So what did you do in June? A real ale festival in Kent? A day wandering the streets of Venice? Win $400 at bingo? Hang out with UK blues legend Paul Jones?

Probably not. But that and much more is what the boys from R&B purveyors Brilleaux did when they decamped to Europe for the band's third tour there, two weeks in England and a festival in Italy.

Brilleaux at UK's Blues on the Farm.

Not all glitz and glamour

Of course it's not all as glamorous as that sounds.

First there was a 17-hour flight to Dubai; then another seven hours to the United Kingdom; then an airport pick-up to Bedford to dump bags at the hotel and go straight to soundcheck for the first gig. On tour you gotta learn to sleep on planes…
It was the second day that they played Bingo, between doing a promotional gig in a music shop, (where they were encouraged to use any gear they wanted – cue vintage amps and guitars all round), and playing at the city's top jam night.

In the UK, Bingo is huge.

They spent the afternoon in a massive hall, connected to other massive halls around the country, playing Bingo against folk from all over. Drummer Beano Gilpin won a bit of money; frontman Graham Clark won a pile. It all went back into the band fund. Next day they played their second Bedford gig, the big one, and people travelled from all over to see them. The boys already have a staggeringly loyal following (the same people also turned up at later gigs on the tour!) There was a support act first; the joint was jumping. And then...

Well touring is tough. Straight after that gig, in the middle of the night, they were driven to Stansted – a nightmare of an airport – and flown to northern Italy, where they were again met by a specially-assigned driver.

They were due to play at 11pm that night at The Red Moon Festival in Fossalta and, without sleep, found themselves waiting to go on just as the heaven's opened and the entire stage was waterlogged. No worries, the gear was moved to another stage in a huge beer hall and eventually, now without any sleep for 48 hours, the band played at 1am to a packed and ecstatic crowd.

Finally a break

Then a day off. In Italy. With a driver and car still supplied by the festival. He drove them to the station and a brief train trip led to a day of polenta, short coffees, rides on canals, and sightseeing in the decaying wonder that is Venice.

Next day a plane took them back to England and a gig in the heart of Somerset cider country, where they stayed in the Duke of Wellington's old house, before the 25th anniversary of Chichester's Blues On The Farm Festival. Brilleaux played there last year and was so popular the organisers and fans asked them back for the celebration.

That's where Graham hung out with the great singer and harmonica player Paul Jones before they all got to watch his band (the legendary Blues Band) from backstage.
Next day it was down to Taunton in Kent for a real ale festival, organised by a friend of late Tauranga singer Tim Mellalieu, whom Graham had met here at Tim's funeral. Amazing how those little chance encounters can pay off...


Brilleaux in Italy.

Done and dusted?

Is that the end? Just about. I can report that none of the band, except Graham, like English real ale (yes it is meant to be flat and at room temperature!) And that their new, extremely good-looking CD, released for the tour, sold in massive quantities over there.

Fortunately, they have a few more and I've got one here for a review in a couple of weeks. Next thing for Brilleaux? They're doing an acoustic afternoon at The Matua Pub this Sunday but the next full gig is over at Totara Street at the Mount – the performance venue at MauaoPAC –on Saturday, July 30. For that they'll be supported by new local blues band Lounge Days, fronted by singer Phil Taylor, once part of Sneaky Weasel Soup.

Tickets are $15, available from Eventfinda or on the door.

watusi@thesun.co.nz