Originating from Riverside, California, the BellRays have been mixing punk, rock and soul with the unique authenticity that has made them who they are today. “We created a band and music based on what we love.” – explain Lisa Kekaula and Robert Vennum, the founding members of The BellRays. The tradition that the band continued over the last thirty years inspired them to infuse their influences. It’s in their DNA. The sound can be described by one simple formula: Emotion + energy = excitement. Their latest album, Heavy Steady Go! strictly follows this rule but also, provides new coloring and shades to the well-beloved formula. “We’ve heard ourselves described by some variation as ‘Tina Turner fronting AC/DC’ or ‘Motorhead meets Aretha Franklin’ which comes with an expectation to be that every time.” – explains Robert Vennum. “We are expected to be something that does not exist.”
According to Lisa Kekaula: “We stand apart and reactions like ‘not punk enough’, ‘not rock enough’, and ‘THAT’S not soul’ only fuel us more. We revel in our fearlessness to share what’s in our heads and hearts whether it’s understood or not. The most important thing is that we believe what we write and what we play. Our songwriting comes from a place that’s really deep and wide and in Heavy Steady Go! We realized that what we had created came from the impact point of this crater.”
Heavy Steady Go! is described by the two as ‘a festival in album form’ and ‘powerfully concentrated rock and roll’. Robert and Lisa explain that with these songs “we pay homage to Tom Petty, Bon Scott, Fleetwood Mac, Howlin’ Wolf, Cheap Trick, Betty Davis, and dozens of others that inspired this album. We wrote and crafted these songs looking at ourselves through the lens of the iconic sounds we heard growing up.”
Check out these vids as a taster of what to expect -
Black Lightning -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h75r0h5EEVY
Revolution Get Down -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tAPLISsKwo
On Top -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OJq_pSWhu8
Rising noise-punk trio from Lancaster, TV FACE, serve “sonic fury with a satirical edge … blistering, genre-defying … both chaotic and meticulously tight” (HellaFuzz).
Their much anticipated second album, Wolf Rents Bark, was released on 5th September 2025 via Preston’s cult label Crackedankles Records — home to underground heavyweights including Evil Blizzard, Hotwax, and Polypores. The album has received rave reviews, including Album of the Week from Louder Than War, 5/5 stars from ThePunkSite.com and 9/10 from Mystic Sons.
Live, TV FACE are known for their high-intensity performances, “with dynamics ... not seen since the likes of Therapy? … in the early nineties” (Louder Than War). They are on tour throughout October and November, promoting the album.
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The BellRays + TV FACE
The Ferret, Preston
Thursday, 9th October 2025
Tickets: theferret.live/listings/bellrays
Ages 14+ (under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult)
Accessible ground-floor venue and facilities.
Dog-friendly venue.
