Ask any adult who was around Rotorua in the 1980s and chances are they danced to legendary band Cairo at some stage.
The iconic group featuring Richard Anaru, Mickey Ututaonga, Rob Paterson and Ernie Semu were more than just a band in their time - they were a group ofbusinessmen who owned the nightclub, the Tudor Towers, where they played each night.
Their background firmly cements them in Rotorua's history, which is why they are part of the line-up for Lakeside 2018 - Whenua #itsabouthome.
For the first time, this year's free outdoor concert on the Village Green, to be held on February 17, will feature local artists who are making a name for themselves in the music industry.
Cairo made it big in the New Zealand entertainment industry during the 1980s and today individually remain top names in the Kiwi music field, all continuing to work professionally.
and tours with Roy Orbison and the Commodores, to name a few.
Then the band did something no other at the time had done, it bought a nightclub - Tudor Towers in Rotorua - where the Rotorua Museum now stands.
The band played up to seven nights a week, had an international following and put Rotorua on the map as a destination for musos - with Kiwi greats such as Ardijah coming to watch them play.
Anaru, who is the artistic director for Lakeside 2018, said the band was considered the best nightclub band in its time.
"We would learn all the latest music and in those days you didn't just look it up on the internet, you had to buy the record which meant buying the vinyl and learning it that way."
The idea to buy the lease on Tudor Towers was forward thinking for a band at the time - with most other groups just chasing the "elusive dream" of becoming famous, Anaru said.
The move gave Cairo an income for 10 years. For about two of those years, they played seven nights a week, before dropping back to four or five.
Anaru said liquor licensing laws changed at the end of the 1980s and more premises were popping up around Rotorua. Their lease came up and they decided not to renew it.
"It was prudent to do what we did."
NOW: Cairo band members are kindred spirits nearly 40 years on. Band members (from left) Mickey Ututaonga, Rob Paterson, Richard Anaru and Ernie Semu. Photo/Stephen Parker
The museum has been closed since November 2016 and its future is unknown.
The category 1 heritage building, which is more than 100 years old, was damaged by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Kaikoura and it will cost millions to fix.
Anaru said he had wonderful memories of the building.
"I'd walk up those stairs and the heart would start pounding. All those memories come flooding back. It's a shame what's happened there but the correct decision has been made. It can't be helped and it will cost a lot of money to fix."
Today Cairo only get together occasionally for functions but are looking forward to reigniting some memories for locals at Lakeside, including bringing back one of their singers Kathy Tuhakaraina for a song.
Anaru said having worked so closely for nearly 40 years, Cairo was more like a musical family.
"We are kindred spirits ... we have remained good friends right through."
