Not on a label

Formed by Joanne and Sharon Billesdon, Outsiders played their first gig as a three-piece with Peter Vangioni on drums at the fabled Hellfire Club in Lyttelton. Alan Wright joined later for a Fall tribute night at the same venue. The band quickly clicked and began to jam and write their own songs, playing live once or twice a year, depending on the weather, the state of global politics, and available gigs.

When Cam arrived the propulsive twin guitar attack of the band was tempered and refined. Nicole was invited to add a keyboard part to a song for an upcoming show and stayed to play the whole set. Within the week, she was recording with the band at Nightshift Studio. Manumit, the first release by Outsiders, was recorded in a single afternoon in August 2021 and mixed by JB Billows at home over the next few months.

All members of Outsiders have a long history in Christchurch music. The Billesdon twins have been rock n’ roll icons for many over the years and a special inspiration for female musicians and fans alike.

Those lucky enough to have seen SNORT will know that Sharon and Joanne were the IM (impossible mission) force behind the band.

Al first picked up a saxophone at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. On returning to Christchurch, he enrolled in the McCabe-Brannigan School of Music and first played with Joanne in a crossdressing variant of the AXMEN before embarking on a prolonged period of semi-retirement.

Meanwhile, Vangioni was quietly tapping away on drums for several decades including with one of the city's favourite country and western covers band Shadow of the Valley while also making electric feedback noises with the indescribable Purple Mountain Eagle.

Cameron John Walker was the second latest human to join the group; his musical projects range from jazz, rock, noise and experimental pop and has played in Invercargill, Hawai’i and Finland (in a rockabilly band to an audience of Sami reindeer herders) before gigging in Chch with the Dialtones.

Nicole Moffat performed as the lead female vocalist in Christchurch supergroup and covers band The Trillionaires, one of the most thrilling live dance bands the city has ever produced. A talented multi-instrumentalist, she has played electric violin in the Terminals and is a longstanding member of the Dark Matter string section.

Musical influences include Tinariwen, RL Burnside, ESG, Link Wray, Ethiopian music and the Ex, Nikki Sudden, Bonnie Prince Billy, Albert Ayler, glam rock, punk rock, the Electric Mayhem, Polvo, Melvins, the Bonniwell Music Machine, Pentangle

Guitar / vocals : Joanne Billesdon
Bass : Sharon Billesdon
Saxophone / vocals : Alan Wright
Keys : Nicole Moffat
Drums : Peter Vangioni
Guitar : Cameron Walker