AN UNSIGNED band from Bromsgrove have been handed the gig of a lifetime after being invited to support superstar James Blunt in Birmingham next week.

Pop-folk group Grafton Ash will join James at Arena Birmingham (formerly the Barclaycard Arena) for his gig on Tuesday, November 21.

The band have been drafted in as a late replacement for singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson, who had to pull out of providing support for Blunt's The Afterlove Tour.

And the foursome have described the chance to open up for James as "a dream come true".

Vocalist Dan Roberts said: "It's incredible news. We found out just last week and since then it's been a whirlwind of preparation for the gig.”

Drummer Dan Blake added: "This is our biggest show to date, our first arena - it's a huge opportunity for us.”

The group formed in Bromsgrove in 2015 and, despite being unsigned, have shared the stage with The Feeling, The Fratellis and Reef, and played sold out shows at the Birmingham O2 Institute and London O2 Academy Islington.

Their debut EP ‘Avalanche’ was selected as BBC Introducing's Track of the Week upon its release in 2015.

The band is made up of Dan Roberts on vocals and guitar, Dan Blake on vocals and drums, Stephen Ashford on guitar, and Sam Dimmick on bass.

Dan and his band headlined Bromsgrove festival PerFest in August, raising almost £5,000 for the bereavement maternity suite at Worcestershire Royal Hospital where Dan Roberts and his partner Samantha's baby Poppy was born sleeping at 18 weeks in May.