The Waifs

The Waifs set out on their extensive Australia tour in June and they'll be calling in to The Art House Wyong in August for an unforgettable performance before they move on and wrap-up the tour in September.

It's a celebration of the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking album Up All Night.

The band will play the album in full as well as a sprinkling of fan favourites and they'll be joined by special guest musicians Josh Pyke, Mick Thomas, Jeff Lang, Liz Stringer and Felicity Urquhart who each have had their own impact on The Waifs' career over the years.

It all started in 1992 when sisters Vikki Thorn (harmonica, guitar, vocals) and Donna Simpson (guitar, vocals) teamed up with Josh Cunningham (guitar, vocals).

They traversed Australia playing every small town with a local paper, a local radio station, a pub or hall that would host live music, and anyone willing to listen to their folk rock.

Constant touring laid a broad foundation, musical chemistry, and an approachable relatability through their lyrics, which built a solid lifelong and dedicated fan base.

The Waifs, original independent avant-garde folk heroes, released three LPs – self-titled The Waifs in 1996, Shelter Me in 1998 and Sink or Swim in 2000.

In July 2002 everything changed thanks to their breakthrough single London Still which caught the ears of mainstream and youth radio triple J who threw it on to high rotation and paved the way for the following singles, Fisherman' Daughter, Lighthouse, Highway One and ultimately their 2003 LP Up All Night.

It debuted at number 3 on the ARIA charts and won four ARIA awards for Best Blues and Roots Album, Best Independent Album, Engineer of the Year and Producer of the Year for Chris Thompson.

The single London Still was voted number 3 on the triple J Hottest 100 and the album Up All Night reached double platinum certification.

2003 was an unforgettable year for the band with sold-out international headline tours, being the first Australian band to play New Orleans Jazz Festival, touring with Bob Dylan in Australia and the USA, and being named in Rolling Stone's ‘Moments that Changed the History of Rock and Roll' story that cited their independence and mainstream success as a game-changer for musicians in the future.