The Ray Summers

The Ray Summers

The Ray Summers are an alternative rock group from Falkirk, Scotland. Formed in 2008, they build their sound around melody, harmony and danceable rhythms, and they sit within indie pop, alternative rock and Scottish indie music.

Career

Since forming in 2008, the band appears at a range of Scottish and UK festivals, including RockNess, T in the Park, Glasgow’s Hogmanay and Camden Crawl. They also support acts such as Alphabeat, The Bluetones, Idlewild, Paolo Nutini and Alabama 3.

In 2009, The Ray Summers tour the UK in support of their debut EP, Tales From Vicar Street. That same year they release two singles, including The Shepherd, which reaches the Scottish top 10. The band also plays a series of sold-out shows in Scotland, including three sold-out nights at Glasgow’s King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.

Recorded work

Their debut album, Never Say Clever, is in progress during spring 2010. The band is described as combining elements of psychedelic ska, soul, reggae and 1960s-influenced rock, with tracks such as The Valley and The Shepherd noted in live coverage.

Style and reception

Accounts of the group describe a lively live act with a strong emphasis on rhythm and audience participation. Their music is associated with a retro feel and with comparisons to groups and styles including The Coral, Madness, the Shadows, the Small Faces and the Jam.