WOMADelaide 2007 - The Waifs

www.womadelaide.com.au
In 1985, dad taught me how to play guitar. I was 15 years old. He's a classic campfire style guitarist who can play any song with 4 chords. He's also a fisherman. The first song I ever learnt was Dylans, The times are a changing and I was hooked.
My sister Vikki picked up the guitar in about 1988 . She was 14 and playing, House of The Rising Sun. She was hooked.
Josh lived on a farm in New South Wales and picked up his first guitar after seeing Michael J fox play Johnny be Good in Back To The Future in 1987. He was also self taught and got hooked at 15.
In 1992 Vik, and I bought a campervan and headed off from Albany W.A. to travel around Australia singing. It was just the two of us girls, singing in the front bars of pubs in resorts, gold mines, zinc mines, biker bars, beer gardens, markets and fishing towns playing our favourite songs to anyone that chose to listen. Music was only a means of making money to travel. ….and travel we did.
We met up with Josh in 1992 in Broome far up on the remote North West Coast of Western Australia. He was on tour and playing bass guitar for an all bloke Rock n Roll band. We jammed for about 10 mins and I asked him to join the band and he said "ok"….. Just like that, and we became The Waifs. We toured around Australia now 3 of us living in the Van , for the next 3 years..
In 1996 we moved across the country and recorded an album with the help of Jen Anderson and Michael Thomas from "Weddings Parties Anything". Our self titled album "The Waifs" was released in 1996 Independently. We launched it in and around Melbourne and then hit the road again for another year touring.
In 1998 we released our 2nd album "Shelter Me" recorded in Adelaide. It was another Independent release. Again we launched it in the major cities and hit the road again for another year or so touring it.
In 2000 we Independently released our 3rd album "Sink or Swim" recorded in Melbourne, and our 4th album in 2002 UP ALL NIGHT, recorded in Los Angeles and Melbourne (Aust) Again……..we launched it and hit the road again and have spent ever since touring with it. Up All Night went on to sell double platinum in Australia and managed to help us pick up a couple of pointy things at the Arias for best Blues and Roots album and Best Independent Band. Up all Night consolidated the band’s reputation through out the world as a major touring act especially on the international festival scene. Cambridge Folk Festival In UK, Newport Folk Festival and New Orleans blues festivals were all stand outs as well as opening for Bob Dylan through out the States.
In 2004 we put out our first Live album A Brief History recorded from many shows around Australia.
We seem to put out an album every two years. It's not planned, it just happens that way. We have a new one coming soon....... and will be out in 2007, somewhere between looking after the new babies and playing shows both back in Australia and around the world!

[@donsylvain7360]

2024 and just stumbled upon the Waifs while looking for harmonica music. And now I’m hooked. Sultry voices doesn’t hurt either.

[@kimbaldunsmore4633]

The Waifs are so special in the Australian music firmament. I loves the poetry about family in the music and the obvious love they have of sharing that with us. You don't have to be blood relatives to be family and these people speak to so many things that I can recognise over my 57 year life. Bless em.

[@AlejandroValdivia-zf3eu]

Heres hermosa y apaere save cantar .nunca avua conosida una mujer yan bella y yalentos el ajedrezista 🎯♟️👍

[@JulietCurran]

I just love them

[@alexrichmond4085]

My dear friends l love you so much! THANK you so much for amazing music and song! Good luck! HELLO from Georgia/Tbilisi! 🙋‍♂️❤🍇🍊🍉🍓🍒🌹💋💋💋🥂🍾

[@antoniotedde5045]

wow

[@nancsea]

soul. Soul. Soul.. Amen.

[@MrRampertshammer]

Good Music stands on it's own, regardless as to the name of the band. Love your music.

[@robxrtson9477]

vicky thorn love love love

[@thomasjacobs1496]

Dear Waifs,we are longing to see you in Germany! Handmade music,made from real humans, great!

[@vadersimpson6717]

The Waifs, my all time favorite band from Australia. Their music has a true place in my heart! Is that song 'One more year' a cover? Off which album is it?

[@ardnfast]

"From little things, big things grow" : )

[@tomhardiman1116]

epic they are

[@leeedgecock6636]

OMG you guys are totally brilliant, been so addicted to your music for so long , Rock ON guys :) :)

[@ohlwilerful]

Wee babies! xoxo

[@mayflowerlash11]

I remember the first time I heard Vikki sing Stay with the fast tempo. Her voice was plaintive and heartbreaking when she begged to stay another hour. I had to search high and low to find out who it was and finally I scored the CD. If it had been vinyl that track would be worn out.

[@kricker4245]

U ARE UPTOWN AND AMAMAZING.