A BAND from Newport together just three months has been chosen to support rock legend Chuck Berry when he plays in the city later this year.

Three-piece rockabilly band Livestock Davies and the Lowdown Snakes will warm up for Mr Berry when he performs at the Newport Leisure Centre on December 1, and again at his Swansea gig the following night.

After thirty years in the music business, the prestigious gig is a dream come true for Newport front man and lead guitarist Rob Davies, Newport double bass player Chris Whiting, and drummer Graham Jones.

The three friends performed separately for decades, but earlier this year decided they wanted to play more locally.

When Mr Davies, 48, got talking to one of the organisers of Chuck Berry’s gig at the Newport Centre, he decided to see if his new band’s first major gig could be something extra special.

“I basically just asked!” said Mr Davies, of Caerleon. “After years and years of trying, I was amazed if I just asked they would give us a slot.”

Four days later, the three men were on the bill to play a 25 minute opener for the American rock 'n' roll legend.

“It is a dream come true for me,” said Mr Davies.

”I heard Johnny B. Goode as a child and went out and bought a guitar. He has always been a hero of mine.”

The band's set will include covers from the 1950s, as well as original songs from the their newly recorded album “All Messed Up”.

The nine track CD will also be on sale at the December concerts.

Mr Davies added: “After 33 years on the rock ‘n’ roll scene, I had given up on the idea of ever getting such shows, but it was just a matter of asking. I just hope it might give a bit of hope to struggling Newport musicians who generally see this kind of thing as massive mountain to climb.”