The group was formed in 1981 when high-flying surgeon and flamboyant fiddler Peter McDonald strolled into Hardware House in Romsey and asked the proprietor, Dave Butterfield, if he could play the banjo. Dave still claims that he can! Soon other musicians were found.

The band lacked a name and, after much fierce debate, Innominata was chosen, supposedly meaning the nameless ones. However, some who have Latin O Level maintain it means the nameless girls! Nevertheless, a star turn was born.

Several metamorphoses over the intervening years have produced the current four-man line-up, of whom two (Dave and Mike) are founder members. The repertoire still consists of tunes and songs from all over Great Britain and Ireland, with the occasional Breton and Eastern European influences thrown in.