FOR most bands, losing a member a month before a highly anticipated year could shatter preparations - for The Black Circles it was a window for opportunity.

After forming in 2008, the Appleton trio, and best friends, Sam Bratley, Martin Saunders and Josh Winter had ambitious visions to achieve global recognition, together.

Hopes of that dream coming to fruition came to an end last November when drummer Josh made a damning announcement to his fellow blues rock band members after seemingly falling out of love with the project.

Although slightly anticipated, once Josh made his intentions to leave known, it proved to be a slightly difficult period for Sam and Martin - but both admit the new chapter could spell success.

"With the tour coming up this year, it was a bit gutting because he's been part of it since the start so it would have been nice to have done the dates together," said 22-year-old Sam.

"We always said, no matter how far we go, it would be the cherry on the cake if we had done everything together since the start.

"But at the end of the day it is up to him, we weren't going to stop him and in a way it is a breath of fresh air, we can get on with going in the direction that we want to."

The band will remain as a duo for the time being but musician Phil Wilson has stepped up to help fill the void left and will be assisting The Black Circles in sustaining development over what is tipped to be a memorable year.

Amid the whirlwind end to last year, attention now turns to this year's UK tour, where Sam and Martin will be supporting blues guitarist Laurence Jones, as well as opening for Virgil and the Accelerators in May.

The tour will run from February to July, with the closing show in nearby Newton-le-Willows heralded as a 'homecoming', and Martin, aged 23, admits the current shape of the blues scene provides a chance to excel.

"If you look at artists on the scene, the big names are getting quite old so it is refreshing to see young people coming through - they are the next generation," he said.

"We put a modern twist on the blues and that makes the younger people dig it."

Sam added: "What is also nice is that some of the older fans are in the mindset of buying a record and watching you perform as that was the only way they could do it in their day, so it is good to see them at the gigs."

With the band's first tour performance at the The Met theatre, in Bury, on February 13 fast approaching, one thing is for sure - The Black Circles will not allow anything to distract them in their pursuit of star status.