Kickin’ it with Beddy Rays

Meet the Brisbane-born loveable larrikins with a knack for creating coastal rock ‘n roll hits.

By ERIN SIMPSON

FUN FACT:

Coming off the back of headlining Green Beacon’s 10 Years of Beers Birthday Bash at the Tivoli, we sat down with lead vocalist and guitarist Jackson ‘Jacko’ Van Issum of Beddy Rays to learn a little more about the Brisbane-based rockers and what’s in store for the band’s bright future.

We know your band name is a play on the Redland Bay nickname, ‘Reddy Bay’, so what was it like growing up there?

Growing up there was good fun. We did all the things kids usually get up to like riding skateboards over to each other’s houses and playing footy together. We’ve all been best friends since we were six, so it’s pretty special.

How would you describe your style of music?

It’s hard to describe. We call it rock music at the end of the day, but people automatically think of hard rock like ACDC. It has a bit of a surfie sound to it, so we’d describe it as more of a coastal–rock style.

What was going through your heads when smash hit, Sobercoaster, first started taking off in 2020?

When it first started taking off, we were right in the middle of the lockdowns so it was a bittersweet feeling. We thought it was so amazing when things started taking off, but at the same time, it was frustrating that we couldn’t tour or perform. Luckily, when everything started opening back up people were still loving it. What band is your biggest inspiration?

Green Day was the band that actually got us into playing music. But another huge inspiration would have to be Violent Soho because they’re four best mates just like us. If they can do it, then why can’t we?

What’s been your favourite live performance to date, and why?

Falls Festival at Byron Bay. That was pretty awesome because we’ve been going to that festival for the last seven or eight years. It was a real full-circle moment for us to go there and play for a massive crowd. Our friends were always saying, ‘it’ll be you guys up there one day!’

Jacko is a refrigeration mechanic, so if any pub fridges break down, you know who to call to save the cold beers!

What’s in store for the band in the future, do you have any big goals you’re working towards? We’re trying to branch out overseas at the moment. We’re actually heading to Europe and the UK in a couple of weeks with Dune Rats but the goal is to be able to go and play our own shows over there one day.

What do you love most about Brisbane?

I just love that everyone’s so friendly, the music community in Brisbane is very inviting and no one has a chip on their shoulder. It’s bloody awesome.