The Waifs are delighted to announce an extensive Australian tour spanning from June to September, to celebrate the 20th 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 each had 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.
To mark this occasion, they will release ‘Up All Night’ on vinyl for the first time with a limited signed edition available as part of a VIP ticket package.
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 Young, 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!
Double J presents
The Waifs
‘Up All Night’ 20th Anniversary Australian Tour 2023
With guests Josh Pyke, Mick Thomas, Jeff Lang,
Liz Stringer, Felicity Urquhart and more to be announced.
Plus a special Melbourne appearance by Missy Higgins.
Pre-Sale Tix On-Sale Thursday, April 20th
General On-Sale Friday, April 21st
Order VIP Vinyl Package from www.thewaifs.com
Thu 1 June Queenscliff Town Hall Queenscliff VIC
Fri 2 June Ballarat Civic Hall Ballarat VIC | With special guest Jeff Lang
Sat 3 June Palais Theatre Melbourne VIC | With special guests Jeff Lang & Missy Higgins
Sun 4 June Riverlinks Westside Theatre Shepparton VIC | With special guest Jeff Lang
Wed 7 June Meeniyan Town Hall Meeniyan VIC
Fri 9 June Gippsland Performing Arts Centre Traralgon VIC
Sat 10 June Burrinja Cultural Centre Upwey VIC
Sun 11 June Capitol Theatre Bendigo VIC
Tue 13 June Lighthouse Warrnambool VIC
Tues 4 July Birdsville Big Red Bash Simpson Desert QLD | bigredbash.com.au
Thur 6 July Pilbeam Theatre Rockhampton QLD | With special guest TBC
Fri 7 July Dalrymple Hotel Townsville QLD | With special guest TBC
Sat 8 July Tanks Cairns QLD | With special guest TBC
Sun 9 July Tanks Cairns QLD | With special guest TBC
Thur 13 July Canberra Theatre Canberra ACT | With special guest Josh Pyke
Fri 14 July Civic Theatre Newcastle NSW | With special guest Josh Pyke
Sat 15 July State Theatre Sydney NSW | With special guest Josh Pyke
Sun 16 July Anitas Wollongong NSW | With special guest Josh Pyke
Wed 19 July The Events Centre Caloundra QLD | With special guest Mick Thomas
Thur 20 July Tivoli Brisbane QLD | With special guest Mick Thomas
Fri 21 July Tivoli Brisbane QLD | With special guest Mick Thomas – SOLD OUT
Sat 22 July Empire Theatre Toowoomba QLD | With special guest Mick Thomas
Sun 23 July Miami Marketta Miami QLD | With special guest Mick Thomas
Fri 4 August Odeon Theatre Hobart TAS | With special guest Jordie Lane
Sat 5 August The Governor Hindmarsh Adelaide SA | With special guest Jordie Lane
Tue 8 August Tamworth Town Hall Tamworth NSW | With special guests Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham
Wed 9 August The Art House Wyong NSW | With special guests Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham
Thur 10 August Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre Bathurst NSW | With special guests Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham
Sat 12 August Araluen Arts Centre Alice Springs NT | With special guest TBC
Thur 17 August Mundi Mundi Bash Broken Hill NSW – mundimundibash.com.au
Sat 2 September Perth Concert Hall Perth WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
Sun 3 September Mandurah Performing Arts Centre Mandurah WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
Thu 7 September Goldfields Arts Centre Kalgoorlie WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
Fri 8 September Esperance Civic Centre Esperance WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
Sat 9 September Albany Entertainment Centre Albany WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
Wed 13 September Margaret River HEART Margaret River WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
Thur 14 September Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre Bunbury WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
Sat 16 September Queens Park Theatre Geraldton WA | With special guest Liz Stringer
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Thanks to Daydream Nation
