More than 140,000 men, women and children were at Hagely Park in Christchurch on October 23 to hear Band Together entertain them.
A creation of Christchurch based Jason Kerrison and Auckland’s promoter Paul Ellis, the Earthquake Relief Show featured 34 Kiwi music icons including Anika Moa, Julia Deans, Bic Runga, Dame Malvina Major, Dane Rumble, Che Fu, Evermore, Midnight Youth and
The Bats and The Eastern.
It is not every day that you see Clap Clap Riot supporting Kiwi legend Ray Columbus or Scribe playing ‘Loyal’ with Dave Dobbyn. It was so emotional that Dobbyn dedicated a song to Th’Dudes guitarist Ian Morris who died recently.
As well as singing from their own albums, Dean & Moa teamed up for a Fur Patrol hit, ‘Lydia,’ while Bic Runga had Mint Chick’s Kody Nielson showing magic on drums.
Dane Rumble bagged the biggest crowd reaction.
I saw teenage girls weeping and screaming, carried over the barrier. Some them fainted. Mayor Bob Parker said, he had an attack of the nerves, just before joining his favourite band, The Bats on his rhythm guitar for North By North.
Jordan Luck tuned a warm-hearted version of Claudine.
Prime Minister John Key, clad in a purple shirt and blue jeans demonstrated that he cared for people. He posed with the musicians as well others, much to the delight of the crowd.
Dr George Abraham is a former President of Christchurch Kerala Indian Association and our Columnist. The NZPA Picture (by David Alexander) shows Mr Key backstage with the ‘Evermore’ band.
