Just one look at the beautiful cover photo on The Waifs’ new album Ironbark says a lot about who they are and what they are about; friends and family bound together by their love of music, of performing and of Australia.

It’s 25 years since West Australian sisters Donna and Vikki Simpson (now Vikki Thorn) joined forces with Josh Cunningham to create one of the country’s best-loved bands. That cover shot, taken near Cunningham’s home on the NSW south coast, marks The Waifs’ quarter of a century together, but it’s also a nod to Australia itself, its nature and its people, essential ingredients in the extraordinary body of work The Waifs have created in that time.

One can’t imagine a better way to commemorate this significant landmark in the band’s career than with a double album of 25 original songs, one for each year, all of them recorded in the kitchen of Cunningham’s home near Moruya, where he grew up. That’s the amazing and unexpected harvest from a couple of weeks of recording late last year, when the trio assembled with regular collaborators David Ross McDonald (drums, percussion) and Ben Franz (bass, dobro), not really knowing what they were about to record, other than maybe some covers of other artists’ material.

 

AN EVENING WITH THE WAIFS
25th ANNIVERSARY AUSTRALIAN TOUR
With Special Guests

Thurs March 2 Perth Concert Hall Perth WA
with special guest Lucy Peach

Sat March 4 3 Oceans Winery Margaret River WA
with special guest Dave Mann

Sun March 5 Castelli Winery Denmark WA
with special guest Ziggy Alberts

Mon March 6 Quindanning Hotel SOLD OUT Quindanning WA
with special guest Polly Medlen

Thurs March 9 Fremantle Arts Centre Fremantle WA
with special guest Toby

Sat March 11 Womadelaide Adelaide SA

Sun March 12 Port Fairy Folk Festival Port Fairy VIC

Mon March 13 Port Fairy Folk Festival Port Fairy VIC

Tues March 14 Eastbank Centre Shepparton VIC
with special guest Jordie Lane

Wed March 15 Albury Arts Centre Albury NSW
with special guest Liz Stringer

Thurs March 16 Canberra Theatre Centre Canberra ACT
with special guest Liz Stringer

Sat March 18 Blue Mountains Folk Festival Katoomba NSW

Sun March 19 Anita’s Theatre Thirroul NSW
with special guest Jordie Lane

Sat March 25 The Odeon Theatre Hobart TAS
with special guest Emma Anglesey

Sun March 26 The Don Centre Devonport TAS
with special guest Emma Anglesey

Tues March 28 The Ulumbarra Theatre Bendigo VIC
with special guest Jordie Lane

Wed March 29 Hamer Hall JUST ANNOUNCED Melbourne VIC
with special guests Mick Thomas and The Roving Commission

Thurs March 30 Hamer Hall SELLING FAST Melbourne VIC
with special guest Jordie Lane

Sat April 1 Enmore Theatre Sydney NSW
with special guest Jordie Lane

Tues April 4 Bangalow Hall SOLD OUT Bangalow NSW
with special guest Abbie Cardwell

Wed April 5 Bangalow Hall JUST ANNOUNCED Bangalow NSW
with special guests Jez Mead’s Golden Mile

Thurs April 6 The Tivoli Theatre Brisbane QLD
with special guest Abbie Cardwell

Sat April 8 NightQuarter Gold Coast QLD
with special guests Jez Mead’s Golden Mile

Sun April 9 Munro Martin Parklands Cairns QLD
with special guest Garret Keto

Wed April 12 Araluen Arts Centre Alice Springs NT

Thurs April 13 Darwin Entertainment Centre Darwin NT
with special guest Serina Peach

Sat April 15 The Roebuck Bay Hotel Broome WA