Local’s Lounge with Bendigo’s baddest punks, Relays

Each month we spotlight a local regional Victorian musician, songwriter or band killing it in our scene.

In the Locals Lounge this month we have Relays. Hailing from Bendigo, Relays have been regulars in the regional Victoria scene, making waves with their in-your-face badass brand of punk.

Get to know the three piece firecracker band before they destroy the music scene.

Keep connected to your live music scene here.

Who is Relays?

Djaara Country – Bendigo/Castlemaine. Three members who are El Wellard on Bass/Vox, Mik Weird whacking Drums/Vox and Shann Lions on the Vox/guitar. Musical Influences include Wipers, Dead Kennedys, TISM and Cosmic Psychos.

How long have you been playing music together and what’s the history of the band?

Formed in late 2023, Relays are an autistic punk band making noise in all the right ways. In under two years, they’ve dropped a run of raw, non-PC singles that have clocked 30,000+ Spotify streams and earned a reputation as one of the most unpredictable live acts in the Australian underground. Fronted by autistic, ADHD and dyslexic producer/guitarist Shann Lions, with Mik Weird on drums and El Wellard on bass, Relays balance chaos with precision — blistering punk urgency wrapped in DIY spirit. Their self-titled debut album, recorded live to two-inch tape at Head Gap with Finn Keane (Wilco , Courtney Barnett), landed in October 2024 on cassette and vinyl. The release drew international radio play, tastemaker playlists, glowing press, and a slot at Chopped Festival alongside @Cosmic Psychos and Delivery. Since then, Relays have ripped through a 23-date national tour, supported the legendary You Am I (July 2025), and wrapped their sophomore LP — funded by Creative Victoria’s New Music Works — set for release in mid-2026. With the local scene buzzing, Relays are keeping it loud with a feral cover of The Vines “Get Free” (out October 30, 2025), plus shows with The Meanies and The Smith Street Band. Raw, relentless, and impossible to ignore — Relays are here to rip the paint off Australian punk.

 

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How did you discover your passion for music making and performing?

We heard you can get free sandwiches, beer and clean socks for playing gigs. Worth doing it – still haven’t got any free sandwiches or even used socks on our rider yet but we’re hopeful one day we will.

What have been the biggest milestones in your music career to date?

Chopped Festival, Supporting You Am I, doing 24 dates over Australia after releasing our debut album independently. Plus playing shows with The Meanies and The Smith Street Band.

Give us a deep dive into your discography.

Debut album released in 2024. A new album which was partly funded by Creative Victoria will be out 2026. A cover of The Vines 2002 banger ‘Get Free’ comes out on October 30 (Independently).

What is the story behind your new material?

Our debut record was made live to 2-inch tape as a live band-  no overdubs. The forthcoming follow up record is more layered with guitars. We write music that appeals to low to middle income Australians. We like being the voice to showing a different opinion to the societal norms and perhaps being part of the voice for anyone outcast and or people with autism, dyslexia and or ADHD. Shann who’s in Relays has that said trifecta without the sport betting account.

Who did you work with on your latest release?

The debut and this forthcoming record was written by the band. Recorded By Finn Keane (Wilco, Courtney Barnett) and produced by Shann Lions. We have been chatting to a heap of labels but still awaiting the offer from the Illuminati funded ones.

Give us a gear rundown.

We have no gear endorsements except Shann is currently on legally prescribed Methylphenidate Hydrochloride plus he uses a Marshall JCM900 50 watt head with a 1970s Quad. Plus a cheap 80’s strat guitar which has been set up and refitted with all of Earnie Bailey’s Kurt Cobain guitar specs. Plus a massive pedal board too! Mik Weird plays DW Drums and Zildjian Cymbals rather well. Elliot Wellard plays all Orange cabs and heads with an Avalon pre and Thunderbird basses, up until recently he used to lug his stuff to gigs and his gear was worth more than his car.

 

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What does a typical day of creating music look like for you in the studio, in rehearsals and on the stage?

We all work four days a week in day jobs. But we rehearse most weeks and play on average every week.

What is the gateway song for new fans to listen to to introduce your sound?

Just go to linktr.ee/relayspunk and buy or stream something, perhaps our song ‘Kangaroos’ it’s a live favourite of ours personally as a collective.

What has been the biggest challenge you face as an artist and how are you pushing through that barrier (if you can!)?

A lack of money and self funding, self managing, self booking and doing every aspect of this band ourselves. It’s time consuming and financially hard at the moment but it is what it is, this has to be done!

How would you characterise the music ecosystem in regional Victoria?

I think artists need to create their own paths don’t rely on any support, just create and put it online but learn how to do this properly and promote it. However make sure you support your local scene, go to gigs and make other like minded friends and do shows with their bands. If someone ‘makes it’ then perhaps they will lift the scene up or bring your band to support them when their profile rises. I don’t subscribe to the tall poppy vibe or clicks, I’m also not afraid of doing things alone either. Art needs to be released and put out there. It’s part of the proper letting go of the process I personally feel.

 

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How has being based in regional Victoria elevated your music practice?

Kyle at Chopped gave us a huge opportunity then Tim from You Am I and now Creative Victoria. I do feel like if your act gets a little win you should leverage that into building it into something else. I’m in Melbourne now every week so I feel you need to find your scene and be engrossed in it. Regional artists do have it harder but you also have an opportunity that when you do get to the city you have a chance to have more impact cause you may have been playing live in the country for ages before getting to the city. So there are pluses and negatives I suppose.

What does the rest of 2025 look like for you?

Lots of bigger supports The Meanies, Smith Street Band, and others. Release a single ‘Get Free’ and we are playing in Melbourne a heap more too! 2026 will be crazy for us I feel after we get the album before we play overseas.

 

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Who is your biggest music crush of 2025?

Civic ’cause Chrome Dipped is my fave album this year so far.

Where can we find you?

@relayspunk and linktr.ee/relayspunk

Give Relays a listen here.