A funk party to be held at Raglan Town Hall promises to be a New Year’s Eve bash that revelers won’t feel bad about the next morning.
That’s because it’s all for a good cause and profits from the event, which is restricted to 200 tickets, will go to Hospice Waikato.
Music promoter Tom McCormick reckons the R18 party will have the whole hall dancing the old year out.
Local DJ B-Rex will “warm the crowd up” before five-piece Raglan funk band ‘Mighty Mighty’ takes over to ring in the New Year. That’s Fang Dang on vocals, Boyd Dixon on drums, Mr OD on bass guitar, Cam Olsen on guitar and Greggy Keys on keyboard and trombone.
“It should be a mad night, a brilliant night,” says Tom, even though he expects some revelers might opt to cut out early from the party’s 1am finish and head downtown at midnight to catch the community fireworks display.
To help partygoers get into a funky vibe there’ll be 100 afro wigs up for sale on the night, with proceeds also going to the hospice which, Tom says, has a “big hole” in its funding each year.
A pop-up bar – featuring Vilagrad wines from Ohaupo – and pop-up curry house courtesy of Isao from Raglan’s popular Duckas Tucka outlet will keep the party going. And it’s a “one-way door” from 10pm to control the sale of liquor.
Tom says the venue will be decked out with disco balls and funky lighting for the occasion. “It’ll be nice to use the town hall on the big evening of the year.”
To capitalise on the hall’s weekend-long hireage and decoration, a New Year’s UV or ultra-violet party – with UV face painting available – will be held for children and teens the night before the funk event. A junior superhero disco for children aged 13 and under starts at 5pm, and will be followed by a senior rave at 8pm, with tickets $5 and $10 respectively at the door.
Tom hopes these ticket sales will help cover the cost of the main event on New Year’s Eve, ensuring there’s a profit of $2000 or more for Hospice Waikato.
Edith Symes
*Tickets for Raglan Fundraiser Funk Party 2016 now on sale at Raglan Video Store and online at Eventfinda, $45. No door sales. Volunteer helpers needed on the night.
