The Sunshine Coast’s biggest pint-sized band Wave Raiders are set to debut at Good Things Festival on December 7 in Brisbane.
The teenage rockstars will make their festival debut on the Garage Band Stage at the Brisbane Showgrounds with some new music.
They are also playing this weekend at Bluff Fest at Alexandra Headland.
Pictured: Wave Raiders are Peter and Thomas De Waard (left) and Jayden Georg.
The trio formed when they were aged just 10-12 years-old, and have since skyrocketed from local RSL gigs to major festival stages.
Their career highlights already include playing with some of Aussie rock’s biggest names, including supporting slots with The Screaming Jets and The Superjesus. They’ve also played on stage with Spiderbait and Pricey.
Wave Raiders were selected for triple j’s 2025 Unearthed High Yearbook, where their song “My Way” was noted as a head-banger “most likely to headline a seaside festival.”
Wave Raiders hone new ‘neo-surf-rock-psych’ sound
A prominent fixture on the local circuit for the past two years, Wave Raiders say they are honing their own sound with a more “neo-surf-rock-psych” feel.
Their latest four-track EP features the new song – “Nothing Better” – which is the title track, out today.
It was written by brothers Peter and Thomas De Waard, with the original riffs and lyrics born in a bedroom when Pete (who is now age 15) was just 13.
The track began to take shape during a trip to Byron Bay for Bluesfest, with the boys on acoustic guitars, makeshift drums, and the sound of waves crashing in the background.
“It’s about chilling out on the beach with mates, listening to tunes, and not giving a toss about what anyone else thinks,” Pete says.
“It’s our idea of a more chilled song, but it still packs a punch and has a touch of rebellion.”
The band took the early sketch to Cameron McGlinchey (The Screaming Jets, Rogue Traders), borrowing their guitar teacher’s backyard studio, and even taking a few days off school to work intensively under his mentorship.
“Cam helped us add colour and fine tune the song. He picked ‘Nothing Better’ out of a heap of songs because it was different,” he says.
Renowned producer Steve James (Cold Chisel, The Angels, Skunkhour) then joined them for pre-production, before the track was completed at Red Engine Studios in Brisbane.
Wave Raiders are supported by the Regional Development Assistance Program, a partnership between the Queensland Government (through Arts Queensland) and Sunshine Coast Council.
Catch Wave Raiders in the wild
Sunday 30 November, Bluff Fest, Alex Surf Club
Friday 5 December, supporting Dellacoma + Pricey, Solbar
Sunday 7 December, Good Things Festival, Brisbane Showgrounds
