The Left Outsides formed in Camberwell, London in Summer 2004. They are:

Alison Cotton - vocals, viola, recorder, melodica
Mark Nicholas - vocals, guitar, bass, glockenspiel

To date, all recordings have been self produced using 4-track analogue tape machines and acoustic instruments. A recent recording, a cover of the Brian Jonestown Massacre song 'The Ballad of Jim Jones', was featured as part of the BJM covers project.

Mark is a former member of Arrowe Hill, whilst Alison was previously a member of British Air Power and Saloon, who scored a No. 1 in John Peel's festive fifty in 2002. She has also played viola on releases by bands such as Comet Gain, Television Personalities and Do Me Bad Things. She is also a current member of January.