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The Waifs

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The Waifs

The Waifs (originally styled as The WAiFS) are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by sisters Vikki Thorn (harmonica, guitar, vocals) and Donna Simpson (guitar, vocals) as well as Josh Cunningham (guitar, vocals). Their tour and recording band includes Ben Franz (bass), David Ross Macdonald (drums) and Tony Bourke (keyboard / piano).

The band's 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, achieving double platinum status and winning four ARIA Awards in October. Two further top five albums were issued, Sun Dirt Water in 2007 and Temptation in 2011. The Waifs have three top 50 singles, "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004) and "Sun Dirt Water". The band supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival.

The Waifs founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002, co-owned with fellow musician John Butler and their common manager Phil Stevens, which handles their Australian releases.

Albums

1996 The Waifs
1998 Shelter Me
2000 Sink or Swim
2003 Up All Night
2007 sundirtwater
2011 Temptation
2015 Beautiful You
2017 Ironbark
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Latest Articles

News / Music
The Waifs
The Waifs Announce 2025 Regional Australian Tour
The Waifs will also perform at this year's travelling SummerSalt music festival.
News / Music
Ben Harper / The Waifs / Yirrmal / Brad Cox
Ben Harper, The Waifs, Brad Cox, Yirrmal & More Join Bluesfest 2024 Lineup
This year’s Byron Bay Bluesfest just keeps getting more and more stacked!
News / Music
The Waifs
The Waifs Postpone Gig After Singer Donna Simpson Suffers Broken Ribs, Collapsed Lungs
"Four broken ribs, two collapsed lungs, and a bunch of bruises later, I have realised E Scooters and I don’t mix."
News / Music
John Schumann & The Waifs
John Schumann Records 'I Was Only 19' With The Waifs
The new version of 'I Was Only 19' offers a whole new perspective on the experience of war, inputting a different emotional vantage point to a timeless song.
Features / Music
The Waifs
The Waifs: 'We Truly Felt Like We'd Been Embraced That Day'
"In terms of the public perspective of the band? They're still very much very attached to this narrative of the three kids who got in the van and travelled around the world playing folk music."
News / Music
The Waifs Announce 'Up All Night' 20th Anniversary Australian Tour
With Missy Higgins appearing in Melbourne and special guests Josh Pyke, Mick Thomas, Jeff Lang, Jordie Lane, Liz Stringer, Felicity Urquhart, and more to be announced.
Features / Music
Spacey Jane, The Waifs, Alter Boy + more: Meet your free SOTA Rewired 2021 line-up
The entirely free festival returns to its Burswood Park home this WA Day, June 7th..
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Waifs
"It is as though the three of them are just sharing music and stories with old friends."
News / Music
The Waifs, Pete Murray Lead 2019 Summersalt Concert Series
Joined by some serious local talent.
News / Music
The Waifs Extend ‘Ironbark’ 25th Anniversary Tour With More Regional Dates
The tour that keeps on giving.
News / Music
The Waifs & CW Stoneking To Headline Dashville Skyline 2018
Cue the interstellar yee-haw!
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Waifs, Kasey Chambers, Lior, Stella Donnelly
"Cutting straight into 'Black Dirt Track', the drive of Josh Cunningham's guitar and Vikki Thorn's passionate blues harp playing set the scene for a sweet set to follow."
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