THEIR musical standings are vastly different. One is an internationally successful Welsh supergroup with the ability to sell out the country's biggest music venues, the other a well-known and acclaimed up-and-coming Ipswich band more used to performing in pubs and clubs.

THEIR musical standings are vastly different.

One is an internationally successful Welsh supergroup with the ability to sell out the country's biggest music venues, the other a well-known and acclaimed up-and-coming Ipswich band more used to performing in pubs and clubs.

However, their two worlds are soon to meet as Rosco have been offered the support slot at a forthcoming Stereophonics gig.

While the concert has yet to be formally confirmed and its location will not be made public, it is set to take place at a secret location in England in June.

"We're obviously pretty chuffed about it," said Rosco guitarist Jel Hueting.

Singer Erica Nicholls added: "We only got the call on Tuesday night and are very excited. We love the Stereophonics. They're absolutely fantastic."

"Adam (Clarkson) will feel quite tall because Kelly Jones is only about five foot tall," she added of the height of band's other guitarist in comparison to the Stereophonics' frontman.

This will not be the first time Rosco will have shared the bill with a major recording act. In November last year the band - whose line up is completed by George Fothergill on drums and Doug Blackett on bass - were invited to perform at Ipswich's Children In Need concert which saw them performing on the same stage as the S Club Juniors. However, it will be the first time they have performed with a hugely successful band of the same ilk.

And the concert will come soon after the pop-punk band return from their first tour of America. They fly out to the States on Tuesday before heading out on a 12-day journey from the east coast to the west with performances every day, record store signings, interviews and radio appearances.

"We've been working really hard getting ready for this big tour and have spent every spare minute rehearsing and writing lots of cool new songs," said Erica.

"We had some interest from a couple of publishing companies in LA and said if they were really keen we may go over. To begin with we intended to do a couple of dates in LA but it's just grown from there."

"I have always wanted to play at CBGB's in New York," she continued. "It's a legendary place - it's where bands play before they get signed and people The Ramones made their debut there. I've heard the toilets are quite minging though.

"We said we'd make a few phone calls but going to New York would all depend on whether we got the gig at CBGB's as it would be a good omen. We got the gig."

Following the US tour and the Stereophonics gig Rosco, who formed in 2000, are intending to take a break before heading back into the studio to record again. Their last release, Capital Star EP has sold out since in went on sale in March and has secured the band more and more fans, including Radio 1 DJ John Peel and many music press critics.

Weblink: www.roscomusic.com

www.stereophonics.com

The Stereophonics

Line up: Kelly Jones (guitar/vocals), Richard Jones (bass) and Stuart Cable (drums)

From: Cwmaman, a village in south Wales.

Formed: Kelly and Stuart started playing in bands together from the age of 11; a few years later they asked Richard to join them.

Music: They were the first band to signed to Richard Branson's V2 label in 1996 and released their debut single, Looks Like Chaplin, that same year. Their debut album Word Gets Around released in 1997. Follow-up releases included albums Performances and Cocktails (1999) and Just Enough Education To Perform (2001) and more than 15 singles. Their latest single Madame Helga entered the chart at number four on Sunday and their fourth album, You Gotta Go There To Come Back is released on Monday.

Other: The band were originally known as Tragic Love Company. The band's sell out concert at Cardiff Castle in 1998 marked the first time a band had played there since Queen in 1978. In 1999 they were the last band to perform at Swansea's Morfa Athletics Stadium before it was demolished.

Rosco

Line up: Erica Nicholls (vocals), Jel Hueting (guitar), Adam Clarkson (guitar), Doug Blackett (bass) and George Fothergill (drums)

From: In and around Ipswich, in Suffolk

Formed: In 2000. Jel and Erica split from former band Modicum and joined forces with Adam who they knew from playing at the Milestone. Doug and George then came on board.

Music: Capital Star EP was released in March and features the title track, Safe and Sound and Time.

Other: When they played at the Children In Need concert in November last year their set was doubled to half an hour when S Club pulled out of performing. At the band's launch party in London in January many fans faced a nine-hour journey home following snow storms. Erica was invited to appear on Channel 4's The Salon.