Summerhill - Lowdown (1988)

Arising from the ashes of the Snakes Of Shake, the UK band Summerhill looked to the early Byrds sound for inspiration, their brand of folk rock first heard on I Want You on the Rocket label in 1988. Their prolific live schedule, often as support act, made the team of Seori Burnette (vocals, guitar), Neil Scott (guitar, vocals), Keith Gilles (bass, vocals) and Iain Shedden (drums) a popular live act and a move to Demon Records’ Diablo label came in time for a mini-album, Lowdown, later that year. Signed to Polydor Records, it was a year before the partnership was fruitful, during which time Michael Sturgis had replaced Shedden. ‘Here I Am’ was an obvious stab at the mainstream and it was March 1990 before West Of Here, was released. From it came ‘Don’t Let It Die’ that same month and then a one-off single cover version of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Wild Horses’. Despite some encouraging reviews Summerhill failed to make a sufficient impact on the charts and disbanded later that year. Keith Gilles later joined Sumishta Brahm’s group 13 Frightened Girls, appearing on the Jazz Butcher -produced ‘Lost At Sea’ in 1991.