The Waifs

The Simpson sisters Vikki and Donna first built a local reputation as COLOURS by delivering Bob Dylan covers in Australian pubs. After forming in 1992 and maintaining a nonstop touring schedule at home, the duo met Josh Cunningham during an August stop that same year. They adopted the name the Waifs twelve months later, issued a cassette of original songs, and then relocated to Melbourne. The city’s status as Australia’s music capital helped them cultivate a devoted audience through relentless live work, which produced three early albums: their self-titled debut in May 1996, Shelter Me in March 1998, and Sink or Swim in June 2000. American and Canadian folk festivals embraced the sisters’ vocal blend and their self-described “wholemeal” style, while shared bills with Bob Dylan, Kasey Chambers, and Michelle Shocked further raised their profile.

Although Sink or Swim had already appeared in Australia in 2000, American listeners did not encounter it until 2002. The group’s unvarnished approach reappeared on the widely praised Up All Night, issued in spring 2003 and honored with four ARIA awards that year. A mostly live double set, A Brief History…, followed in 2004, yet the next studio collection, Sun Dirt Water, waited until 2007. Live from the Union of Soul documented their 2008 joint tour with labelmates John Butler Trio and surfaced in 2009. By the time Temptation arrived in 2011—their sixth studio album—the core members had each settled in separate corners of the United States. Cunningham also stepped out with his solo debut, Into Tomorrow, that year. After a period of reduced activity, the Waifs returned to the road in 2015 ahead of Beautiful You, their seventh studio album, released later the same year. Marking their twenty-fifth anniversary, the double album Ironbark appeared in early 2017 and was supported by an extensive Australian national tour.