AUSTRALIAN folk rock band The Waifs are proof timeless music resonates with fans.
The band, comprising Josh Cunningham, Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn, will continue to share their folk-infused, feel-good sounds at Swan Hill Town Hall on Saturday, March 20.
It follows the success of their nationwide Up All Night 25th anniversary album tour.
The original independent avant-garde folk heroes turned multiplatinum-selling, multiple ARIA Award-winning, international touring outfit, have released eight LPs, self-titled The Waifs (1996), Shelter Me (1998) and Sink or Swim (2000), Up All Night (2003), Sun Dirt Water (2007), Temptation (2011), Beautiful You (2015) and Ironbark (2017), and two live albums A Brief History (2004) and Live from the Union of Soul (2009).
Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Josh Cunningham, who is one-third of the band, said the town hall was a “magnificent” venue.
“We’re all from regional parts of the country,” he told The Guardian.
“We’re not people that are from the big smoke, and there’s something about folks in those areas that we just feel we resonate with.
“Often sometimes regional areas, they don’t get a lot coming through, so when someone takes the time to include them on a stop on the tour, then people come out and they really appreciate it and really support.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm and excitement.
“I think we just look forward to going and playing to wherever there’s a healthy, happy bunch of people, and it’s a pretty magical thing to share a musical exchange like that.
“For us, being on stage and putting out music is a wonderful thing, and to make all the better when you’ve got a crowd full of people that are really enjoying it and giving that energy back to you.”
The Waifs have been active since 1992, forming in Albany, Western Australia.
The Simpson sisters, Donna and Vikki, had formed a duo, Colours, in Albany to perform cover versions of Bob Dylan and the Everly Brothers at local pubs.
In February 1992, Donna and Vikki headed off in a Kombi van to tour the state as Colours.
Cunningham, a Moruya farmer’s son, had started playing guitar in 1987, he was touring Australia playing bass guitar for a band.
The Simpsons met 18-year-old Cunningham while Colours were playing twelve-bar blues in Broome. After a 10-minute jam session, Donna invited Cunningham to join Colours.
Upon return to Albany, Colours changed its name to The Waifs with Cunningham on guitars, ukulele, mandolin, dobro and vocals, Donna on vocals, guitar and tambourine and Vikki on vocals, harmonica and guitar.
The Waifs used the Kombi van from 1992 to 1996 to travel to gigs across Australia.
“Probably over the last 10 or 15 years, it hasn’t been unusual for us to do a lot of shows and then have a break for a year or two,” Cunningham said.
“So it almost felt like it was kind of a similar sort of cycle for us (during COVID).
“We’ve had a lot of great adventures and a lot of fun, and it’s just been a wonderful life. So I hope there’s another 30 years ahead of it.”
The Swan Hill audience can look forward to new songs and the classics “they know and love”.
“You’re going to see a band that’s really enjoying and appreciating the chance to get back and play music together,” Cunningham said.
“We have a few new songs we want to begin the set with … the view to hopefully recording again in the near future.
“So there might be a few new tunes, but people will definitely hear the classics, the ones that they know and love, so bit of everything.”
Asked about the Australian music landscape, Cunningham said there was no shortage of people writing and releasing music.
“Sometimes you wonder, is there enough people out there to kind of support everyone? And it can be a really tough road to walk down,” he said.
“And on the other, the fact that there’s a lot of artists that are out there doing it and continue to keep doing it, I guess that indicates that there is a demand for it and a love for it, which is a good thing.
“I think music is a pretty important aspect of life; pretty bleak world without it.”
The Waifs’ 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, achieving double platinum status and winning four ARIA Awards that year. 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.
Tickets to the 7.30pm show are $75 each. Buy online at swanhilltownhall.com/events/the-waifs/.
