HAVE wheels will travel......Carlisle band Hardwicke Circus finally has its own tour bus - but to get it on the road it needs adapting.

Singer and frontman Jonny Foster said: "It's all very exciting. Getting the bus is really good news and now we just want to get it on the road.

"It's in fairly good nick and is about 15 years old."

The bus, a former coach, is currently in the south of England but will be heading to Carlisle soon.

Jonny said: "We need to do some work on the interior, basically to transform it. We want 12 bunks put in it and a recording studio and on the bottom level a kitchen and lounge area where we can eat and hang together. We'd also like to put a little fold out stage in - and a coffee machine.

"We're looking for people to help us to fit it out."

Ideally the band needs carpenters, joiners and plumbers or builders merchants who may have any material spare.

Jonny said: "We want to take the bus on tour. We want to go around the UK and Ireland and to Europe.

"What the bus means is we can travel all over and have a roof over our heads 24/7.

"Musicians don't really do this anymore.

"Ideally we'd like to get it on the road by the end of November."

The bus also needs a name.

Jonny said: "Like any respectable ship our new bus needs a name. People can go to our Facebook page and comment on what it should be called. They could win VIP tickets to one of our gigs, a limited edition Hardwicke Circus bundle and even a ride on the bus."

The band currently has a residency at the Hope and Anchor - a music pub in Islington, north London.

Jonny said: "It's where Elvis Costello and a host of other artists started out. It's great that we've got a residency there.

"We spend quite a bit of time in London and tend to be there for a week or two at a time."

The band is hoping to have a gig in Carlisle at Christmas time.

They will be at The Source, Atlas Works, Denton Holme, on Wednesday night (Oct 17).

Songwriter Phillip Rambow, who wrote: "There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" - a song by Kirsty MacColl - will be playing. Rambow, who will be accompanied by Jack Henderson, is most recognised for working with Brian Eno.

Jonny said: "He'll be bringing some of his friends and some other local bands will be performing."

Doors open at 7.30pm and entry is £5 entry.

There will be an open jam session afterwards.

"We are encouraging everybody to come down - beginner or advanced," said Jonny.