GAZ Birtles admits that the past few months have been a major learning experience for him even though he has had a lifetime of being a musician.

For Gaz moved from being saxophone player to taking on lead vocal duties for The South when previous singer Dave Hemingway decided to retire from touring.

“It was a bit like entering another world,” said Gaz, who will be with the band when they come to Burnley Mechanics on Saturday night.

The South are a unique band. Formed by former members of The Beautiful South they have become as popular as the original band performing classic songs such as A Little Time, Rotterdam and Perfect 10.

Although he spent over 25 years as part of the band’s brass section, Gaz is actually no stranger to being behind the microphone. In the 1980s he was the singer with the Swinging Laurels who were singed to Warner Brothers and supported big names such as Culture Club.

“That did give me a little taster of what was to come I suppose,” he said. “I even did Top of the Pops but that was playing brass with the Fun Boy Three.”

“When Dave retired last Christmas we did wonder about packing it in but promoters and venues said people still wanted the songs and told us to get another singer in.

“We were going to audition people but then I thought ‘I could do that’ although they are all in really hard keys to sing. It was all a bit high for me at first but I’ve worked hard to do them justice.

“I’d never really sung for an hour and a half before, you have to get used to that.”

One of the features of the songs written by original Beautiful South lead singer Paul Heaton are the complex lyrics.

“I was like most people in that I knew the chorus to the songs but even though I’d been in the band since 89, it wasn’t until I had to sing the whole song that I read all the lyrics. There were some songs I’d swear I’d never heard that line before.

“It made me realise even more what a fantastic lyricist and writer Paul is. Some of the twists and turns in the songs are fantastic and some of the things he sings about are so unusual, and yet it all works.

“They are like short stories.

“Before I was singing with the band I wondered why Paul needed a music stand for the lyrics and why Dave had them scattered on the floor. Now I realise why.

“I have a little iPad in front of me with key words to help me along. I hope I’m allowed that luxury. But it’s so important to get the lyrics exactly right.”

The South are not only boasting a new singer on their current tour, they have also added Andy Price on keyboard.

“If you think it was difficult for me, then Andy’s job is so much harder,” said Gaz. “He had to learn so much and he’s done it brilliantly.”

One constant is Alison Wheeler who shares the lead vocals with Gaz.

“She has been an absolute rock for me,” he said. “She is just so professional and note perfect at every show.

“She’s also taking more of a lead in introducing the songs and talking to the audience. This was something that Dave did and I thought I’d be OK with it but actually I got quite tongue tied and she’s really relished the challenge.”

So does Gaz miss not playing the sax after all these years?

“You know what, I don’;t think I’ve picked it up since last year,” he said. “Perhaps I should just to keep my lip in! We do the odd song when I’ll think to myself ‘I used to really enjoy playing that’ but to be honest I don’t miss it. I’m a singer now and it’s just fantastic.”

One of the things which the whole band appreciates are their audiences.

“They are so up for every show,” said Gaz. “They just give everyone such a life. It’s why we go out there because the response we get is just so good.”

The South have already released one original album and Gaz didn’t rule out another.

“We play two or three of those songs in the set and they go down equally as well as any other,” he said.

“I have about half a dozen songs which fit our sound so we’ll just have to see where that leads us.

“But at the moment it’s about the tour and I’ve got to say, I’m loving every minute of it. The whole band is buzzing. We’re having a great time together.”

The South, Burnley Mechanics, Saturday, March 17. Details from 01282 664400 or www.burnleymechanics.co.uk