THE WAIFS

Genre: Folk, Blues and Roots, Country and Jazz.

Band Members: Josh Cunningham (Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter), Vikki Thorn (Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals, Songwriter) Donna Simpson (Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter) Ben Franz (Bass) David Ross Macdonald (Drums)

Location: Albany, Western Australia.

Discography: The Waifs (1996), Shelter Me (1998), Sink or Swim (2000), Up All Night (2003), Sun Dirt Water (2007), Temptation (2011) and
Beautiful You (2015)

Record Label: Jarrah Records

Website: http://www.thewaifs.com

Our showcase band today are based in sunny Albany, Western Australia. At the beating heart of the band The Waifs, are two sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson, together with guitarist Josh Cunningham. They started in a van in 1992, with the three troubadours playing gigs anywhere in Australia that would have them, has led The Waifs to multiple ARIA awards, platinum albums and successful tours across the world. The hard yards in those early days paid off in terms of their career, but also bound the three of them together as friends. The sisters left their home in Albany, Western Australia in 1992 as the duo Colours. They met Cunningham in Broome, WA and became The Waifs. 

The group forged their way on the Australian live circuit for most the 1990s, releasing albums such as their self titled debut in 1996 and Shelter Me in 1998, selling them mostly at shows. The third album, 2000's Sink or Swim, raised their profile and allowed the band to perform in Canada and the United States, attracting rave reviews in the process.

The biggest turning point came with the EP London Still (2002), which gave the band its first Australian hit. Followed in 2003 by the Lighthouse EP and the album Up All Night, which has gone double platinum in Australia and earned them four ARIA awards.

That same year they toured Australia with Bob Dylan, who subsequently invited them to join him on his North American tour.
Further hits, such as Bridal Train and Stay, have followed, along with live albums, more awards and ecstatic reviews for their live performances.