Image Credit: Donna Simpson

ThornBird Brings Solo Fire to Victoria This February

The Waifs co-founder Vikki Thorn steps into the spotlight with her acclaimed solo project and a run of Victorian shows.

Vikki Thorn is stepping confidently into a new chapter. Best known as a founding member and creative force behind The Waifs, Thorn has spent more than three decades shaping the sound of Australian folk music on stages around the world. Now, under the moniker ThornBird, she is taking flight as a solo artist, bringing her acclaimed new project to Victoria for a short run of shows this February.

ThornBird Big Girl Pants Tour Dates

Wed Feb 18 Theatre Royal Castlemaine VIC

Thur Feb 19 Meeniyan Town Hall Meeniyan VIC

Fri Feb 20 Brunswick Ballroom Brunswick VIC

Sat Feb 21 Tanswell’s Beechworth VIC

Sun Jan 25 Willow Whispers Bridgetown Bridgetown WA

Sun Mar 29 Scarborough Weekender Scarborough WA

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ThornBird is the electrifying solo incarnation of an artist whose voice has become deeply woven into Australia’s musical identity. Her self-titled debut album, released in 2022, marked a bold departure from her work with The Waifs, while retaining the emotional depth and storytelling that first made her a household name. The record was met with widespread critical acclaim, earning nominations for both an ARIA Award and a WAMI Award for Best Blues and Roots Album.

Drawing inspiration from a life spent between the vast landscapes of Utah and Western Australia, ThornBird’s sound blends Americana grooves with blues harp, folk traditions, and a fiercely personal songwriting voice. Her songs explore stories of strong women, solitude, untamed places, love, loss, and the lessons gathered along the way. The result is a sound that feels both expansive and intimate, grounded in Australian storytelling while reaching far beyond its borders.

This February, ThornBird brings that sound to Victorian stages as part of her Big Girl Pants Shows 2026 run. The tour includes performances at Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on Wednesday February 18, Meeniyan Town Hall on Thursday February 19, Brunswick Ballroom on Friday February 20, and Tanswell’s in Beechworth on Saturday February 21. Each venue offers a setting that suits ThornBird’s raw, emotionally charged live performances, where songs are allowed to breathe and stories unfold in real time.

While Thorn’s legacy with The Waifs remains significant, ThornBird is no side project. It is a fully realised artistic statement that reflects a musician in full command of her craft. With decades of experience behind her and a renewed creative focus, ThornBird stands as a global artist carving out new ground on her own terms.

Alongside the Victorian dates, ThornBird will also appear at Willow Whispers in Bridgetown, Western Australia on Sunday January 25, followed by a performance at the Scarborough Weekender on Sunday March 29. Her self-titled debut album is out now via MGM Distribution.

Tickets for the Victorian shows are on sale now here.