Backwater were an indie rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The beginning of the group initially started in 1990 as a punk rock outfit with Barry Peak (vocals) & Boyd Lowe (guitar) with a "now-forgotten rhythm section". After several years they settled down with Ryan McAuley (bass) and Richard Bassett (drums).
They began to get media attention at about the same time as Ash with reviewers & journalists lumping them together as a ‘Ulsterpunk’ phenomenon. The band’s first two singles, ‘Didactic No’ and ‘Supercool’, achieved airplay from BBC Radio and other stations; support slots with the likes of Urusei Yatsura, Sebadoh and, bizarrely, Def Leppard followed. In 1995 they recorded their debut album for Ché Records but wasn't released until over a year later, by which time Bassett, sick of touring, had been replaced by Shaun Robinson. Shortly after their debut 'Angels Are Cool' released, Lowe left the band. Backwater continued as a trio for a short time before disbanding. Peak, McAuley and Robinson later worked together in Torgas Valley Reds.
Links to Peel[]
The band recorded a session for the show in December 1996 at Maida Vale Studio 4. It was produced by Mike Engles and engineered by Julian Markham
The session was aired the next year, but no other material was played by them by John after that point.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1996-12-08. Broadcast: 04 January 1997.
- Your Prerogative / Crucify Me / Supercool / Burn Baby Burn
Other Shows Played[]
Supercool - Backwater
1995
- 25 November 1995: Didactic No (split 7" with Bear - Didactic No / Disposable) X-Ten X10 03
1996
- 12 January 1996: Supercool (7") (Ché Trading)
- 03 February 1996: Supercool (7") ché Ché 48
- 03 August 1996: In These Last Days (I See That First Smile) (7") Gorgonzola
- 10 August 1996 (BFBS): In These Last Days (I See That First Smile) (7") (Gorgonzola)