Music

Brooke Dancer / April 19, 2023

The Waifs announce extensive Australian tour in 2023

‘Up all night’ 20th Anniversary Australian Tour 2023 – with special guests Josh Pyke, Mick Thomas, Jeff Lang, Liz Stringer, Felicity Urquhart and more to be announced.

The Waifs are delighted to announce an extensive Australian tour spanning from June to September, to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of their seminal album ‘Up All Night’.  Each show will see the band play the album in full and a sprinkling of fan favourites. They will be joined by special guests and great friends along the way who have had each their own impact on The Waifs career over the years, including multiple ARIA Award winner Missy Higgins (Melbourne show only), who did her first national tour supporting the original Up All Night album tour in 2003. 

From their inception in 1992 to 2002, The Waifs traversed Australia playing every small town with a local paper, a local radio station, a pub or hall that would host live music, and someone willing to listen, of which there were many! Constant touring laid a broad foundation, musical chemistry, and an approachable relatability through their lyrics solidified a lifelong, dedicated fan base.

The original independent avant-garde folk heroes, they released three LPs, self-titled The Waifs (1996), Shelter Me (1998) and Sink or Swim (2000) during that time with the unwavering support of community radio, ABC local and metro radio, street press and local papers.

In July 2002, everything changed thanks to their breakthrough single ‘London Still’, “The Waifs’ heartfelt, plucked ode to missing home resonated with every Australian that has ever found themselves in a far-flung, cold place somewhere across the globe”, said Junkee in their

Greatest Australian Songs Of All Time list. ‘London Still’ caught the ears of the mainstream and youth radio station triple j, who threw it onto high rotation and paved the way for the

following singles ‘Fisherman’s Daughter’ , ‘Lighthouse’, ‘Highway One’ and ultimately their 2003 LP ‘Up All Night’.

Recorded between LA and Melbourne, with Canadian producer Mark Howard – (Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, U2, Willie Nelson, Neil Yong, REM), and beloved ARIA Award-winning Australian producer, Chris Thompson. ‘Up All Night’ debuted at #3 on the ARIA charts and won four ARIA Awards for Best Blues and Roots Album, Best Independent Album, Engineer of The Year and Producer of The Year for Chris Thompson.

‘London Still’ was voted in at #3 on the triple J Hottest 100, and ‘Up All Night’ reached double platinum certification.

2003 was an unforgettable year for the band comprising of sold-out international headline tours, being the first Australian band to play New Orleans Jazz Festival, touring with Bob Dylan in Australia and the USA and being named in Rolling Stone’s ‘Moments that Changed the History of Rock and Roll’ story, that citied their independence and mainstream success as a game changer for musicians in the future.

The rest, as they say, is history to be read and to be written!

The Waifs continue to forge a proudly independent path 30 years on and show no sign of slowing down. They look forward to seeing you all out on the road to welcome you back or invite you into Waif World!