NEWT Beer Festival is less then two weeks away and excitement is building as bands prepare for the annual North Newton event.

Folk/rock outfit The Outcast Band is on the line-up for the two-day festival on July 8 and 9.

After five years of “touring massively” in the ’90s the band took a break ... now 15 years later they are back together, having reignited their excitement for their sound.

The Mercury spoke to lead singer Damien Kay.

He said: “It was surprisingly easy to take up where we left off and the response we’ve had so far has been lovely.

“On the festival circuit you are generally playing to people who don’t know your music and they are the best audiences.

“We thought we’d appeal to people in their 40s but we get a real mixture of people dancing around and getting involved.”

The Outcast Band didn’t set out to have a folk tinge to their music, leaning towards a rockier sound, but by trying to introduce “interesting instrumentation” they have ended up with songs that ooze the carefree excitement of folk.

Playing a range of instruments from accordion to violin, hammond organ to guitar, this six-strong band combine vibrant melodies with a musical prowess that takes their music to a different league.

Listen out for November, Home by the Sea, The Longest Mile and Orphan.

Tickets for the Newt are £16 for a day or £27 for the full weekend from Strings ’n’ Things in Bridgwater of via the related link.