Singer Heather Nova is about to hit the road on a European tour and a handful of Bermudians are going along in support of her act.

Musicians Taylor Rankin, Michael McPhee and Joy Barnum have signed on for various parts of the month-long tour.

The October concerts will be documented by videographer Alia Hamza. The road leading to the performances has been a long one for Ms Barnum, who sang gospel music until 2005.

A chance meeting with guitarist Mathew Joseph led to a performance with him and it was there Ms Nova first heard her sing.

Ms Barnum was then approached by Mr. McPhee. He'd also heard her sing and was interested in starting a rock band. From there, the band Joy T. Barnum and the Channel was born.

Earlier this year, the Bermuda School of Music asked Ms Nova and Ms Barnum to perform at their annual fund-raising concert, Some Enchanted Evening. Funds raised at the event are used to help pay for students who cannot afford voice lessons.

"After that she walked right up to me and said, 'I want you to go on tour with me'," said Ms Barnum.

"So [after] five years, she figured that I had enough piddling around and honing my skills and figuring out how to present myself in public to take me and not be an embarrassment to her, but an asset. And that's really great."

The tour runs throughout October. Mr. Rankin will serve as Ms Nova's opening act for the first two weeks of concerts. Ms Barnum will step in for the second half, beginning October 15.

"This is a really beautiful example of a Bermudian reaching down to help other potentially super successful Bermudians," said Miss Hamza.

"And she has really left everything down to Joy. She's like 'this is an opportunity, you need to organise all the logistics and everything. The opportunity to get on stage has been afforded but the rest is up to you'."

The group will travel in a RV to save hotel and transportation costs a minimum of $2,500 is needed for rental and petrol costs.

A fund-raising concert has been planned for 8.30 p.m. on Saturday at Rock Island Coffee, to help them on their way.

Tickets are $20 on the door. Online donations can be made to Bank of Butterfield account 20006060818953200. Print out the confirmation page and bring it as proof of purchase for entry.

Also Saturday's concert is a bring your own bottle (BYOB) event.

Tickets for the October tour can be purchased on www.heathernova.com.