Sunshine Coast surf-punk chaos merchants Wave Raiders don’t really do things the normal way and their surprise Australia Day pop-up set at Double Island Point was no exception.
Surprising audiences is basically the Wave Raiders origin story.
The three boys were just 10–12 years old when they made headlines after appearing on stage with Spiderbait at the Caloundra Music Festival in 2023. They famously smuggled a sign into the crowd which asked the band if they could play on stage. And that they did – to 10,000 people.
“We’re always thinking outside of the square and looking for new ideas,” the boys said, a mindset that carried straight through to the release of their debut EP, Nothing Better. The feature track is all about freedom: hanging at the beach with mates, music blaring, and not giving a toss what anyone thinks.
“We wanted to do the song justice,” they explain, “and that’s when the idea of a pop-up beach gig came up – chilled, low-key, and with no public announcement.”
Double Island Point was the obvious choice for brothers Tom and Pete, who grew up camping and surfing at the favourite tourist spot. “It’s a really special place for us. (Bandmate) Jayden had never been there, so what a better way to introduce him!”
Photo of Wave Raiders with Spiderbait at Caloundra Music Festival by Our SC by Clea-Marie Thorne
Wave Raiders Say Beach Party Performance: ‘No Easy Feat’
Pulling off a surprise beach gig was no small feat for the three teens who could barely fit their gear into their convoy of cars. But after a mate stepped in with a ute and trailer to help them haul their makeshift stage to the point, it was game on.
Pete drew up a full stage plot, mapping out power boards, cables, and gear placement, while their dad engineered an off-grid power solution and planned the convoy around the tides. “It was touch and go whether it would work,” they admit. “But we’re glad we could pull it off.”
“We had a few locations in mind, but we chose Double Island as the spot because it’s a really special place for us. We felt that we needed to show that our beaches are still a place of joy. Beach life is part of our DNA as kids growing up on the coast, and we think it’s an important part of living in a free country.”
Before playing, the boys acknowledged the traditional owners of the land, noting that music has been played there long before they arrived. It was a moment warmly received by everyone gathered on the sand.
After a fully-charged performance, the amps were packed down, the convoy rolled out, and another Wave Raiders moment slipped quietly into local music lore. “And that’s about it really,” they laugh. “We are now planning our next surprise.”
Well, we’ll be waiting!
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