Tracks is once again turning up the dial and hitting the dancefloor for its annual party pilgrimage to Torquay where we will be turning the Surf Lifesaving Club into our own mini festival stage of punk and surf rock carnage. The last two years we’ve hosted parties alongside the WSL CT coming to town and each one has been a sell out, with punters literally climbing the walls to try and get a look in. 2026 will be no exception to the standard of shenanigans we set for ourselves and we encourage you to get tickets well before we kick things off this Friday 3 April.
The event will be headlined by Brissy rock band Beddy Rays. They will be supported by Tracks Party favourites and one of the most talked about Australian bands right now, Headsend. As well as Melbourne based grunge and punk outfit Mannequin Death Squad, Sargeant Baker and the legendary DJ Eddy.
Ahead of Friday night we caught up with our headliners from a bayside town south east of Brissy called Redland Bay. Baddy Rays re made up of Jacko on guitar and vocals, Lewy on Guitar, Brad on Bass and Benny on Drums. Check out the conversation below.
Tell us about the origins of the band
Before the band we’ve always been best mates as far as I can remember. From the age of 6 years old we’ve grown up camping, fishing, playing footy and messing around. That’s pretty much all we did. Towards the end of primary school we dabbled in some acoustic guitars on the school oval writing tunes about the teachers we disliked. It wasn’t until we’d finished high school we thought let’s actually give this a crack. The band started playing anything and everything we could. We never said no to an opportunity to play live.
How would you describe your sound?
We’ve always loved catchy hooks and punchy guitars. We grew up listening to that 90’s/00’s Pop punk era so a bit of that shines through our sound. We’re a live band at heart and love lifting the energy in a room. Any parts we can make a great live moment we add into the recording.
Do you guys have any links to surfing at all?
I grew up around surfing. My cousins would take me out at a younger age camping at Kingscliff and North Stradbroke Island. I still own boards but rarely get out these days. I’ve recently been given a Mal so I’m hoping that gets me back out. While none of us actively surf we’ve always been part of the wider surfing community, through events, gigs, fishing, coastal living etc. Surf Rock and Punk has always been the backbone of our music and collective appreciation.
What can people expect from your live show?
Loud and energetic with a few laughs and bung notes here and there. At the end of the day we’re 4 best mates playing music together and having fun. We hope that the audience can let loose for that hour and enjoy the moment with everyone.
Career highlights so far
Still to this day when we got the call up to support Violent Soho on their Riverstage show in Brisbane was WILD. It’s not often your favourite band asks you to play a massive show with them. Honestly the best night ever.
Your current favourite Beddy Rays song?
I’d have to say ‘Stay the Same’ has been our late favourite. Just the emotion behind that song hits differently when you play it live. Seeing how it connects with the audience makes my night every night.
Your heading to the Tracks Party for a loose night with friends, give us your top three tunes to get yourself pumped
Reptilia – The Strokes
Covered in Chrome – Violent Soho
When You Were Young – The Killers
If you could make a band out of professional surfers or any other famous people, who would be in it and what instrument would they play?
Fisher on Vocals, Ethan Ewing on Guitar, Layne Beachley on Bass and Jack Johnson on Bongo’s.
If you could play a festival with two other headliners of your choice, they could be dead or alive, who would you pick?
We would pick Green Day and INXS. The energy of a Green Day set would be wild to be side stage of and to see INXS belt out their plethora of hits would’ve been a night to remember.
Only one more sleep till we’re partying with you again. Purchase tickets here.
