Val Verde won Clyde1 Radio’s competition earlier this year to open for Bon Jovi on their Open Air Tour at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium.

The unsigned indie rock band from Dunfermline beat hundreds in the bid for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Kirsty Stewart and Klara Louise Dixon caught up with Ryan, Robbie, Magnus, Kenny and Kyle.

Tell us about your experience with Clyde1’s competition.

“We entered on a whim. A friend heard about the competition and told me, ‘You should go in for the Bon Jovi support band’, but we didn’t think we would win it - it’s Bon Jovi after all - but she persuaded us to go for it.

“We then received a phone call after saying we were down to the last three. The day we were told was actually really good. We had just come back from a gig in Glasgow which ended up being cancelled. Then we came back and found out that we were down to the last three. When we won we couldn’t believe it, until the next day it was all over Facebook. Then we knew it must be true.”

Were you together long before this happened?

“Yes, we had been together for years since school. Magnus joined just before Christmas. We wanted to work on getting a bigger sound, so it worked out really well getting to perform in a stadium like Murrayfield.”

How did you come up with the name Val Verde?

“One of us used to watch Commando all the time. Apparently in any film if they want to use a South American country but they don’t want to name it, for example ‘This is Columbia’, they just call it Val Verde.

“It crops up in a few different films. Plus it’s alliteration, so it sounds nice.”

How did you feel before your performance at the Bon Jovi concert?

“It was okay until a big guy with an American accent shouted ‘5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, Go! Go!’

“We had been there all day, so we had a chance to get on stage beforehand. That got us relaxed and used to it which made it a lot easier. We thought we would be really nervous but it was fine in the end.

“We came out and heard the crowd cheer and we all looked at each other as if to say, ‘This is bizarre’.”

Has the competition opened up more doors for you?

“The exposure has been great. We have had a lot of radio, management opportunities, and possibly other tours. As soon as this came along, more doors opened. As soon as your name’s out there, it puts you on a pedestal.”

Are Val Verde managed by anyone at the moment?

“We’ve had a couple of people within the last few weeks showing interest and wanting to do that job, but we are just kind of mulling over what to do and whether or not to take them up on their offer.”

Who influences you musically?

“It is really varied. Radiohead is a main influence, as well as The Doors, Arcade Fire and even some early U2.”

How would you describe your music?

“Noisy and big. If we had to define it, it would probably be indie rock. But categories are so meaningless nowadays. Before we always envisaged ourselves as a stadium rock band and now we have done this. Your songs keep changing so it is hard to define.””

What reaction from the public have you received since winning the competition?

“The last week’s been great. We’ve had a lot of radio play. Jim Gellatly from Clyde 1 is right behind us and has been playing our material every week, as well as Rave 102.”

Did you get a chance to meet Bon Jovi or the other support band Vintage Trouble?

“We were going to go on a hunt for Bon Jovi but I don’t think anyone has got to meet them. They went straight to the stage from the bus and whizzed away again. Apparently they went back to the airport and fly to Amsterdam. I think they’re based there for all their European tours.

“We met Vintage Trouble, they were really nice guys. We actually borrowed a mirror off them. We listened to their album a couple of days ago, it was good. It’s all soul, the singer’s got a great voice and the guitarist is just amazing.”

What’s next for Val Verde?

“Our original plan was to take the whole summer off and come back as a Bon Jovi cover band. On a serious note, the plan was to practise all summer and write new material. We were going to cloister ourselves away in a cottage somewhere but because of the exposure we’ve got, we have to make the most out of this because it could all change.

“It was weird because everything has been building up to this for so long. Our life has just been practising and focused towards today.

“Now it’s been and gone, it was a brilliant and fantastic experience. We just need to keep pushing forward.”

Val Verde will be playing at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow on Saturday July 23.