A quarter of a century of anything is usually going to be worth celebrating, and The Waifs are marking 25 years as a band with a big national tour, and a new record thrown in for good measure.
Ironbark is the name of the new LP which, while only technically packing 14 tracks, comes complete with a whopping 11 bonus tracks in order to bring the tracklisting to a nice round 25. Similarly, the huge tour sees the band play – you guessed it – 25 different dates across the country, including the Port Fairy and Blue Mountains folk festivals.
Feeling understandably sentimental, the band are asking for fans to send through any stories fans may have of when the band’s music may have played a significant part in their lives, big or small. The band hope to incorporate some of these tales into their live performances, and no doubt just reflect on a long career as one of the country’s folk rock stalwarts.
“The Waifs fans are legendary in the industry for their loyalty and enthusiasm,” says singer and guitarist Vikki Thorn. “It feels like we all grew up together. We are now the band you can brings your parents and your kids to hear! Your involvement in our career means everything to us. You are the very reason we are still playing music together 25 years on.”
Any touching anecdotes can be fired through to the band’s label on [email protected] before possibly being heard live onstage.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 9am from the band’s website, and you’ll have plenty of dates to choose from as the band make their way across half the country from March 2, coinciding nicely with the release of Ironbark on March 3.
An Evening With The Waifs
Thursday, 2nd March
Perth Concert Hall, Perth
Saturday, 4th March
3 Oceans Winery, Margaret River
Sunday, 5th March
Castelli Winery, Denmark
Monday, 6th March
Quindanning Tavern, Quindanning
Thursday, 9th March
Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
Saturday, 11th March
Womadelaide, Adelaide
Sunday, 12th March
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
Monday, 13th March
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
Tuesday, 14th March
Eastbank Centre, Shepparton
Wednesday, 15th March
Albury Arts Centre, Albury
Thursday, 16th March
Canberra Theatre, Canberra
Saturday, 18th March
Blue Mountains Folk Festival, Katoomba
Sunday, 19th March
Anitas Theatre, Thirroul
Saturday, 25th March
The Odeon Theatre, Hobart
Sunday, 26th March
The Don Centre, Devonport
Tuesday, 28th March
The Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
Thursday, 30th March
Hamer Hall, Melbourne
Saturday, 1st April
Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday, 4th April
Bangalow Hall, Bangalow
Thursday, 6th April
The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane
Saturday, 8th April
The Nightquarter, Gold Coast
Sunday, 9th April
Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns
Wednesday, 12th April
Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
Thursday, 13th April
Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin
Saturday, 15th April
The Roebuck Bay Hotel, Broome