Wollongong band Roomates is set to bring its energetic blend of indie, pop and classic Australian rock to the Hawkesbury this October.
There’s an unmistakably Australian quality to a band that lists Cold Chisel, Thirsty Merc, Blink-182, Catfish and the Bottlemen — and their mums — among its influences.
For Wollongong outfit Roomates, it’s all part of the recipe.
The emerging pop-rock band is making a name for itself with catchy songs, infectious melodies and high-energy live performances, describing its sound with a typically tongue-in-cheek phrase: “the new wave of pub rock.”
And Hawkesbury music lovers will soon get the chance to see what all the fuss is about, with Roomates set to perform at the Thrive Wellness Festival at McMahons Park, Kurrajong, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The free community festival runs from 11am to 4pm and will feature live music alongside the Thrive mermaid, unique market stalls & interactive workshops, roving performers, holistic and creative support services, animal therapy, wellness education, drumming circle, amazing food and other activities focused on connection, wellbeing and community.
For Roomates, the trip north from Wollongong represents another step in the journey of a band that began in considerably more humble surroundings — a garage.
Since forming, the four-piece has moved from the Wollongong garage scene into the city's live music circuit, developing a reputation for energetic performances and songs built around big melodic hooks.
Their official triple j Unearthed profile describes Roomates as a Wollongong pop-rock band whose music combines catchy, energetic and poetic songwriting with an emphasis on infectious hooks and live performance.
The band's influences reveal plenty about its musical personality.
There is the unmistakable Australian rock DNA of Cold Chisel and Thirsty Merc, mixed with the pop-punk energy of Blink-182 and the indie-rock sound of Catfish and the Bottlemen.
Then there are the mums.
It is a combination that Roomates has turned into its own brand of modern Australian guitar music — nostalgic without simply looking backwards, and contemporary without losing the communal spirit of pub rock.
Their debut EP, Useless Poems, was released in 2025, featuring six tracks including Overrated Blues, Gimme a Chance and Raised on Chisel - A Poem.
The band has continued developing its sound and live presence, performing around NSW and building an audience beyond its Wollongong home.
That live experience is likely to be central when Roomates takes the stage at Thrive.
While the festival has a strong focus on wellness and community, live music is an important part of the day's program — and Roomates' energetic approach should provide plenty of opportunity for festival-goers to tap their feet, sing along and enjoy some distinctly Australian rock 'n' roll.
For Hawkesbury audiences, it is also a chance to discover a band still early in its story.
Roomates may have started in a Wollongong garage, but its ambitions clearly extend well beyond the Illawarra.
And if the band's description of itself as the “new wave of pub rock” is anything to go by, they aren't taking themselves too seriously along the way.
Roomates will perform at Thrive Wellness Festival at McMahons Park, Kurrajong, on Saturday, October 24. The festival runs from 11am to 4pm and entry is free.
For more on Roomates, including music and current releases, visit their triple j Unearthed profile.
