A NORTH-EAST band are preparing to fly to America to record their first album.

Alternative melodic rock band The Silence are hoping the trip will be their big break in the music industry.

The group includes siblings Max Griffiths, 17, and Olivia Griffiths, 16, of Bishop Auckland, Liam Slack, 18, of Fishburn, Rory Ruddick, 24, of Durham City, and Gary Johnston, 25, of Blyth.

The band recently signed a five-year contract with a Miami music producer after being spotted on their European tour in Spain, while performing at a concert originally planned for Duran Duran.

Their manager, Paul Griffiths, said: “It’s three weeks until we go out but they are really excited about it. They have a lot of hard work ahead of them but it will be worth it.”

The trip includes recording an album, shooting a video and performing to a 25,000-strong crowd at the Florida Music Festival.

They will then return to the North-East to perform at festivals and gigs in the region, before heading on tours of Florida and Europe.