An indie rock band crafting music that feels like sun-soaked coastlines, long drives and salt in the air – equal parts nostalgia, movement and escape – Laurel Hill blend jangly guitars with weighty hooks and textured production.
Mates who formed while in high school, 2025 saw the band's most productive year, including opening the triple j Main Stage at Rolling Sets Festival and surpassing 50,000 streams.
In February, the band released their self-titled EP that features previous singles 'Heavy Shape' and 'Risty'. "This one is special to us," posted the band.
"Six of our first ever songs. Learning the ropes to this stuff has been so much fun. Finding our sound, experimenting with different ones, it's been so good. We can't wait to hear what you think 😘. We are just getting started ❤️!"
With a busy May that kicks off in Brisbane playing Stones Corner Festival (alongside Rogue Traders and Super Disco Club next weekend) as well as a Great Southern Nights gig in Northern Rivers alongside a stack of other shows, we get to know Laurel Hill.
Who is Laurel Hill... We are a surf rock band from the Gold Coast. We are four mates who all met at school and started jamming tunes together almost two years ago.
We now spend too much time together having a ridiculous amount of fun playing our favourite songs.
Our first gig was... It was on the property of our lead singer's house! His mum has a yoga studio on their property and we decided to do a friends and family gig right in-front of the studio. A historical (and humbling) gig for sure.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... None of us really stressed about the name too much, we were too busy trying to learn how to cover Lime Cordiale songs tbh. Eventually we named it after a heritage site at the top of the street that we all rehearse on.
In the studio we usually... Smash out the drums and bass first then pig out on a feed from the local bakery.
Tommie usually falls asleep and then we sort the vocals and guitars. It's always a lot of fun and you can't really predict what's gonna happen in the studio 🤣.
If we could tour with anyone... We definitely have different answers, so we’ll give you all of them!
Rachie: Ocean Alley. Greatest Aussie band of all time.
Jack: The Grogans. I've always loved their sound and the way they perform live and take a heap of inspiration from them.
Tommie: Lime Cordiale. The best in the local Aussie scene in my opinion. Their music is a massive inspiration to me and coupled with their stage presence makes it more of a whole show rather than just a concert. Also, there push for more environmentally friendly festivals is something that would be amazing to be apart of.
Corey: Ocean Alley or Gang of Youths.
To date, our most embarrassing moment was the time... I think one of my most embarrassing moments (Corey) so far was probably when I was walking onto the stage and stepping up onto the drum riser and actually slipping off in front of the crowd, or when we play a new song for the first time and I forget a section midway through the song and I have to cover it.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Doesn’t matter as long as it's cold.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Amy from Amyl and the Sniffers. She's just got it all under control.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? Dublin or Fairbanks in Alaska because I love colder weather (Corey).
No matter the expense, send us a case of... XXXX Gold, not too sure about the rest of the crew but this is my go to (Jack). Either that or a ginger beer, but I love a nice cold Gold before getting up and banging out some tunes.
Do you have any phobias... I (Corey) don't really have a major phobia like heights or water, but I'm not a huge fan of small bugs that sort of thing, they just sort of gross me out a little. (So if anyone sees a spider or anything at a gig of ours, throw it at the drummer).
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? A post jam Grill'd sesh is definitely the band's go-to. Not really a midnight feed but the choice of Laurel Hill nonetheless.
Stones Corner Festival takes place at Logan Road (Stones Corner in Brisbane) on 3 May (Labour Day Eve) from 12pm-10pm. Free entry.
Stones Corner Festival 2026 Line-up
Rogue Traders
Super Disco Club
Giddy Up Strut feat. Nashville Jukebox
Queens Country Line Dancing
Ray Beadle
John Hanley and Don't Shoot The Hurricane
Laurel Hill
Laurel Hill 2026 Tour Dates
Sun 3 May - Stones Corner Festival (Brisbane)
Sat 9 May - Salty Hops Festival (Yeppoon)
Sat 16 May - Great Southern Nights @ M|Arts Precinct (Northern Rivers)
Sat 23 May - Sessions Surf Festival (Gold Coast)
Fri 29 May - Black Bear Lodge (Brisbane)* supporting The Colliflowers
