BLACK Celebration gear up for their European debut with an electric set at the Limelight next Thursday.

January's eight-hour convention drew Depeche Mode fans from across the globe, travelling from as far and wide as the US, the Czech Republic and Portugal to make the Crewe gig.

Now the band are set to go international themselves with a date in Copenhagen definitely in the bag for next month

Regarded as the closest thing to Mode live, the word on Black Celebration continues to spread.

And the original band's label Mute are curious enough to check them out when they play the Danish capital.

"Things are going well," explained BC's Mart - Jeff Hitchings.

"We've got a gig in Copenhagen on May 7 with all the flights and hotels paid for.

"It came about from a big meet-up in Amsterdam with a lot of Depeche fans singing our praises.

"There was a guy there with a link to this venue in Copenhagen and it was really whatever it costs to get us there.

"It should be good and Mute in Demark are supposed to be there.

"We've generated some interest and they could be at the Limelight gig as well."

With frontman Steve Heath always the perfect Dave Gahan and more recent recruit John Cooper, the trio will give UK Mode fans what they want in the Limey.

"Rehearsals have been going really smooth," added Jeff.

"In the Mart section, there's a couple of new songs so that makes it something different for me.

"It'll be a mixed set again with the classics in there along with a few B-sides.

"It's not a Saturday but we're still hoping to get a decent crowd in."

As usual to make it a night of pure Mode revelling, there'll be a DM disco at 8.30pm before the gig with another stint from the DJ afterwards.

Black Celebration go live at 9.30pm and tickets are £5.