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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 Mark 25th Birthday With Huge National Tour And Album
25 shows to mark 25 years
News / Music
Mariachi El Bronx, The Waifs Lead Huge Line-Up On Brand New Festival
What an amazing debut line-up
Features / Arts
Why It's Set To Be One of PIAF's Biggest 2016 Events
"A historic gathering of Western Australian artists for one night."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins, The Waifs
"This is certainly the most rock and/or roll performance of the night and gets people off their blankets to have a bit of a dance."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Waifs, Davey Craddock & The Spectacles
"Sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson complemented each other immaculately throughout the night — their voices so similar yet so distinctly separate..."
News / Music
The Waifs Announce Two More Shows For Their 2016 Tour
Bathurst and Tamworth, they're heading your way.
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Waifs, Mia Dyson
"With righteous mouth organs and heart-melting harmonies, the trio created huge sounds and a real sense of place."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Waifs, Mia Dyson
"It's the power of these new songs that indicate that The Waifs are going to be selling out shows for years to come."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: The Waifs, Sal Kimber
"Although Simpson, Thorn and Cunningham all call the USA home now, not one bit of their trademark Australian sound has left them."
Features / Music
Music Inspired By The Emotional Effects Of Meth Addiction
"It felt like an important message and I think it applies to a lot of people's lives."
Features / Music
Album Focus: The Waifs
News / Music
The Smith Street Band Score Top Ten Debut On Indie Charts
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