Wikipedia

The Outcast Band

Not to be confused with Outkast.

The Outcast Band are a folk-rock band from Stroud, Gloucestershire.[1] The band have played over 500 shows to audiences from London to Berlin, at festivals including Glastonbury, Guilfest, Wychwood, Trowbridge, The Acoustic Festival of Britain, and Heineken Big Tops, as well as a 52 date UK university tour and a number of European festivals.[2]

The Outcast Band
Background information
OriginStroud, Gloucestershire, England
GenresAlternative rock, Folk-rock
Years active1991–1996
2008–present
LabelsThirsty Dog Records
MembersDamien Kay
Paul Godfrey
Tom Price
John Forrester
Matt White
Helen Leask[1]
Past membersDave Browne
Miffy Davies
Phil Mills
Ryan Daniel
Mike Agate
Mark Edwards
Jake Gosling
George Whitfield
Dominic Coles
Websiteoutcastband.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata

The band toured extensively in the 1990s, including on the festival circuit, and have been reported as one of the biggest bands on local scenes at that time. Following a break in 1996, they reformed in 2008 with a new lineup.[3][4][5][6] The band plays regularly in their hometown of Stroud, and are known to pull large crowds when headlining the Fringe Festival.[7][8] The band are represented by Eden Music Management.[9]

The Longest Mile

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In December 2009, the band met with record producer Phil Tennant, who is known for producing albums for artists such as The Levellers, The Waterboys, and The Saw Doctors, and for discovering Pixie Lott.[5][10] After listening to demo tracks, Tennant agreed to produce their next album.[5] Tennant and the band recorded the album, The Longest Mile, at Rockfield Studios in Wales with engineer, Adam Whittaker.[4][11]

The album was released in November 2010, after reported high anticipation with it reaching #2 on the Amazon pre-order chart.[12][13][14] The first single from the album was "Orphans".[10]

The Longest Mile has been reviewed as "an ambitious record that creates a dark and brooding atmosphere, contrasted by lighter and sweeter moments. Featuring distinctive vocals, raw folk instrumentals, and fresh, poetic lyrics".[15] In the review by Paul Kerr for Maverick Magazine, he stated that The Longest Mile was "an album to be listened to with the seatbelt strapped on".[16]

Personnel

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  • Damien Kay – vocals, guitar, mandolin
  • Paul Godfrey – violin, mandolin
  • Tom Price - guitar, mandolin
  • John Forrester - bass guitar, vocals
  • Matt White - drums
  • Helen Leask - Accordion, Piano, Hammond

Discography

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Albums

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  • 10 Songs (demo, 1992 - Sticky Songs)[17]
  • The Devil's Road (1993 - Art & Soul OUTCD002)[17]
  • The Longest Mile (2010 - Thirsty Dog Records)[3][12][16]

Singles and EPs

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  • "Face The Rain" (1995 - Art & Soul OUTCD004)[17]
  • "Orphans" (2010)[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "THE OUTCAST BAND". Wickham Festival. 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  2. ^ "THE OUTCAST BAND". Wychwood Festival. 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "OUTCAST BAND The Longest Mile [ ... ]". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd. 14 November 2010. ProQuest 763716900. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024. OUTCAST BAND The Longest Mile (Thirsty Dog)ACK in July 1996 the Brit folk rockers went into the studio, exhausted after a 52-date tour, and began recording a new album. Midway, they broke for a fortnight's holiday and never got back together again until now. The wait was worthwhile - this is an excellent set driven by rock guitar and folk fiddle. Not as folky as Bellowhead, not as rocky as the Dave Matthews Band, The Longest Mile strides between. Best served fast and furious, the title track and Hurricane Day are irresistible. PC
  4. ^ a b Falconer, Ben (19 March 2010). "Make us huge like Pixie Lott". Gloucestershire Citizen. ProQuest 425094094. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024. Since reforming as a five-piece in 2008, the Outcast Band has taken the local and national gig scene by storm with high-energy performances bringing crowds to a floor-stomping climax throughout Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, the Home Counties and London.
  5. ^ a b c Minard, Jenny (27 October 2010). "The Outcast Band get set for gig after reforming". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024. The Outcast Band were one of the biggest bands in Reading in the early 90s. They sold out such legendary venues as the RBH Club and the Granby.
  6. ^ "The Outcast Band prepare for Newt". Bridgwater Mercury. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Headliners announced for this year's Stroud Fringe". Stroud News and Journal. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024. Based in Stroud, The Outcast Band are festival veterans, and have headlined the Fringe before. In 2010, their show brought one of the biggest Friday night crowds we have ever seen, and we are delighted they are bringing their fast-paced, foot-stomping folk-punk-rock back to the Bank Gardens on the Saturday of this year's Fringe.
  8. ^ "Cast out to the Albert". Stroud News and Journal. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  9. ^ "So, you wanna be famous?". Getreading.co.uk. 20 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Pixie Lott producer helps Stroud band The Outcasts | Gloucestershire news". This is Gloucestershire. 17 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. ^ "The Longest Mile". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Albums". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 26 November 2010. ProQuest 813133034. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024. Number two in the Amazon folk chart preorders so there's a market for this fast and furious country folk with a hefty injection of punk and a great vocalist in Damien Kay. Dance to this and you won't be able to walk for a week. It's not often you hear so much from violins and mandolins. No doubt the Gloucestershire band will be a joy live and are already firm festival favourites.
  13. ^ "The Outcast Band Competition". London Net. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  14. ^ "The Outcast Band album | Hot Off The Press". RedHotVelvet.co.uk. 31 December 2010. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Introducing: The Outcast Band". Southsonic.com. 27 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011.
  16. ^ a b Kerr, Paul (February 2011). "THE LONGEST MILE". Maverick Magazine (103): 73. ISSN 1477-8173. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024. While the frenetic thrash of the majority of the songs here immediately catches the listener's ear there are several ballads such as To Be Someone and Wreckage that are muscular and ultimately more rewarding than the initial raggle taggle buzz engendered by the showstoppers. An album to be listened to with the seatbelt strapped on.
  17. ^ a b c "The Outcast Band". OurSoundScene.org. 26 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
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