Toto fans to worship at Church Road- what next for Hawke's Bay Mission Estate concerts?

Next January, American soft rockers Toto will play at Church Rd winery in Napier, supported by Dragon.

Hold the line - here comes Toto.

They've sold 40 million albums, released 17 albums and had three massive 1980s hits - Africa, Rosanna and Hold the line.

Next January, the American soft rockers will play at Church Rd winery in Napier, supported by Dragon.

The latter have enjoyed a resurgence in the past decade or so, after lead singer Mark Williams joined in 2006.

They say if you remember the 1970s, you weren't there. And if you remember the 1980s, you wince.

You can also probably also remember the chorus from Africa - singing it without sounding like a yowling feline with its paw jammed in a cat door is a different matter.

But it's great to see Hawke's Bay back on the map when it comes to large-scale acts.

Which brings us to a favourite local pastime - Mission Estate Concert speculation.

The chance to say Hello Again to Neil Diamond in Hawke's Bay this year was lost after the star cancelled all tours, revealing that he had Parkinson's disease.

Diamond is responsible for Hot August Night - a live album widely regarded as one of the best of the live genre ever released.

A year ago today, the world lost Glen Campbell to Alzheimers.

Both artists are a poignant reminder of a point that needs to be made sensitively - the artists that the baby boomer market appreciates aren't getting any younger.

And it's the baby boomers who have been the mainstay audiences at Mission concerts.

It will be a point that won't have escaped the concert promoters - do they shift the dial in terms of artists and target audiences?

The argument for sticking with the status quo are acts such as Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney or the Rolling Stones.

Stewart has Mission history - sadly McCartney and the Stones are probably unaffordable.
Would someone like Dave Dobbyn fit the bill? Or multiple acts on the bill - a festival type of atmosphere?

The latter is a different type of gig from what has traditionally served the Mission Estate Concert well.

But with news of Toto hanging in the Hawke's Bay air, the time is ripe for a Mission announcement.

Here's hoping one's not too far off.