If it weren't for a school gala day, Tauranga band Black Velvet wouldn't have formed.
The band got together as a one-off favour to a local school that needed some live entertainment for the day, and the ad hoc fusion of styles had punters asking for more.
Two Brilleaux band members got together with drummer, Angela Jalava and English singer Tara Watson to put on a show, and "the next thing we know, people are coming up to us asking for business cards and wanting to know where we were playing next," says Jalava.
One thing led to another and the group realised its fusion of blues, funk, and rock, with unexpected cover interpretations, was what audiences wanted.
This year is proving to be one of renewed focus for the band, and this weekend's Drivers Bar gig is in response to people wanting to hear more out of them. Not surprisingly, tickets have been snapped up.