A BLUEGRASS band from south Buckinghamshire hopes to make inroads in to America, as they prepare to launch their third album.

Papa Truck will release their new album, Further Down the Road, which was recorded in London, with a gig at Norden Farm tonight.

The former four-piece has added a fiddler to their ranks for a fuller, more authentic Bluegrass sound and Martin Selman - vocalist and guitarist - hopes their new material will expand their following.

He said: "I’ve always wanted to add a fiddler to the band and Mia really gives us that traditional Bluegrass sound and feel. Some of the songs are uplifting, some are a little darker than our previous stuff.

"We always like to have a local reference in there, so in this case we have Cut Throat Woods in Holtspur for a darker song. It’s more of the same, a little bit darker, but better than our previous albums.

"Our following is growing, we are playing festivals, and we are really looking forward to going back to Norden Farm - it’s a great theatre."

The band has now been jamming together for ten years, after it was formed by Martin and Dan, who plays the banjo, back in 2004.

Papa Truck released their previous albums in 2007 and 2009 respectively, before they took a break while Martin and his wife welcomed two children to the family.

But they reassembled in the studio in January after honing their sound, which previously attracted radio play and praise from America - with a prominent Chicago DJ saying ‘wow, these guys could pass for Yanks!’

Martin said: "We play for fun but we would really like to go over to the US one day, get some recognition and give them a run for their money.

"Our old stuff received plays on local radio out in the states and we are really proud of our new album, as it has taken us five years to hone our sound and write the songs, so hopefully something will happen."

Papa Truck play Norden Farm tonight from 8pm. Tickets cost £14 from 01628 788997 or www.nordenfarm.org.

For more information about the band visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Papa-Truck/17006429580?sk=info