Check out Of Kings And Captains and Arcade Parade

catches up with the region's best unsigned acts and meets the musical stars of tomorrow - this week Of King And Captains and Arcade Parade.

They don't like to be pigeon-holed, they say they are original and distinct, they are Of Kings And Captains.

This Stourbridge four-piece band is the one to watch this week after its members claim they are the only band to have played every Party in the Park festival earlier this year alongside X Fctor's Leon Jackson.

After successfully passing auditions the band was selected to entertain crowds at events held in Stourbridge, Bath, Northampton and Derby.

Luke Wassell, lead vocals and guitarist, said: "It was really good to play at the Party in the Park events and there were different audiences with people aged from 13-years-old to 15-years-old and up to those who were 50-years-old and 60-years-old."

The band, which has been together for just under a year, doesn't like to put its sound into a particular category but at a push the musicians reveal they play music with a rock and roll/pop-rock feel. Their influences include "anything from Jimmy Eat World to Manic Street Preachers" and they like to describe their music as "energetic and catchy and usually quite lively".

Of Kings And Captains is made up of Wassell, Josh Daniel Lomas on backing vocals and guitar, drummer Kieran Lock and bassist and backing vocalist Dean Greatbatch.

Their latest record, Gossip, was recently played over the airwaves thanks to Kerrang Radio. The group has also been seen playing across the region at gigs as well as standing on the Kerrang Stage at Urban K-Boot.

The band have a passion for music and love to play. They have been in various different bands before forming as Of Kings and Captains.

Wassell said: "I have been playing music for about eight or nine years.

"The drummer in the band now is my original drummer from the first band I had at school

"We are like a second family. If you get on with your other band members it is great and can be a lot of fun. We always have a great time at gigs and we like to create a good sound."

The group recently had one of its records produced by Wolverhampton producer Gavin Monaghan and his team. These are the people behind the production of records for top bands including the Editors, Paolo Nutini, Primal Scream and Robert Plant of Led Zepplin.

Wassell said the group is now writing new material and playing a number of shows along the way. The next gig will be at Birmingham O2 academy, in Birmingham, on December 7 and they will also be making a festive appearance at Katie Fitzgeralds, in Stourbridge, for a Christmas party alongside The Pargeters on December 23.

All gig dates can be found on their facebook page www.facebook.com/ofkingsandcaptains and the group is also on www.Myspace.com/ofkingsandcaptains

Last week I revealed a band that was battling to play with chart-topping band McFly on its April tour and another group from the region also looking to get the spot is Telford band Arcade Parade.

The lads, who have been busy writing and practicing their material, are calling on people to vote for them in the competition. Just visit http://supercity.mcfly.com/battleofthebands and put their name in the search box.

The group is still going strong and always looking to increasing its fanbase by playing numerous gigs. They recently played at The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton as part of Emma Scott Presents.

The members will also soon be back in the studio to record a five/six track EP.