The Tombolas

The Tombolas were made up of former members of Wellington-based Eelman Record's horn-heavy soul group The Hulamen. Guitarists Stephen Jessup and John McDougall were joined by Andrew Cross, Paul 'Mac' MacAllister, Brenton Dempsey, Tim Robinson, Danny Makamaka and vocalist Mara Finau. Their (sole) loose and funky single 'Glad to Gladiate/ Vandalise' was a favourite on student radio station bFM in 1985. The Tombolas only lasted a year before McDougall, Jessup and Finau successfully aimed for the top of the charts with follow-up band Holidaymakers, via a hit version of Bill Withers track 'We Could Be Sweet Lovers'.