The Waifs built their loyal following by spending years on the road, singing and playing to anyone who would listen.
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After 25 years the older, wiser Waifs – comprising sisters Donna Simpson and Vicki Thorn and Josh Cunningham – are about to hit the road and Border fans will get an opportunity to spend an evening with the Waifs on Wednesday, March 15, during their national 25-venue anniversary tour.
It also coincides with a 25-song double album to be released in March as well.
“We asked ourselves what do our fans want to hear?” says Thorn on the band’s website.
“Over the years we have experimented with songs and instrumentation in the studio. This time, to really capture the essence of our music and the essence of who we are today as artists, we decided to sit around a couple of mics with our guitars, a makeshift junk kit and a double bass, press record and play.
“So this one is for you guys.”
To mark their 25th anniversary the band will release a track “or two” each Tuesday on their homepage for free download, which will make up the 11-song disc two of the new double album.
Ironbark was recorded in true Waifs style, in the kitchen of guitarist and singer Cunningham’s house on NSW south coast.
“A makeshift studio was set up, with audio engineer James Newhouse, in Josh’s unfinished kitchen,” she says.
“Initially it was going to be some covers and acoustic versions of old favorites. But the songs kept flowing.
“We recorded 30 songs in two weeks and didn’t even get to the covers, there are very few about homesick and highways.
“Playing new songs completely live was exhilarating and sometimes exhausting.
“Some of the takes that made it on the album are the third or fourth time we have ever played the song.
“James Newhouse was amazing to work with and helped with everything from harmonies, to getting the best sound out of that old suitcase and taming the reverb of a live band in a kitchen.”
The indie-folk band has been nominated for a swag of singing and songwriting awards over the past 25 years.
Their 2003 release Up All Night won four ARIAs while 2004 song Bridal Train was highly praised in the US.
The anniversary tour begins in Perth on March 2 and finishes on April 15 in Broome – where Donna and Vicki met Cunningham and The Waifs drew their first breath so many years before.
