Snakes of Shake were a Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 band formed in 1984, whose indie pop sound incorporated cajun

Cajun music

Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...

 and folk

Folk music

Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

 influences. They released two albums before splitting up in 1987, with some members subsequently forming Summerhill

Summerhill (band)

Summerhill were a Scottish jangle pop band formed by former members of Snakes of Shake. They reelased two albums before splitting up in 1990. They reformed briefly in a few years later.-History:...

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History

The band was formed in Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

 in 1984 by Seori Burnette (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Tzen Vermillion (guitar), Sandy Brown (piano, accordion), Robert Renfrew (bass guitar), and Rhod "Lefty" Burnette (drums). Their debut release was the Southern Cross mini-LP

Mini-LP

A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...

 in March 1985, the title track also released as a twelve-inch single.

Vermillion and Rhod Burnette left to be replaced by Neil Scott (guitar) and Iain Sheddon (drums, formerly of punk rock band Jolt and The Saints

The Saints (band)

The Saints are an Australian rock band, which formed in Brisbane in 1974 as punk rockers. Founders were Chris Bailey , Ivor Hay , and Ed Kuepper . Alongside mainstay Bailey, the group has had numerous line-ups...

), the band now moving to the Making Waves label. Another release of "Southern Cross" followed in August 1986, the song also appearing on their second album, Gracelands and the Natural Wood, released in July 1987. When Making Waves went into receivership, the band split up, although Seori Burnette, Scott and Sheddon formed Summerhill

Summerhill (band)

Summerhill were a Scottish jangle pop band formed by former members of Snakes of Shake. They reelased two albums before splitting up in 1990. They reformed briefly in a few years later.-History:...

 and signed to Polydor Records

Polydor Records

Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...

. Sheddon later returned to The Saints and also drummed for Giant Sand

Giant Sand

Giant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album...

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Albums

• Southern Cross mini-LP (1985), Tense But Confident
• Gracelands and the Natural Wood (1987), Making Waves

Singles

• "Southern Cross" 12-inch (1985), Tense But Confident
• "Southern Cross" (1986), Making Waves