Al Park: Well-known & Well-loved Musician With Dave Lloyd

Al Park has been a name on the Christchurch music scene for some considerable time. Arriving in Christchurch in the mid-70's. Opening up a small club, simply named, “Mollet St”, after the street that ran off Colombo, Parks’ band, Vapour and the Trails, played regular gigs. Very quickly other like-minded bands started turning up and Mollet St became the hub for the emerging punk/new wave scene that was sweeping the planet.

The Trails became very popular and after 18-months they ventured out into the world of pub gigs. Invited to become “resident band” at the Gladstone Tavern, Park took over booking bands into the bar which allowed the band to have a permanent gig in Christchurch but also allowed them to tour the country. Things came to an end round 1980 and Park, now living in Lyttelton, hooked up with his neighbour, Bill Hammond, to form “Old Denis”. Old Denis had a fluctuating line-up, including Simon Morris (RNZ national), and played regular gigs at the British Hotel. This came to an end when Park took off to live in Los Angeles.

Returning to NZ at the end of 1980 Park had an idea for a band that came from the various music he had been listening to in the USA. A stable line-up was established after a year and, “Louie and the Hotsticks”, became one of the most popular bands on the Christchurch scene. Their legacy has lived on and at their gig almost 800 people turned up to the Ferry Alehouse to relive those halcyon days. Unfortunately, drummer, Wayne Beecroft passed before they could play again. Following on from the Hotsticks Park played with top covers band, Big Elvis, and after two years formed another covers band, The Latter Day Sinners- a band which he still plays with today.

Much more happened after Big Elvis. Park became the second-hand manager for iconic music store, Echo music: had two kids, played parties and weddings with Latter-day Sinners. Things changed again 2006 opening venue, Al’s Bar a 400 plus music venue. Top international and national acts came, played, then Al's was a major name on the NZ touring circuit. Then came September, 2010, followed by February, 2011. Six months of wrangling could not save it from the wrecking ball and Park was left broke and somewhat broken.

Lyttelton has been “home” for forty something years. Park started booking the wonderful array of local talent into the local Yacht Club. Awesome nights of music and party followed, the “Harbour Union”, a group of local musicians formed, recorded an album and toured through NZ.

Since then Park has joined up with young guitarist, Adam Hattaway, to have the duo, “Park/Hattaway”; plays with local original band, Runaround Sue; also plays with guitarist, Elmore Jones- “Al and Elmore”; and still has party bands, the Latter Day Sinners and Al P and his P.A.L’s.

Always a person with a foot on both sides of the fence, Park also promotes shows – either by touring artists, (Blind Boy Paxton; Greg Johnson), or by putting shows together (Some girls sing the Stones; the songs of Bob Dylan; songs of Neil Young). In 2019 he released an album of his songs. “Better Already”, sung by his “famous” friends-Marlon Williams, Barry Saunders, Jordan Luck, Delaney Davidson, Adam McGrath, Adam Hattaway, Janice Gray, Helen Mulholland, Anthea De Milo and Anita Clark.

Just recently he released an Al Park album called “Pony” which charted at number 6 in the NZ album chart. A man with a history of song and stories you can catch him playing with his P.A.L’s every Wednesday at the Commoners in Lyttelton or at venues across the South Island.

Al welcomes David Lloyd as support act opening the night

Doors open 7pm. Performance starts at 7.30pm
DOOR SALES CASH ONLY: Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake available during the break, also bar facilities for cold refreshments throughout the night, Eftpos available for purchases only, no cash-out facility. Folk Club and Irish Society members please bring your membership card for licensing purposes. Non-members sign in at bar