Falkirk beat combo The Ray Summers playing live at the Big in Falkirk festival back in 2009Falkirk beat combo The Ray Summers playing live at the Big in Falkirk festival back in 2009
Falkirk beat combo The Ray Summers playing live at the Big in Falkirk festival back in 2009

Falkirk music heroes: The Ray Summers

Amazing 60s influenced rockers The Ray Summers were Falkirk’s biggest music stars back in the day.

Formed in 2008 The Ray Summers were Andy Ure (vocals) Andrew Douglas (guitar), Chris Jackson (guitar), Billy Kay (bass) Davey Horne (keyboards/guitar) and Lee Burgoyne (drums)

Named in honour of the band bass player Billy Kay’s dad played in – The Ray Summers were retro cool before that was even a thing, playing the Wickerman Festival, T-in-th-Park, Big in Falkirk and a New Year’s Even concert in Glasgow’s George Square.

The band sadly drifted apart in 2011, but you only have to listen to their one and only album Russian Tearoom to hear why they were so highly regarded.

In 2021 it will be 10 years since they split up – surely that’s as good a reason as any to have a reunion.

If you have any photos of musicians or bands from the Falkirk area you used to follow – or used to be in – e-mail them into [email protected] and tell us why the band or musician was special to you.