(c’91-96) Mike Agate (Drums), Dave Browne (Bass / Bouzouki), Damien Kay (Vocals / Mandolin / Guitar), Miffy Davies (Flute, Whistles, Recorder), Janet Beale (Accordian), Paul Godfrey (Fiddle / Mandolin), and Ryan Daniel (Electric Guitar / Vocals).
The Outcast Band started as a group of seven buskers out of Camberley. Beale left at the end of ’91 to be replaced by Jake Gosling (Accordion / Melodeon), just prior to the bands first proper gig which deployed Christy Pollard as Sound Engineer. Over the course of December ’91 and January ’92 the Backlash recorded 8 tracks with Godfrey at Evolution Studios.
The band entered Delta Studios, Chobham in 1992 and record 10 tracks; mixing and mastering them at the Old Barn Studios, Windlesham, before releasing them as the “10 Songs” demo on the Sticky Songs label. The bands arrangement of traditional folk song “The Raggle Taggle Gypsy” on this demo was recorded live at The Swan, Stockwell. Agate, having developed an repetitive stress injury to the wrist, bowed out and was replaced by Mark Edwards in November ’92. Pollard was temporary and a dedicated full time sound engineer in the form of Pete Catania was welcomed into the fold about the same time.
Life on the road didn’t suit Daniel and Gosling and they departed in March ’93. Ex-Colour Mary guitarist Phil Mills took on the bands 6-string duties, and ex-PressGang member George Whitfield took on Gosling’s role, but only when he could. On 9 October ’93 “The Devil’s Road” Album was released on Art & Soul Records [OUTCD002]. The band must have been doing something right as they were also joined by Alan Baxter as a dedicated merchandiser and Matt Procter as roadie (driver, stage organizer, and lighting engineer).
The Outcast’s toured Germany in early ’94 and Baxter was joined by Lynne Devey to co-run band merch. That summer, having left the band, Mills and Edwards teamed up with John Forrester to form Sunspeak. The band held auditions at Alleycat, Reading and found guitarist Tom Price and a drummer in the form of ex-Sugar Mountain and Something Religious member Dominic Coles.
In ’95 the band released the “Face The Rain” CD EP, on which Mills influence can be heard, also on Art & Soul Records [OUTCD004]; carrying four tracks recorded at White House Studios, Avon: “Home By The Sea”, “Where The River Flows”, “Tired”, and “November”. This was the year of the band embarked on a 55 date UK tour sponsored by Murphy’s Irish Stout. Coles left in ’96 and Edwards returned for the bands last few appearances. The Outcast Band called it a day in 1996, only to reincarnate as a Gloucestershire band in 2008.
Gallery:
Our Soundscene 