Next Saturday, June 16, there's a gig to say goodbye to Brilleaux. Again.

Many people suspected that when Brilleaux frontman Graham Clark moved to Hawke's Bay 18 months ago, it would signal the band's demise.

Quite the opposite has been true.

Over the summer they toured New Zealand, playing support for various famous English musicians in the Rock Steady Supergroup. Now the band are off to the UK - their fourth tour in five years and the most ambitious yet.

In July, Brilleaux play ten shows in Britain, including no fewer than four festivals. It's a fantastic achievement and almost impossible for an independent band from li'l ol' Tauranga. It seems almost surreal that they should now regard playing in Bedford as a 'home gig”.

They play twice in Bedford on this tour - an opening 'unplugged” show and then a full-on bash a couple of weeks later.

'We've played there four times now, and have lots of fans who travel from all around the UK to see us there,” says Graham.

They have already heard that a number of UK fans have booked their holidays to coincide with the tour and are following it to all the gigs. That's pretty cool.

Elsewhere, there are small gigs and some very prestigious ones. They play pubs in Northampton and Leicester and also the famous Troubadour in London, where original R&B band The Wilbur Project is playing support and current Dr Feelgood guitarist Steve Walwyn will be a special guest with Brilleaux.

Festival time

Then there are the festivals: the Upton Blues Festival in Worcester, the Cambridge Rock Festival, the North Wales Blues Festival - where they are the headline act on the first night - and the Vicar's Picnic in Kent, sharing the bill with Fun Lovin' Criminals, Nine Below Zero (who happen to be one of Graham's favourite bands) and the wonderfully named The Sex Pissed Dolls - an all-female punk band.

That's a great line-up of gigs, but this Brilleaux venture is also a reminder of the respect they have earned through previous tours.

Not only do they have Dr Feelgood's guitarist guesting with them, but Dave 'Bucket” Colwell, guitarist for Bad Company and Free, is also on board.

Dave, a stalwart of the English rock scene for decades, was the guitarist here on the summer Rock Steady tour and was most impressed at hearing Brilleaux's Kiwi take on British rhythm 'n' blues. I had a chat with drummer Ian 'Beano” Gilpin about this.

'Dave actually personally helped to organise a couple of the UK shows - London at the Troubadour and also Cambridge at the Rock Festival,” says Beano, 'and he'll be joining us for both of them, which is a real thrill.”

Staying in shape

Along with bass player Brian Franks and guitarist Bruce Rolands, Beano has been staying in shape while Graham lives down the line: 'The three Bs are gathering on a fortnightly basis to jam and keep the Brilleaux arrangements alive,” he says

Like the others, he is aware of what a huge undertaking it is to get over to the UK, organisationally, physically, financially, promotionally and logistically. He is quick to acknowledge the many supporters here who have helped make it possible.

After we spoke I got an email from Beano: 'On behalf of the band I would also like you to please convey our appreciation to anybody and everybody who has seen us play or purchased our CDs and merchandise over the last 19 years. It really is an awesome feeling that we go with the best wishes from so many people of different backgrounds and ages from the family, friends, acquaintances, peers and supporters that we have.”

And they certainly do go with all best wishes. Kudos to the boys – they deserve it!

Next weekend's gig is at Driver's Bar on 11th Ave. It kicks off at 9pm and costs $20 on the door. As far as I'm aware there are only door sales.