Big-band buffs and video game enthusiasts will be heading for the Belconnen Community Centre at the end of the month for the second edition of Connexion Big Band’s video game music night. 

When I catch up with Connexion sax-player and composer Bryan Hooley, I find that September’s first foray into the genre at the Harmonie German Club was a sellout, and with a similarly sized auditorium they’re hoping for more of the same.

This time in a theatre configuration rather than the open space of German Club, the band will be on the stage and the audiences will be in their seats. The performance will be augmented with a string section. 

“The concert is not going to change radically,” Hooley says. The focus will be on the computer-game music genre, with pieces ranging across games, past and present.” 

Last time, much to Connexion’s delight, some punters came togged up as their favourite video-game characters, their responses showing how familiar they were with the material.

There’ll be another big change, as the previous music director and gaming music fan, Justin Buckingham, has stepped down, although he will be making a return appearance on sax and as MC. 

The new director Aaron Michael, formerly director of music for the Royal Australian Air Force Band, is still working out what direction he wants to go.

For this reason, Connexion have been billing the show as “the second and probably final video game concert,” but Hooley doesn’t discount the idea that they could return to the format again if it is a success.

Connexion Big Band’s 64-Bit Big Band Videogame Music Night, Belconnen Community Theatre, March 28.