The Waifs, an Australian folk rock group formed in 1992 in Albany, Western Australia, originated from sisters Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn (née Simpson) and guitarist Joshua Cunningham. The trio began performing as Colours before adopting the name The Waifs and touring the country in a Kombi van. Their early recordings, including the self‑titled debut The Waifs (1996) and Shelter Me (1998), established a foundation of acoustic folk with harmonies and storytelling. In 2000 the band released Sink or Swim, followed by the breakthrough Up All Night (2003), which debuted at number 3 on the Australian Albums Chart, achieved double platinum status, and earned four ARIA Awards in 2003. The single "Lighthouse" reached number 12 on the Triple J Hottest 100 that year. The group continued to release chart‑toppling work with Sun Dirt Water (2007) and Temptation (2011), the latter peaking at number 3 on the national chart. They founded Jarrah Records in 2002, collaborated with John Butler Trio on the Union of Soul tour, and supported Bob Dylan on Australian and North American tours. Notable singles include "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004), and "Sun Dirt Water" (2007), all contributing to the band’s sustained presence in the Australian folk‑rock scene. The band followed up with albums Beautiful You (2015), and Ironbark (2017).
