INITIATION into the Big Blues Tribe is easier than you'd think. All you need to do is turn up at one of their shows - and within 10 minutes you'll be craving more and they'll be happily handing it out.

The Midlands-based nine-piece, who play the songs of BB King, Ray Charles and the like, with enough raw passion to power a small village, are masters of making the audience feel involved, which is probably why they are proving so popular across the country.

This is only their second summer but the Big Blues Tribe is already booked for no less than six festivals up and down the country.

Frontman Oliver Carpenter is, in his own words, chuffed.

"Festivals are always really great," he said.

"There is that atmosphere. The music isn't competitive but you're in an environment with lots of other very good musicians and there is a sort of feeling that you don't get anywhere else."

Carpenter puts the popularity of the band down to the simple fact they are different.

"There are lots of normal things about us but, I think we're more visual than the other blues bands. Plus there are nine of us and there aren't many people doing blues with brass and backing singers."

The band - Yvonne Toone (vocals and harp), Emma Carney (vocals), Phil Andrews (sax), Steve Raybould (baritone sax), Jonathan J Quick (guitar), Graham Toone (piano), Steve Sheldon (drums), Tony Cole (bass) and Oliver Carpenter (vocals and trumpet) - are back at the Marr's Bar in Worcester on Friday, June 1.

For details about their forthcoming festival appearances - including Upton Blues Festival in July and the Worcester Beer Festival in August - go to www.bigbluestribe.com.