Big Night Out for the oldies

Hospice will benefit from this year’s Big Night Out.

The last time old Taranaki bands came together they partied almost until sunrise, but this time Ray Hopkinson reckons they will be home a little bit earlier.

‘‘It was huge. Half-past three we finished last time. This time we’ve got a licence until 1am,’’ Hopkinson said.

Back in 2006, 700 people packed the New Plymouth Club to dance in nostalgia to the musical delights of local bands from the 1950s through to the 80s. The soldout event was called The Last Gasp Reunion, it was the idea of Hopkinson and Terry Hignett, and it raised $15,000 for Taranaki’s Te Rangimarie Hospice.

This time the event, on August 20, is called Big Night Out and Hopkinson is hoping to raise $20,000 for the charity.

‘‘If we can sell our 700 tickets, we will be smiling,’’ he said.

Included in the line-up for the August show is the crowd favourite of the 2006 gig - Taranaki’s Midge Marsden.

There will also be Kount Five Plus Two, Shaskeen Reel, Bald Eagles, Words with the Birds, Midlife Crisis, Class Act, Emily Riordan and Charlie Winters Best of British Group.

Hopkinson said he expected it would be the biggest night of the year for people ‘‘of his age group’’.