SUMMERFIELD BLUES went through a few line-ups (see band members' bit opposite) from its start in 1988 to its farewell gig in 1996.
Here's a biog from around 1994:
Summerfield Blues biog
SUMMERFIELD BLUES is one of the country’s top up-and-coming bands bringing its fuel-injected blues-based music to a new generation.The band won the prestigious ‘Alexis Korner Memorial Trophy’ and the title of Scottish Blues Band of the Year, at the 1993 Edinburgh Blues Festival.
With the current line-up formed in February 1992, the four-piece Summerfield Blues performs a variety of material featuring mainly self-penned material in styles ranging from traditional ‘question and answer’ slow blues to manic slide guitar-based numbers.
Summerfield Blues inimitable style and presence on stage immediately casts the band apart from the run-of the mill blues bands of the past (...and present) and a highly visual act and presentation of material gives an alternative vibe to the band.
Regular gigs around Scotland have helped the hard-gigging Summerfield Blues attract a dedicated army of fans and much positive press coverage.
Now, with a debut CD-album ‘Devil & the Freightman’ (nominated for best UK blues album 1993/4 in the British Blues Connection Awards), two cassette EPs (‘Let’s Scare the Posh People’ & ‘Little Miss Behavin’’) and a 2-track video under their belt Summerfield Blues is already embarking on its blues crusade taking their music to the masses.
The tracks featured on the CD have enjoyed extensive airplay on most of Scotland’s independent radio stations and BBC local/national radio, and the band have been interviewed twice on Radio Scotland’s Jump the Q by John Cavanagh. More recently the band has performed live sessions for Radio Scotland’s Annie Webster Show and TGIF.
Both of the tracks on the video have been broadcast in Germany by Berlin TV.
‘Popular, polished and sophisticated band’ - The Scotsman
‘This Kirkcaldy outfit’s quirky brand of tongue-in-cheek blues makes a most refreshing change from the usual doses of ‘indie rock’’ - M8 Magazine
‘Whether you’re in Scotland or further afield and looking for a blues band,
then its worth lending an ear to Summerfield Blues.’ - Blueprint Magazine (The British Blues Connection)
...and for those interested in more detail, here's some timeline info...
February 1988 - Dave Arcari (guitar) and Andy Carr (bass/vocals) start playing blues licks together in Kirkcaldy
April 1988 - Phil Stillman (drums) joins in practices at St Andrews Church hall, Kirkcaldy and the Tech halls of residence.
May 1988 - formal start of Summerfield Blues, named after Andy’s girlfriend’s donkey (April Summerfield Surprise).
June 1988 - Summefield Blues’ debut gig at the Abbotshall Hotel, Kirkcaldy.
July 1988 - Mark Carr (Andy’s brother, formerly of The Fauves) replaces Phil on drums.
August 1998 - gigs at Philp Hall, Kirkcaldy (where they were joined on stage by pal Ritchie Smith on harmonica) and Electric Whispers, Perth. Record 10 songs onto an old tape recorder in the music room at Balwearie High School, Kirkcaldy. Blues version of Purple Rain gets rave reviews.
September 1988 - the band starts gigging round Edinburgh Student Union circuit. Alan Wilson (previously Games For May) joins on rhythm guitar. Loads of gigs round Fife and Edinburgh.
June 1989 - Farewell gig at Harrows Tavern, Kirkcaldy as Dave moves to London and starts Midnight Blues Band with ex-Fleetwood Mac/Peter Green sax player Roly Vaughan and other London pros. The band gigs heavily on the London blues/rock along with Steve Marriott, Chicken Shack and Steve Gibbons. Alan Wilson forms The Schoolhouse with brother Mark (Bonz). Mark Carr joins Edinburgh psychobillys The Radium Cats.
May 1990 - Dave moves back to Fife and reforms Summerfield Blues with Andy Carr joined this time by Dave Sinclair (drums) and Steve Bell (rhythm guitar).
July 1990 - Debut gig for new Summerfield Blues lineup at Basin Street, Edinburgh
August 1990 - December 1992 - Summerfield Blues clock up 100 gigs round Scotland. Highlights in this period include a full-house Saturday night show at the Preservation Hall, Edinburgh (notably joined by guest and pal Ritchie Smith on stage – Ritchie often guested with the band until his tragic death in October 1993 just days after joining the band for a gig in Tain). A cassette album Summerfield Blues is released in Summer 1991 and sells out three production runs (Dave Arcari opens Abracadabra Studios in Kirkcaldy in January 1991.) In January 1992 rhythm guitarist Steve Bell leaves. He is replaced by Marsha Tarvet on backing vocals and keyboards.
April 1993 - Summerfield Blues video released featuring two tracks. Extensive airing by European cable TV channels.
May 1993 - Recording sessions begin at Abracadabra for Summerfield Blues’ debut album.
August 1993 - Summerfield Blues performance at Edinburgh International Jazz Blues Festival earns them the title Scottish Blues Band of the Year and the Alexis Korner Memorial Award
October 1993 - Debut CD album Devil & the Freightman released and attracts a lot of local and national radio airplay
May 1994 - three song EP Let’s Scare The Posh People released and immediately sells out first production run.
June 1994 - Devil & the Freightman nominated for Best British Blues Album award (comes third).
December 1994 - four song EP Little Miss Behavin’ released. Summerfield Blues’ Christmas special gig breaks all attendance records at the Ollerton Hotel Kirkcaldy
July 1994 - Two week tour of Ireland kicks off in Dublin. Summerfield Blues play 14 gigs in 12 days at some of Ireland’s top venues and open Galway Arts festival.
October 1995 – Summerfield Blues escape injury as trailer crash on A9 trashes equipment. The resulting damage and costs financially cripple the band (from which the band never recovers).
January 1996 - Summerfield Blues headline a triple bill at King Tuts, Glasgow pulling the biggest crowd the venue has ever seen from a local band showcase.
May 1996 - Summerfield Blues split amicably after farewell gig at Ollerton Hotel, Kirkcaldy
Summerfield Blues made two promo videos with the help of Fraser Simpson (see opposite for spome live video clips) in January 1993 - the first is for 24 Hours...
...and the second for Speed the Clock...
