Subculture Media

A woman walks into a bar. There’s a band playing some dirty folk blues in the corner. Looking like they had a few too many, swaying around with their instruments not paying attention to anyone that cared to listen. It was loose, so loose that it felt like they were skating, but they rode that edge for an hour. You can tell when a band has been playing together for a long time – the music is as natural as a conversation. It was raw and edgy. That woman, The Waif’s Vikki Thorn says to herself, “I want to make a record with these guys.”

With a box of songs, unplayed phone recordings and memories of ten years living in the wilds of Utah USA swirling in her head, Vikki needed a vehicle to fully realise these stories. And ThornBird was born.  

ThornBird’s debut solo album, simply titled ‘ThornBird’ will be released on 11^th March 2022, featuring the already released singles ‘Tempest’, a tale of hope and regeneration, and the feel-good vibe of ‘All The Things’. Today ThornBird unveils a new cut from the album, ‘Bullets and Heartache’, a wild west ode to love and relationship. ThornBird explains: “He comes in blazing rhetoric and she takes him on a wild horse chase. Gritty guitar, laid back groove and big harmonies round it up and bring it home. It features my next door neighbours, Simon and Tammy London from The Red Tails.”

Vikki Thorn is a seasoned Australian performer. As one third of the multi-ARIA Award winning trio The Waifs, Vikki has released 8 albums and constantly toured the world. One of the questions Vikki keeps getting asked about releasing her debut solo album is “why now”? “It’s all I know how to do, and I wanted to! I had just moved back to West Australia. Turns out I found myself with a year of cancelled Waif engagements. Turns out I had a bunch of songs sitting in a box. Turns out that band in the bar lived not so far away. Turns out they were all keen. This all turns out an album.” is her response.

Produced by Vikki and Dan Carroll and recorded at Rada Studios in Fremantle WA, ‘ThornBird’ is Vikki Thorn’s story telling at it’s very best. From her experience of living in the canyons of the US, to the inspiring women she met along the way. There are songs about love and friendship and made with a band that just clicked. 

With a handful of live shows already under her belt in Western Australia, ThornBird and her band will be heading east for shows starting in Castlemaine, Victoria on 10^th March at the Theatre Royal followed by a  special album release day show at Queenscliff Town Hall on 11 ^th March. Shows have also been announced for Melbourne, Adelaide, Eumundi in Queensland, Byron Bay, Bulli in New South Wales and Meeniyan in Victoria. ThornBird is also part of the incredible Wildflower Festival, a celebration of Australian women in music alongside Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Sarah Blasko, Kate Miller-Heidke, Deborah Conway and Alice Skye. Wildflower Festival starts on 12^th March at Rochford Wines in the Yarra Valley followed by shows in Brisbane, Hunter Valley and Mudgee. ThornBird will return to the West for a 9^th April show at the beautiful Kings Park in Perth alongside John Butler and Kasey Chambers. Full dates are below.

UPCOMING THORNBIRD SHOWS 2022
Tickets available HERE

Thur 10 March            Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
Fri 11 March               Queenscliff Town Hall, Queenscliff, VIC     
Sat 12 March              Wildflower Festival, Yarra Valley, VIC     

Fri 18 March               Imperial Hotel, Eumundi, QLD
Sat 19 March              Wildflower Festival, Brisbane, QLD   
Sun 20 March             Byron Theatre, Byron Bay, NSW

Sat 2 April                   Wildflower Festival, Hunter Valley, NSW  
Sun 3 April                  Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW

Wed 6 April                 Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne, VIC
Thu 7 April                  Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan, VIC
Fri 8 April                    The Gov, Adelaide, SA
Sat 9 April                   Kings Park, Perth, WA