Recently, the four-piece rock band richlife won a battle-of-the-bands competition run by Mercia FM to support Bon Jovi at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

The group is made up of guitarist Ben Gurney, from Castle Mound in Brackley, bass player James Lee Archer, from Hinton-in-the-Hedges, vocalist Richard Sharples, from Fenny Compton, and drummer Nathan Anderson-Barr, from Shotteswell.

The foursome already had plenty of gig experience, having played alongside the likes of Mark Owen, Girls Aloud, The Sugababes, Jamelia and Slade, but had never performed in front of such a large crowd.

Mr Sharples, 18, said: "It was awesome. It was such a big opportunity, really a dream gig for all of us.

"We all like Bon Jovi and went to see them a couple of years ago, but we'd never have thought we would be supporting them later on down the line.

"It's just incredible to walk out in front of that many people."
Even Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi was spotted enjoying richlife's half-hour support slot before the main concert.

A rock band, they draw their inspiration from music of the 1970s and '80s.