Artists: Biography The Waifs  

Originally covering Bob Dylan tunes in and around bars in their native Australia, the sister duo of Vicki and Donna Simpson were known as Colours. Formed in 1992 and touring constantly in their homeland, the pair hooked up with Josh Cunningham

during a stop in August 1992. A year later, they changed their name to the Waifs. From there, the group released a cassette of original material and decided to head for Melbourne, the Mecca of Australian music.

A loyal following and hectic touring pace resulted in a self-titled debut in 1996 and 1998's Shelter Me. Folk festivals across the U.S. and Canada have also fallen in love with their sweet harmonies and self-described "wholemeal" music. They have also shared the stage with such artists as Kasey Chambers and Michelle Shocked. In 2001, the band released their third album, Sink or Swim, in Australia, and it arrived in the U.S. the following year. The Waifs' musical honesty was captured once again with the follow-up Up All Night in 2003, which they recorded in Los Angeles. They collected two discs of live performances for 2005's A Brief History. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide