Hawke's Bay: Where the crooners of the 1980s can draw the big crowds

Just For The Record owner Gordon Stevenson says there's been a huge resurgence in '80s music. Photo / Warren Buckland

The classic tunes of Toto's Africa. The Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be. Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight. While Hawke's Bay may be a far trek for the crooners of the 1980s, it seems to be the place they want to be.

Just For The Record owner Gordon Stevenson said there had been a "massive resurgence" in 1980s music in the region. Sales had been almost doubling in the past two years.

"All these guys are all not only producing new music, but they are also re-releasing alot of their older stuff. It is bloody brilliant."

Co-owner Janis Stevenson said the younger generation were also getting into '80s music.

"People that never grew up with vinyl are now buying a turntable and listening to all the old music."

Hawke's Bay local Gina McGrath is one of those heading along to '80s British icon Phil Collins at Mission Estate Winery on Waitangi Day and Toto, as well as opening act Jefferson Starship, at Church Road Winery on January 10.

"We are going because we are music lovers, and when music legends like this come to New Zealand we'd be pretty silly to pass up the opportunity to see them."

Hits host Adam Green said the concert venues "lend themselves quite well to the age groups that would be going along to those sorts of concerts".

While his budget wouldn't stretch all the headliners, he was keen to go to Phil Collins.