Josh Cunningham at The Beer Shed Brewing Co 2025-09-05T19:30:00
Josh Cunningham is a founding member of Australian folk roots band “The Waifs” and one half of acclaimed country duo Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham.
Formed in 1992, with sisters Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn, The Waifs forged a dedicated and loyal following through years of endless live shows. In 2003, they became an “overnight sensation” when they picked up four ARIA awards for their album Up All Night and had radio success with several of the tracks from that album including “London Still” and “Lighthouse Man.”
They became favourites of the North American folk festival circuit as they took their unique sound and relentless appetite for touring to the northern hemisphere. The Waifs have opened for and shared stages with many high-profile artists along the way - most notably being personally invited by Bob Dylan to join him for thirty plus shows in the USA. As their music is passed down through generations, The Waifs continue to attract loyal followers and touch hearts in meaningful ways. In 2019 Josh teamed up in music and in life with Australian country music star Felicity Urquhart. Their ARIA and 4 times Golden Guitar nominated debut album The Song Club, blended Josh’s signature folk/roots sound with Felicity’s country leanings and established the duo as a potent musical force.
Described by The Australian’s Phil Stafford as the “first couple of Australian country music,” Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham topped the pool at the 2024 Golden Guitar Awards for both nominations (six) and wins (three) for their critically acclaimed and wildly successful follow up album Birdsong, released in September 2023. The single “Size Up” from the Birdsong album picked up Golden Guitar Awards for both song and single of the year, a particularly gratifying achievement for Cunningham given the song is his true-life account of growing up in a poor family and learning the value of what is truly important in life through struggle and adversity. Whilst grateful for the many years of success which includes induction into the Australian Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, Cunningham sees the most significant accomplishments of his 33 years (and counting) career, those moments where his songs have moved people in meaningful ways. Whether it’s enjoying a musical afternoon in a nursing home, or a fan sharing the tale of how a song has lifted them from the depths of despair, these are the triumphs that Cunningham cherishes the most.
“Music has a magical ability to bring people together and create joy. I’m incredibly humbled that my life has orbited around the beautiful mystery that music is.”
Nearly four decades have passed since Josh was inspired to pick up a guitar after seeing Michael J Fox’s (aka Marty McFly) spirited rendition of Johnny B Goode in the 1985 movie “Back To The Future.” From that moment forward, Josh’s passion for the guitar, songwriting and music has steadily grown - a passion which led him to begin building his own guitars, which he plays onstage.
“Every time I pick up a guitar, I feel like that same mesmerised teenage boy doing the thing he loves more than anything else.”
Cunningham gets to do the thing he loves the most with the people he loves the most. As Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham get ready for their third album and The Waifs enter their 34th year, he continues to be humbled and grateful for what music has brought to his life and for what the music he’s been a part of has brought to the lives of others.