Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre [BMEC] is gearing up to host a landmark gig for one of Australia’s most celebrated acts.
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The Waifs have been entertaining audiences across Australia and worldwide for almost three decades, and will be bringing their eclectic brand of folk rock to Bathurst in February.
Featuring sisters Vikki Thorn [harmonica, guitar and vocals] and Donna Simpson [guitar, vocals], as well as Josh Cunningham [guitar, vocals], The Waifs have recorded eight studio albums since forming in 1992.
Their most recent release was 2017’s Ironbark, a double album that coincided with the band’s 25th anniversary.
The Waifs’ live lineup is bolstered by the presence of Ben Franz [bass] and David Ross Macdonald [drums], who have played essential roles within the group since the early 2000s.
Hailing from Albany, Western Australia, the beginnings of the band stemmed from the Simpson sisters’ [Thorn is Vikki’s married name] duo act Colours.
Colours made a name for themselves performing cover versions of Bob Dylan and Everly Brothers classics at local pubs.
Cunningham met the Simpson sisters during one of Colours’ Western Australian tours and after a constructive jam session, he was invited to join the band, who soon after changed their name to The Waifs.
The band enjoyed their biggest success with the release of 2003’s Up All Night.
Up All Night featured the hit singles ‘London Still’ and ‘Lighthouse,’ and went double platinum, shipping over 140,000 copies.
The album walked away with four awards at the 2003 ARIAs, including best independent release, best blues and roots album, engineer of the year and producer of the year.
After spending so many of their formative years performing gigs at any place that would have them, The Waifs have earned their status among Australia’s most endearing acts.
The Waifs will be appearing at BMEC on Wednesday, February 13 from 8pm. Tickets cost $59 for adults, $42.50 for juniors and are currently available online and from the BMEC box office.