AMBITIOUS Blackburn band Rocketdog have given themselves a year out in a bid to launch their musical careers.

The quartet of lead singer Darryl Smith, guitarist Mark Duckworth, bassist Gaz Marshall and drummer Matt Berry got together during their time at Blackburn College.

With the foursome all studying on the Access To Music course, their beginnings were little more than four mates jamming together in a college rehearsal room.

But by the time they graduated earlier this year, they'd represented the college at both regional and national gigs and been voted the best band of the course.

Darryl said: "We were jamming in one of the rehearsal rooms one afternoon and it was just obvious, even after the first song we wrote, we knew had something special going on."

Now standing on their own feet away from the college environment, they've decided to spend the next 12 months putting the band on the map.

Building the framework of their unique sound on reference points as diverse as Paul Weller, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Incubus, the lads have set up a strict practice regime.

With regular rehearsals and a constant flow of new material keeping things fresh within the band, everything seems to be moving in the right direction.

And next month the lads play their biggest show to date, supporting the Complete Stone Roses at King George's Hall.

With the original Roses such a massive influence on confident frontman Darryl, it's a show that promises to be extra special.

He said: "We snapped their hand off when they contacted us. We wanted to do the gig last time they played in Blackburn but after we missed that one we put our names down for any other support spots."

Playing on the better stage and to a larger audience is an experience that will stand the band in good stead and one they hope to repeat.

Darryl said: "It's the best gig we've had so far and we've got people coming to see us, so hopefully it'll lead to bigger and better things."

With their sights on firmly set on the Manchester scene and then London, the ambitions of this group are sky high.

Darryl said: "We need to get into Manchester and then break London . . . and then we'll take on the world."