'It's nice to get everyone together again,' says Rockit organiser and Amnesia owner Nimal Jayawardena, for whom the disaster has struck a personal chord. His father is Sri Lankan and, although he says his family wasn't directly affected, it was worryingly close to home.

Jayawardena and other members of the Rockit crew were instrumental in putting Oxfam donation boxes around SoHo. 'So far we've raised $117,000 just by distributing boxes,' he says. Now, they're planning something bigger.

More than 15 bands have so far been confirmed, and more are being short-listed to fill the small Amnesia venue over four nights. Audiotraffic, the Hong Kong winners of the Battle of the Bands, will be playing alongside hot new garage rockers The Academy and metal outfit Nothing None. Chill-out collective Celestial are also due to perform, with guitarist Eugene Pao and shakuhachi (Japanese flute) master Sunny Yeung.

There'll be a minimum donation of $50 at the door at Amnesia, with all proceeds going to Oxfam, but Yumla will retain its usual free-entry policy and encourage punters to raise funds by buying drinks.

'We're doing it partly to raise money for victims of the earthquake,' says Yumla managing director Dan Findlay (otherwise known as music promoter Dan F). 'But the other reason we're doing it at the end of January is to kick-start some long-term awareness.

'The media has a habit of forgetting about these kinds of things. We're planning to keep this running through March and April, to keep people's eyes open. When we feel attention needs drawing back to it, we'll do little things to keep up the awareness.'

Yumla is drawing on its entire DJ roster to offer four nights of parties. It will give away a portion of bar takings, DJs will donate their fees, and there'll be donation boxes within easy reach.

'A lot of people in Hong Kong have had a good time in places like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia,' says Findlay. 'Of all the countries, I think people here are in a good position to help.'

Opening the Yumla side of the festival will be an 'old-skool' Thursday with funk and electro from the likes of Sean the Prawn and Drafus. Friday will be an onslaught of breaks and drum'n'bass, while Saturday will be pumping house and techno. The festival ends with a Sunday of reggae, dub and punk.

There'll be action in the amphitheatre-style park outside Yumla that links Lan Kwai Fong to SoHo. Rockit organisers are negotiating to stage the festival on the afternoons of January 28 and 29, with family entertainment, food stalls and performances. There'll also be some educational elements about the disaster and the help that's required.

'People who may not be interested in glitzy fundraisers should come for a chilled-out weekend for a good cause,' says Jayawardena.

Mini-Rockit: Bay of Bengal Earthquake/Unicef Fund- raiser, Jan 28-29, Feb 4-5, 9pm, Amnesia, minimum donation of $50; Jan 27-30, 11pm, Yumla, free. Inquiries: Amnesia, 2565 8544; Yumla, 2525 9080