Finn recreating supergroup for album 

Musician Neil Finn has roped together a group of international and local musicians to recreate his 7 Worlds Collide concerts and make an album.

The previous concerts, held at the St James Theatre in Auckland in 2001, included members from musical heavyweights Pearl Jam, Radiohead and the Smiths.

In January, the city will host another strong international lineup including members from American alt-country band Wilco, along with another visit from Radiohead and Smiths members.

Locals Bic Runga and Don McGlashan will join other highly regarded musicians in an initiative which will also involve the creation of an album to be recorded at Finn's own Roundhead Studios.

The album will have a charitable side to it with Oxfam being the beneficiary.

Finn said while getting an album together in a short space of time would be intense, the concerts would be a bit less structured this time around.

"It will be a little less formal than last time - not that that was formal, but we had rehearsed for the live show.

"But this time it will be more of a revue and every night should be quite substantially different."

Finn said Oxfam was a good cause and suggested the people who would be forgotten during the financial crisis were the underprivileged people in Africa and other parts of the world who needed assistance the most.

He said it was a big ask to get an album together in three weeks and an even bigger one to ensure the songs were good.

"It's a challenge for sure. It's not going to be easy - it's not just hanging out."

The concerts will take place at the Powerstation in Auckland for three days from January 5.