A DARWEN rock band is hoping to hit the big time in 2013 after securing a space on the line-up of a top Manchester gig.

Fear The Fallen have been chosen by Dusk Records to support The Portlands at Manchester Academy Three on March 2.

They will perform alongside The Madding Crowd and Cavan Moran, and tickets cost £6 via www.ticketline.com The band formed in 2010 and last year performed on the main stage at Darwen Live.

Singer Christian Slater said: “We played the main stage at Darwen live and the crowd really responded to our set. We loved the feedback just as much as the crowd seemed to enjoy our music. From that point we knew we had to break into the Manchester music scene to take it to the next level.”

The band are working in the studio on tracks for their upcoming EP release.