THEY'VE come from busking on the streets of Birmingham to become a headline act at this year's international blues festival.

They're King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys and, since winning a busking competition 16 years ago, they've never looked back.

Mark Skirving, otherwise known as King Pleasure, explained: "The band started with two of us busking in Birmingham and, eventually, we were invited to play in a local busking contest.

"We won it and impressed one of the judges, who ran a small record company. His name was Jim Simpson, he's now our manager, and we've been with him ever since."

The band started their professional careers with small gigs in local clubs, before hitting the international scene with three US tours.

Mark, 37, said: "To sing for your living is fantastic. All the travelling we've done is amazing."

Now they're coming to Colne - a gig they've played about a dozen times before.

Mark said: "We come every year and we always seem to go down a storm.

"I think the acts they have at Colne are unbelievable. They bring over American blues stars and old time guys. All the big names. There's always a great atmosphere. We love it."

The band consists of Bull Moose K on guitar, Boysey Battrum on sax, Dave Wilks on drums, Crabclaw Tromans on piano and Shark van Schtoop on bass, as well as King Pleasure himself on vocals.

Mark said: "We'll be playing lots of different numbers, but all in the same boogie woogie, jump jive style. We do lots of old time obscure stuff and our own stuff."

Catch King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys at 12 midnight on the Municipal Hall international stage on Monday.