The Ray Summers

The Ray Summers are like the cheeky neighbourhood boys that you could’ve mucked about with down the park when you were 15, drinking cheap cider and sneaking your first time fag. I am obviously crossing my own childhood antics with the impression these guys give, but I honestly don’t think I’m far off it.

Although I had seen their name scattered through the lineups at some of the big festivals this year, I never twigged to give them a listen. I suppose it has a lot to do with their genre. When you think of the modern Scottish music scene, the genres that flash past are ambient or alternative and indie, but what does that actually mean? When everyone is trying to be different, then no one is.
The Ray Summers are not in any of those categories, pigeonholes, labels or whatever. They are the true definition of the term “indie”. It means unique, self sufficient, independent of common sound. While so many bands are trying for tragic/romantic echoes of emotion, these guys are playing music of a past time which gets inside your bones. You honestly can’t stop your body from moving to it.

And it truly moved Berry and I. Hints of Cajun rhythm and blues seep through the hot, infectious (that’s right, I’ll wap that word in!) rock and roll, that is reminiscent of American artists Jace Everett, The Black Keys, and Dead Weather. Their sound should be featured in the smash hit TV series of True Blood. (Ladies, does that help get your head round how good their music is?)
The closest Scottish artist to them in terms of sound is Paolo Nutini, and they have in fact already supported him.

We get a call to tell us that their soundcheck is over so we take ourselves to the Vat and Fiddle to catch up with the band’s lead guitarist Dougie, and vocalist Urey, before they are due to hit the stage at the HMV Picture House. The lovely Jackson sorts us out with drinks to keep us occupied.

I admit I was a little under-prepared for their interview, but what makes it worse is that they could not contain their banter. But before I continue with what came next I’ll tell you the tale of how they got their name…
Once upon a time there was a duck called Julian and he had a friend named Arthur the Racoon. One day they were invited to a toga party on the upper east side of Nowhere and Lost Forever, which they thought was beastin’! But it was a pretty tragic series of events. Dante the Hare O.D on talcum powder while Oscar the Otter had his first taste of Smokey Joe’s hot syrup which sent him mad and caused him to recite the entire back catalogue of the artist formerly known as Prince. Howard the Rabbit, the party’s host, thought “enough is enough”, and went and called the heavies. They brought the rain. It was a massacre, but Julian and Arthur hid and witnessed the atrocity which wasn’t much, mostly just big badgers politely telling them to move along. A big badger spots Julian and Arthur and gives them each an ice pole and tells them to get tae…

So now you know it was because the bass player’s father used to be in a band called The Ray Summers back in the day, and the boys simply liked the name for themselves.
Dougie: “Are you recording?”
I am.
Urey “Hiya!”
Dougie “Check, check”
Urey “One, two, one, two!”
I’m not sure how to start this off.
Urey: “That’s the trick of a journalist. Just fill it out. Say you met this band, and they were young and fresh and raring to go for the gig, that’s what you’re going to write, right? Cause you can’t say they looked like a big bag of cocks.”
Dougie: “Aye, hungover to fuck.”
Right…big bag of cocks. Carry on.
Urey: “Right, so we’re at the festival. What have we got coming up? We have an album coming out. We’re recording it just now, and it should be out later this year and that’s a debut album, and that would be worth a mention?”
Dougie: “It’s highly anticipated.”
Urey: “We played T in the Park this year that was fun.”
Dougie: :We played Rockness this year.”
Urey: “That was also fun.”
I’ve always wanted to go to Rockness.
Dougie: “It’s good!”
Urey “It’s a really good festival. A lot of dance acts.” Dougie: “T in the Park was great.”
Urey: “We were on at the same time as Eminem, and the Prodigy, and Mumford & Sons. But the tent was still rammed, so that’s something to be proud of.”
I would think so. I would think so.
Berry: “Encourage them, encourage them.”
Dougie: “I don’t think you have actually asked us a question yet?! She’s like, ‘ouch they’ve done all this. I’ll get all this in’.”
Urey: “I’ve just recently painted my downstairs toilet. It’s all white and has a picture of Abbey Road on it, if you’re interested? White and black checked tiles.”
Berry: “I have a picture of The Warriors in my bathroom.”
Dougie: “I have a hosta in my toilet. It’s a plant.” Berry: “I kill all my plants.”
Urey: “I also just got some nice Alovera Andrex (something hygienic).”
Berry: “Come to the Body Shop and get some nice hand wash!”
Dougie: “Don’t sell the Body Shop to us.”


Urey: “So anyway, Emma. Ask away.”
Berry: “Are you playing in Livingston any time soon?”
Urey/Dougie (in unison): “No.”
Bathgate?
Urey/Dougie “Yes.”
Harley’s?
Urey/Dougie: “The Attic.”
That’s all new. Bathgate is getting busy with building their music community.
Dougie: “The thing is we have quite a following in West Lothian. We always go down well there. We did a tour with Kassidy earlier this year and the first date was in Bathgate at Harley’s.”
How was it?
Dougie: “Bangin!”

Eh… (a slight pause descends)
Urey: “You have not planned this out.”
I’m lucky that you guys are quite laid back.
Dougie: “Do you write in shorthand?”
No.
Dougie: “We only talk to journalists who can write in shorthand.”
Urey: “Yeah, we’re out of here!”

In a desperate attempt to turn this car crash interview around I ask about the boys’ day jobs.
Don’t you run a petting zoo or something?
Dougie: “It’s live animal handling workshops.”
Berry: “Do you have turtles?”
Dougie: “I have a snapping turtle, giant African land snails, giant millipedes, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions.”
So you teach people how to handle them? As in this is how you stroke a turtle?
Urey: “And to tie all this is we actually have a song called Coalmen and the Turtle Strokes.”
(A member of the Ray Summers is actually a coalman!)
Dougie: “Never use smokeless coal! It burns the arse out of your fire.”
Urey: “I don’t know. We’re meant to be talking about our music!”
Dougie: “Grade one Columbian coal. It’s magic. Aye, never use smokeless coal.”

How long have you lot been a band?
Urey: “Two years.”
Dougie: “We were all in bands before in Falkirk but then we all found out that we were single, if you know what I mean, and we all got together and touched each other.”
Urey: “The first time was a bit awkward, I’m not going to lie. But you just get used to it. Sound check, touch, sleepover.”

Dougie: “‘Mon, ask a question!’
What’s your favourite venue?
Dougie: “King Tuts! We always have a good gig there. But in Fife, we always have a good time. It’s kind of our spiritual homeland.”
Urey: “If the crowd is having a good time then it doesn’t matter what venue you’re in.”
Berry: “We’ll be at the front tonight.” (she imitates the 90s ‘Raise the roof’ dance move)
Dougie: “I’ll be looking out. I’m going to go on my East coast rant. There are loads of bands coming out of the East coast at the moment. I think people focus on Glasgow and Edinburgh a bit too much. Bands like Tango in the Attic. These bands are pretty banging.
Urey: “There’s a lot happening everywhere that’s the problem. Our music is upbeat, it’s groovy. It’s infectious - say it’s infectious, wap that word in.”
Dougie: “We like to think we stand out from everyone else right now.”
Urey: “We sometimes think that it makes it difficult for people to label us, you can’t stick us in a collective. People might not know how to market us because we are different. We have been called every genre. Nothing has ever stuck. We have been labelled everything before. But I think that’s a massive compliment.”
Dougie: “Young reggae upstarts!”
Urey: “We’re actually groovy indie punk.”
Dougie: “We like to think we’re psychedellic punk.”
Urey: “Yeah, a lot of our songs go into one groove, and then it goes into another groove. Lots of twists.’

Dougie: “Right, ask another question.”
Do you help out other bands, are you part of a big community?
Dougie: “That’s what I was saying about the East coast. Tango In The Attic record in the same studio as us. They played with us last night. Good lads, nice boys. And bands like Kassidy are lovely too.”
Urey: “We’re just such likeable people.”

Would you ever create your own festival?
Dougie: “Well, funny you should say that.”
Urey: “We self-promote our own gigs.”
Dougie: “We want to create a rolling festival over Fife and call it East Coast Mafia. Got some big names involved.”

What kind of bands?
Dougie: “Not going to tell you.”
Urey: “Juan Pablo!”
Dougie: “Juan Pablo is going to be a big part of it.”
Really, that would be nice?
Dougie: “Where are they from?”
Ayr.
Urey: “Nah!”
Dougie: “Forget it. Ask another question.”
I can’t. I just had dinner and I’m really chilled right now.
Urey: “You remind me of Drew Barrymore.”
Dougie: Oh, totally. Do you get that a lot?”
Urey: “You have the same lips as her, and you speak a bit like her and you look a bit like her. Are you Drew Barrymore?”
I bet she’s a better interviewer.
Dougie: “We’ve just been interviewed by Drew Barrymore.”

Very shortly afterwards, the boys have to leave and get on stage. They literary chat with me until the last minute and go straight on.

Hearing their music live is a hurricane of sound. Stepping into the auditorium it’s as though I had been transported to an old French colonial dance hall in New Orleans. In fact I think that’s where they should go next. The Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans, and I would go and see them.

I’m proud to have met this band, because they are still young and on the brink of massive discovery. When I’m older and going through my record collection I can bring it out and tell folks about the time I got to interview them on a sunny afternoon in Edinburgh. As for their genre, I think they should just invent a new genre for themselves. Call it ‘Musique De Soleil’.
There - sorted.
- is this Music?

A bit of background research gave me the impression that this was going to be a busy night at King Tut’s. I’m paraphrasing here, but if you have blown Paulo Nutini off the stage in front of 20 thousand people, as The Ray Summers, according to one observer, did last Hogmany at the bottom end of St Vincent Street, then surely, a matter of weeks later, the comparatively tiny venue at the top of the hill will be packed out?

Well, as opening act Dave? take to the stage, there’s a not entirely monstrous gathering of around 50 or so for them to impress. This 3 piece are from Dundee, so perhaps it is the case that they have not yet established a following in Glasgow, having only been existence for a little over 2 years. Given the quality of their music, that should come in time. Dave?’s arrangement’s are precise and well delivered, and feature imaginative parts from all three band members. The songs are also distinctive and original; a notable example of this was their second song ‘Lay Your Head’. Guitarist and lead vocalist Daniel Quinn indulged himself in a 4 minute monologue with the crowd before the final track of Dave?’s set; covering topics as diverse as religion, passports, Robbie Keane, The Beatles, Satan, Gordon Ramsay and The Pope, all centered around a fictitious single review in NME. Whilst from a comedic perspective, this had me and others laughing out loud, the underlying aim seemed to be a plea to DF Concerts to put Dave? on the T-Break stage this year. Is that how T-Break works? Who knows. Personally, I think Dave? are good enough to get there on their musical merits alone. And if it all falls through then a career in stand-up comedy could be a back-up option. Single ‘That Spark’ (another stand out of their set) is out now on itunes.

Wishaw 4-piece Vigo Thieves have taken a unique approach to promoting their music; they recently had a song featured as background music to a montage of SPL goals on Sky Sports. Those of you not inclined to follow football may turn your nose up at such antics, but your humble correspondent says gold star for imagination; the number of people that watch football highlights shows is astronomical. But how would the Vigo Thieves come across live? Well, by the time they take to the stage, the crowd has swelled considerably, thanks in no small part to their devoted following at the front, who take every possible opportunity to launch into chants of ‘Vigo... Vigo...’. They, and the rest of the crowd, are not disappointed as the band tear through an uplifting set of rock anthems. Now, if you want people to sing along then the lead vocal part is going to be critical, and frontman Stevie Jukes gives a demonstration in delivery that any midwife would be proud of, cutting through over the incessant babble from seemingly uninterested members of the crowd. In my opinion, the high point of their set was ‘The Songs That We Sing’, next to which in my notepad I have written “made me feel better”. And as the Vigo Thieves set draws to a close, it is clear to see that there are a lot of happy people in the room, responding to the energy of the band onstage. If someone out there finds a better reason to play in a band then I’m all ears. Vigo Thieves launch their new single ‘Steal Your Heart’ at ABC2 on the 25th of April.

As the stage is set for The Ray Summers by their single roadie for a good 20 minutes, it crosses my mind that I have seen bands top the bill at King Tut’s and almost literally disappear into a black hole in front of my eyes, having been usurped by preceding bands on the bill. This was the first time I had seen The Ray Summers in action and, with the greatest of respect to the other bands, within 10 seconds of their opening song, it is clear that they are in a different league altogether. Now, any hardcore followers of the band might tend to take this as a criticism, but I honestly struggle to pick out highlights of their set, for the simple reason that it was consistently brilliant. For sure, the fact that this is a band of fearless musicians is clear; such is the extent to which they mash together different styles, tempos and time signatures, invariably within the same song. But in doing so, they never lose any power or appeal, and the crowd which, sure enough, now packs the floor to bursting point, is lapping it all up. ‘Travelling Man’ encapsulated all we need to know about The Ray Summers; it is begging to be played to several thousand people as twilight descends on a mid-summer outdoor music festival. Anyone know of any coming up? The raw power outro of ‘Follow Me Down’ demonstrated that often, the simplest of musical tricks yield the greatest power. Do yourself a favour and get into this band now.

- Glasgowmusic.co.uk

Woah where did The Ray Summers come from? After hearing two of the Scottish bands songs (Heshka Rashka + Crazy World), I am greatly impressed. They have a little bit of The Coral in them, with a little more festive energy. Their songs are a shit-ton of fun. I can only imagine how crazy their live shows are. If they ever come to NYC, I’m there. - We All Want Someone To Shout For

Lost in the music, Ray Summers frontman Andy Ure throws his head back and soaks in his bands dazzling mix of ska, indie and Soul.
As band mate Billy Kay threads a rubber-ball basslibe through the fans favourite ‘boots and cats’ it is clear that we’re watching a band on the verge of something special.
There can be few bands in the country – signed or unsigned – who could match the Falkirk six piece for sheer couldn’t-fit-a-playing-card-between ‘em tightness.
And when it comes down to transforming a cracking song like the brand new ‘Follow me Down’ from classic 60’s beat group pop through sections of Soul, Reggae and lilting Ska, there’s no one that can match their sheer flair.
So by the time they power into the eagerly-anticipated new2 single ‘The Shepherd’ – after a string of brilliantly upbeat moments like ‘Heshka Rashka’, ‘Crazy World’ and ‘The Valley’ they’re delivering thrills by the barrel-load.
The hotly tipped outfit, who are facing a bright future after signing to King Tut’s Recordings, were hand picked by A-Listed for this week’s special instalment of The Mill, to kick off the Edinburgh Festival. After following their live form for some time – we originally tipped them in our ‘Nine for 09’ special last December – the fast rising outfit were obvious first choice for the event. And the fans thought so too – they went down a storm.

- News Of the World

‘Boots and cats and boots and cats,’ chants frontman Andy Ure. It’s not the kind of Intro you hear every day ,but the this fantastic six-piece from Falkirk aren’t exactly the kind of band you hear every day.
Spreading a healthy dose of sunshine with songs like Crazy World and Careless Leader, they infuse basic Indie with soul, ska and reggae. It’s heady, defiantly good-tie stuff, and before long everyone is dancing.
Brilliantly-crafted tracks like The Valley or set closer The Shepherd have a cool, 60’s vibe that wouldn’t be out of place in Quadrophenia, but when they shift gear into a TANGO in the brilliant Ballad Of A Bitter Man, you know you’re dealing with something special. Catch ‘em quick.
- News Of The World

Buzzband of the moment, The Ray Summers lit up the underground Edinburgh with a performance fir for a main stage festival slot. The Six Strong outfit from Falkirk are making waves on the music scence ad it’s not hard to see why Scots mogul Alan McGee is already a fully paid up member of the fan club.

With a stage presence rivalling some of today’s top headline act, the talented group successfully mix Indie, Ska and Soul to create a unique and upbeat sound.

Sunny tracks including Boots and Cats and The Shepherd made for a heady set that got even the most miserable of gig-goers dancing. Teamwork is the name of the game with The Ray Summers. Imagine big sounds, blue skies, beer and good times.
- Daily Record

A live favourite with the Falkirk outfits growing army of fans, this is the perfect introduction to their dynamite sound. Imagine the Hamburg-era Beatles jamming with booker t and the mgs and you won’t be too far away from that blazing sixties vibe they conjure up. The flip side ‘narcotic girl’ meanwhile, sees them settle into a soulful reggae-ish lilt underneath Andy Ure’s blistering vocal that’s somewhere between Roger Daltrey and Steve Marriott. A must – but it now! - News Of the World

That goNorth tent was bristling first thing Sunday morning with a boisterous and lairy crowd, many of whom were obviously still continuing from the night before. The appearance of The Ray Summers band on stage fuelled the level of revelry, with hyperkinetic front man Andy Ure encouraging a high-octane bop-along from the get-go. Needless to say, within twenty minutes, he had danced everyone into submission. The Ray Summers channel everyone from Ram Jam, via the Specials, the Small Faces and latterly, even the Coral. Extremely good fun - The Skinny

In terms of connecting with the huddled masses, unsigned Falkirk rookies The Ray Summers, plucked to open the gig by public vote, rather stole his thunder. Singer Andy Ure has a Gruff Rhys-like presence and songs like The Shepherd are damnably catchy - The Scotsman

With the clouds replaced by a scorching heat and there being a half hour delay getting into the main arena for no apparent reason, Sunday is hungover. Sunday is tired. It is only 12 o'clock after all. Ironically, when the gates open, I don't even head for the main stage. Rather, I make for the Go North Stage to check out Falkirk 6-piece The Ray Summers. The east coast of Scotland seems to having a hell of a lot more fun than the west. While the west is stuck lamenting who will be the next Biffy Clyro, the east quite frankly, doesn't care. The Ray Summers are proof of that. In a set indicative of the name on the marquee, they manage to pack out the stage with a loyal following as well as scouts and curious attendees. I doubt there was anyone that regretted coming to see this act. Furious good fun. Singer, Andy Ure, is Jim Morrison's, son. I'm sure of it. He will deny it, but he is. Yet, he is not the only member of the band who has charisma. Each member is entertaining to watch, in particular, bassist Billy Kay has a natural groove and an affinity for his position missing from peers of his chosen instrument. It's good time pup-rock, the jukebox at your local, amalgamated into a tight n' tidy package. Look them up. - EFestivals

THE Falkirk outfit are a last-minute addition to the bill after getting just FOUR hours warning that they were playing.
With bassist Billy Kay down south, they had to teach stand-in Stevie Black the songs in the back of the van - yet Andy Ure and his bandmates are still on dazzling form. A packed tent - thanks to a chain of text messages that spread round the festival site like wildfire - sees them deliver a string of brilliant ska-soul gems like Crazy World, Careless Leader and Heshka Rashka. But as fans will guess, it was live favourite Boots & Cats that got the tent rocking. A real Ray of sunshine.
- News Of the World

THE RAY SUMMERS: THERE aren't too many bands with songs about boots and cats...but then The Ray Summers simply aren't like other bands. Indie conformists they ain't.
The Falkirk outfit's unique sound is a raucous fusion of ska, reggae, authentic Sixties soul, freakbeat and funk that's more fun than Katy Perry and Britney Spears in a pillow fight. "The reason it sounds the way it does is because all six of us write the songs," confesses singer Andy Ure. "We're all into different things so all those influences come together in the noise we make."
The band has its origins in the year that Andy spent travelling with Summers guitarist Chris Jackson.
"We were in New Zealand," he recalls, "and we began to daydream about forming a group with all our favourite musicians from back home.
"We'd sit there and fantasise about who we'd have on bass, who'd play drums and so on.
"Amazingly, when we eventually got back to Falkirk in January, all the guys we'd talked about were free so we got our dream band."
Taking their name from the mod outfit that bassist Billy Kay's dad played in during the Sixties, the group - which also includes drummer Lee Burgoyne, keyboards player David Horne and guitarist Andrew Douglas - began honing their razor-sharp set.
Over the past 12 months, they've amassed a growing fanbase thanks to thrill-packed tracks like Crazy World, The Shepherd or Heshka Rashka and a brilliant live show that's guaranteed to leave you wearing a grin.
"We take a lot of pride in what we do live," Andy says. "If you're going to do it, do it well."
Typically their signature song Boots & Cats was inspired by something extraordinary.
"We were having a barbecue," the singer remembers, "so we were all sat out in the garden with our guitars.
"Then it started to snow...in April. It was so surreal it gave us the idea for the song."

- News Of The World

BBC2's search for the young musician of the year could have ended ten times over at Club Metro if they heard what I heard on Friday night.
Unlike the classical brats though, The Doledrums and The Ray Summers play music people actually want to hear.
The Summers boys unleashed their own songs, including 'Crazy World' and 'The Shepherd', changing tempos seemingly at will and getting the "Ann Summers" dancers up on the floor for a twist or two.
Bass man Billy Kay sported a bandage on the index finger of his fretting hand and was forced to play with only three digits.

Like the rest of the band he never missed a beat or a note – let's see wee Ivan the violin prodigy from Basingstoke do that!

- Falkirk herald