SCOTTISH jangle pop band Summerhill will be making a return to the stage next year after a 23-year hiatus.

The band are hoping to reintroduce fans to their music through a series of low-key gigs focused around their hit album Lowdown.

Since parting ways in the 1990s, the show will be the first time the original line up has been reunited on stage after being brought back together by fan and friend Jason Mcswan.

Lead singer Seori Burnett believes their popularity was down to the fact that the band tapped into a fresh kind of pop sound. He explains: “There was something more left field about it. We were sort of a weirder side of Americana music and The Birds and people like that.

“I think people liked, as our bass player said, that we were a rock and roll band but we didn’t play rock and roll music.

“There was something different about it.”

After enjoying success with their album Lowdown, the band began attracting a buzz and eventually signed a deal with Polydor records following a stint of popular gigs in London.

“It was still in the day when people were still trying to get record deals and there was no internet”, Seori adds.

“It was very different in that bands tried to get gigs, promote themselves, get the record companies to come and see them and get a contract. We were in London playing lots of small venues. The guy who started off Heavenly recordings used to run a club in Camden town and he put us on a lot helping to build up a following.

“That’s why we got to make records. When we eventually signed to a major label, things became a disaster.

“We had done the Lowdown on Demon Records which had got really good reviews and that drew the attention of major record companies.

“But at the time what you don’t realise is that your idea of what you are and their idea of what you are, are two different things. Also, it was a time in music where a lot of big changes were going on. When we were promoting our album, the Stone Roses album had also come out which didn’t do much but when the remix of Fools Gold came out and suddenly something happened.

“Labels were signing bands left right and centre which sounded like that but that wasn’t what we sounded like. It wasn’t a great experience being on a major record label, if I’m being honest.

“There was a lot of artistic differences. There was a lot of bad blood between a couple of us but now it just seems a bit pointless so it’s nice to go back to it and revisit it without the stupid stuff. You look back on it years later and wonder what it was even about.

Seori continued making music after the band split up but is looking forward to getting back with the group to see where the experience takes them.

He added: “It wouldn’t have happened without Jason contacting everyone individually and running it past them.

“Once I realised everybody was up for it, I was on board and really happy to get the call.

With members dotted around the world, the gig in June will see all four travelling back to Glasgow after some convincing from Jason.

He said: “Summerhill were kicking about in the 90s but the original line was up more like 30 years ago.

“I know the band well and I’ve been a big fan of them from back when they were Snakes of Shake. I put the feelers out with the rest of the band and the main guy to see if he could make it happen.

“I always had it at the back of my head but I didn’t think it would actually happen. We’re putting them on at the Hug and Pint and we’re going to do another few gigs down in London. The guys are really quite excited about it.

“We’re going to reissue the first album and possibly some of the Snakes of Shake albums and do it as a historical release. I’m not sure if they’ll record new music. Seori has probably got enough material to do two albums but we’ll see how it goes in the future. I’m just trying to get them together first.”

Summerhill, Hug and Pint, September 16. Tickets from http://tickets-scotland.com/sum05