With a name like The Travelling Band, you'd expect a large cavalcade of sideshow freaks, creaky caravans and a never-ending tour, much like Bob Dylan's Circus and Big Top. Not so - for a start, these boys are a typically band of merry folk-pranksters, not so large in numbers and, according to their hilarious tour blog in The Independent last year, not too keen on travelling at all (ferries - don't mention ferries).

Not yet swanking it up in a luxury tour coach whilst occupying two lanes of your average UK motorway, The Travelling Band are currently still resigned to sea-swept despair on yawing cross-channel unmentionables, but with a highly-acclaimed second-album 'Screaming is Something' already leaving a trail in its wake, their label Cooking Vinyl must be rubbing their collective hands in glee at the thought of album number three. Until then, the multi-instrumentalists are building upon their reputation as an exciting live prospect, started some six years ago in New York City (via Manchester). After winning the New Talent Award at Glastonbury 2008, things have just got better and better.

For 2012, the lads have some familiar territory to invade during the summer - it's festivals all the way with slots at Bearded Theory, In The Pines, Chagstock, Beautiful Days and more, before heading out on a larger than usual headlining hoedown across the UK. First stop on the 'Hands Up' tour is Norwich on 27th September, followed by Lowdham, Leicester, Cardiff, Bristol and loads (and we mean, 'loads') more until the final pairing in Brighton (20th Oct) and London's Lexington (21st). We will have tickets on Wednesday 16th May for most of the shows, with many costing £10 or less - a bargain for such a top band.