Waifs’ Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson ready to rock Blues at Bridgetown festival

Hype is steadily building for one of the Lower South West’s favourite music festivals, with a number of big name acts being announced in the lead up. The 29th annual Blues at Bridgetown festival, which runs over three days, will see an impressive line-up of artists rock the town from November 12 to 14. Acts have been periodically announced in recent months, including two bands formed by members of iconic Australian folk-rock band, The Waifs. The Waifs’ Vikki Thorn, who will be performing with her band ThornBird, spoke with the Manjimup-Bridgetown Times about The Waifs’ long-standing history with the festival, which includes playing one of the very first Blues at Bridgetowns in the ’90s. Thorn said she had vivid memories of the “energy” at those early renditions of the festival where she also met a future bandmate. “I remember the tents with the music, people were just thumping, the energy in the tents was amazing,” she said. “Everyone was crowded in, it was cold and raining outside but everyone was crowded in these tents and you’d just play your heart out and it was such a great energy — especially when you get a festival that was sort of new in a town, so people were so energised just to have the party descend on Bridgetown. “There was so much music in the streets, we actually met our bass player, the Waifs bass player Ben Franz, we met him busking on the street in Bridgetown ... he got up and we all had a jam in the middle of the street there.” Alongside ThornBird on the lineup will be fellow Waifs member Donna Simpson and her band Donna and The Devils Johnson. Thorn said it would be the first time the two bands would get to perform at the same gig. “I’m hoping they don’t schedule us at the same time to make people choose — that’d be cruel for me because I want to see her too,” she said. “That’s really exciting for both of us to return ... I thought it was a really fun idea to have us both there doing our separate things. I might do some guest appearances over the weekend with other bands too because that’s sort of the energy and the vibe of the festival which is great. The festival organisers are doing a really good job by really utilising all the musicians they have in that space — which is great because we’re all just really keen to work and perform again.” ThornBird’s debut album is scheduled to be released early next year but Thorn said festival-goers would “absolutely” get a taste of what was to come, as well as hear some classic favourites. “(ThornBird’s) not quite as folky, it’s a little heavier than The Waifs — it’s fun and we really rock out,” she said. “I know Donna’s the same actually, it’s funny because we both play in The Waifs and when we step outside we just want to really let loose. “I can’t speak for Donna but I always put a bit of — I call it Waifs love — in my sets just in acknowledgement of the people who support us so that’s always fun. So we might do some of the stuff but with a slightly different flavour.” Some of the other festival acts announced so far include Blue Shaddy, Redcliffe, Two Dollar Dog, Lightnin Jack, Stumptown, Car Park Social, Ezra Tide, Theona Councillor, The Riders, The Plympton Push, Tracey Barnett, Vdelli, Sgt Hulka, Mossy Fogg and Martin Lee Cropper, with even more expected to be announced over the coming weeks.