worm at SN&R Sweetdeals website (http://snrsweetdeals.newsreview.com).

1. Winners. Thousands of local musicians were nominated in 38 categories this year. Who’ll bring home the hardware? Better be there.