TRAVELING by National Express might not be the tour bus of choice for One Direction but for The Ben Cipolla Band it is the best and most innovative option a student budget will allow.

It also adds to the excitement for the seven-piece jazz group, fronted by former St John’s student Ben Cipolla, that they are about to embark on their first tour.

London, Bristol and Cirencester are among the places they will be visiting and they are staying loyal to their roots by including a date in Marlborough next week.

“I never thought at 19 I would be organising a tour with my seven-piece band,” said Ben who grew up in Great Bedwyn and is studying popular music at the University of Gloucestershire.

“It's been months of planning, networking and rehearsing but we cannot wait to be on the road.”

It is the latest in a string of successes for the group which formed two years ago. The band members are all boys aged 18-20 who are at university or taking a gap year.

Multitalented singer, songwriter and guitarist Ben, who has been described as a mix between Nick Drake and Paolo Nutini, performed with Clare Teal at the Marlborough International Jazz Festival in 2012, and last year the group was voted best newcomer by the festival goers.

They have also hit the stages of Glastonbury with the Vodka Jellies Band and released their EP Guest House this year on iTunes.

“We are all extremely excited to be going on tour and are looking forward to travelling using National Express - the cheapest way to have your own tour bus whilst we are all students,” Ben added.

“We are also looking forward to returning to our home base Marlborough, where the Marlborough Jazz Festival gave us such a great starting platform last year and since then we have increase our local following.”

Jonny Budd, who is the electric guitarist, also went to St John’s in Marlborough, while bass guitarist Dan Springate went to Marlborough College. Isaac Francis went to Hardenhuish in Chippenham and David Knight went to Sheldon School, also in Chippenham.

The other members Will Downes-Hall and Lawrence Cooper all met when they were at the elite South West Music School.

Next year, they have set their sights on releasing their debut album.

They will be performing at Sound Knowledge in Marlborough on Tuesday, November 17 at 7pm. Entry is free. They are also appearing at The Lamb in Devizes on January 15.

For more information on the tour starting Thursday (12th) go to: bencipolla.com