They got their start a few years ago in a basement studio built during COVID, and have since morphed into a band known for playing the best of the 1950s and 1960s rock ‘n’ roll.

Richie and The High Street Rockers perform on the Main Stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Palmerton Community Festival.

The band has three members: Richie Thomas, guitarist/lead vocalist; John Pachnos, bassist; and Austin Bright, drummer.

As part of their performance, Thomas said the band plays songs from Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.

“I think we can do a lot with what this music is; our niche is the people who grow up with this music,” Thomas said. “I feel like they’ve been underserved.”

Along the way, the band got a curve ball, according to Thomas.

“I think there’s room for the youngest people with this music, too. I’ve noticed a lot of teenagers really smile and get moving,” he said.

“I’m aiming at them; I think we’re going to get a new wave of people into this music, I think this is the time.”

Thomas noted how there was the rock ‘n’ roll revival in the 1980s.

“They say fashion goes on 40-year cycles,” he said. “I think we’re on the tail end of that cycle (and) ready for something new.”

For the band, this will mark its first time playing at the Palmerton Community Festival.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things,” Thomas said. “I hear it’s quite a nice festival.”

Thomas described the experience he wants the audience to take away from listening to the band.

“I want people to feel alive when they come to our show,” he said. “I like to be particularly earnest; we show up exactly as ourselves, and people recognize the authenticity.

“They’ve seen that in an age where there’s so many computers, we don’t use any backing tracks; we do everything live on stage with only three instruments and three singers.

“I think people really gravitate to that with true live performers.”

Thomas noted they are a relatively new band that came together in late 2024 when they played a small camp and started off as a rockabilly band.

“Moving forward, we realized we wanted to lean into all of the rock ‘n’ roll sounds of the ’50s and ’60s,” he said. “That era felt good to us.

“We grew into it. As soon as we made that shift, the fans lit up.”

Thomas said the group went viral on the Internet, and starting getting tens of millions of views, to the point where it averages 10 million views a month.

“We’ve had that success, half luck, half good timing, half hard work,” he said. “We want to look forward to the future; we’re seeing all of these new opportunities open up thanks to the support our fans have given us.”

Thomas said that while they aren’t doing anything internationally yet, the band has received calls from Australia, Japan and Europe.

But for now, they want to keep playing in the United States.

He said they’re going to be traveling to Washington State, North Dakota and Florida, and all across the country.

Also, there’s going to be a major announcement in October for a coming gig.

“It’s an exciting gig, a really big slot,” he said. “They should keep their eyes open.”

Thomas said the group is also working on a new album with original music.