Today, Beddy Rays release their wholeheartedly independent debut self-titled album. ‘Beddy Rays’ is honest, raw and what Beddy’s are all about – mateship, Reddy Bay, good times, beers, and the importance of looking after yourself and checking in with your mates. To mark the release, the four-piece have dropped their melodic yet mosh ready new single Handful, alongside the official video.
“Handful is about first impressions. More specifically, it focuses on meeting someone who initially gets the wrong idea of you,†explains Beddy Rays of the single. “Throughout the song, the lyrics lean into openness and honesty as they key to pushing through the teething phases of a relationship that starts awkwardly. The song was born years ago after Jacko woke up after a big night out and realised he’d said things to someone that they might have misinterpreted because they didn’t understand his personality yet. The lyrics grew from the feeling of wanting to prove he was a good person and to get another chance.â€
Directed by Luke Dunning, and captured across Brisbane and Reddy Bay, watch Beddy Rays morph into their unexpected alter-ego’s on the official music video. “When we were slingin’ ideas around for this clip the main thing that was pokin’ its head out was the idea of us playing funny characters with their hands full for different reasons. So we created four different characters going about their chaotic daily lives with way too much on their plate. In typical Beddy’s fashion, this idea is just for a laugh and has bugger all to do with the actual meaning of the lyrics, and that’s the way we like it because we wouldn’t want to go and break a Beddy’s tradition now would we? So we ended up casting Jacko as the stressed-out businessman, Lewy as the wannabe influencer, Brad as the vain gym junkie, and Benny as the cranky janitor. We wanted all the characters to eventually follow the sound of music ultimately leading them to a Beddy Rays film clip set, so we threw that in as a little cherry-on-top closer to the clip for a bitta fun. Hope ya love it!†they add.
Starting today, Beddy Rays will make a series of record store appearances and performances across the east coast, signing copies of their new album ‘Beddy Rays’ in Brisbane, Byron Bay, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne.
Beddy Rays have this to say of their forthcoming self-titled album, “When we started a band many years ago as young whipper snappers in Reddy Bay all we wanted to do was play gigs, sink tins and chat to all the legends we’d meet along the way. Now we have our very own album firmly in our grip, and to say we’re excited is a major understatement. We decided to go with a self-titled album for our debut because we believe this album IS Beddy Rays through-and-through. It’s made up of our recent singles and a bunch of brand newies we’ve been cooking up for you legends. A nice mixed bag of lollies! We hope you love it as much as we do!â€
Produced by Brock Weston and Beddy Rays, and recorded at Brock’s Place in Brisbane, ‘Beddy Rays’ features the aforementioned Handful, the thrasher Sort It Out, the chaotic Week On Repeat, the explosive Wait A While, a rowdy dose of Milk, the mosh ready beast On My Own and the anthem that started it all, Sobercoaster.
Beddy Rays, composed of vocalist, guitarist and Woppaburra descendent Jacko Van Issum, lead guitarist Lewy McKenna, bassist Brad O’Connor and drummer Benny Wade, have been on the rise for the past couple of years. Their breakthrough anthem Sobercoaster landed at #54 on the triple j hottest 100, racked up over 3.5 million streams and has seen the band continue on a ballistic trajectory ever since. The four-piece have gained multiple nominations at both the Queensland Music Awards and National Indigenous Music Awards, were announced as winners of the Levi’s Music Prize in 2021 and rocked their cover of Thelma Plum’s Better in Blak for triple j’s Like A Version.
Beddy Rays have annihilated festival sets at Valley Fiesta, Summer Sounds, Play on the Plains, Super Fun Day, ShoreShocked, The Push, Spin Off and will take the stage at Spilt Milk and Falls Festival later this year.
BEDDY RAYS
RECORD STORE APPEARANCES, PERFORMANCES + SIGNINGS
Friday 29 July @ 4:30pm | Sonic Sherpa, Stones Corner QLD
Sunday 31 July @ 3:00pm | Howl and Moan Records, Byron Bay NSW
Monday 1 August @ 4:00pm | Rudderless Records, Newcastle West NSW
Tuesday 2 August @ 5:00pm | Resist Records, Marrickville NSW
Wednesday 3 August @ 4:30pm | Music Farmers Records, Wollongong NSW
Thursday 4 August @ 4:30pm | Oh! Jean Records, Fitzroy VIC
NATIONAL ALBUM TOUR
Presented by Select Music and Artists Only
w/ special guests TOWNS and Bakers Eddy
Tickets on sale now via www.beddyrays.com
Saturday 13 August | Solbar, Maroochydore QLD*
Friday 26 August | Freo.Social, Perth WA*
Saturday 27 August | The Gov, Adelaide SA
Thursday 1 September | Burleigh Bazaar, Gold Coast QLD
Friday 2 September | Princess Theatre, Brisbane QLD
Saturday 3 September | Beach Hotel, Byron Bay NSW
Friday 9 September | UC Hub, Canberra ACT
Saturday 10 September | Altar Bar, Hobart TAS
Thursday 15 September | La La Las, Wollongong NSW
Friday 16 September | Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle NSW
Saturday 17 September | The Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW
Thursday 22 September | 170 Russell, Melbourne VIC
Friday 23 September | Torquay Hotel, Torquay VIC
*Bakers Eddy not appearing
New single Handful out now
Debut album ‘Beddy Rays’ out now
Follow Beddy Rays
With thanks to Positive Feedback
