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THORNBIRD
@ Brunswick Ballroom,
Melbourne,
20th February 2026
(Live Review)

Review by Grace Kneale

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Thornbird

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Vikki Thorn, best known as being a key force for thirty years in the renowned folk-rock band, The Waifs, took the stage at the Brunswick Ballroom on Feb 20. Playing tracks from her 2022 debut album, Thorn performed under the guise of her solo project ‘ThornBird’. Bringing her captivating storytelling accompanied by unique blues and folk sounds, ThornBird showcases her experience as a performer for over three decades, capturing audiences with stories of foreign journeys, loss, and life.

Opening the night was Kathleen Halloran, fellow Aussie singer-songwriter, who lit up the stage with her razor sharp guitar riffs and edgy vocals. With only her guitar and loop pedal, Halloran kicked the night off on a bold and electric note. She owned her set, playing through a mix of her own tracks filled with everything from punk-style hooks and powerful guitar work mixed in with her vulnerable yet biting vocals.

Following an electrifying opening set, ThornBird set the stage as vocalist and guitar player Vikki Thorn introduced her band to the room. Her band shuffled between instruments throughout the set, from the double bass, drums, guitars, harmonica and keyboard, they allowed each track to stand in its unique sound, offering something new to the audience.

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Kathleen Halloran

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The band were back playing they debut album where they had first introduced it to audiences 4 years prior in the Brunswick Ballroom. And they did so as if they’d been doing it for a lifetime.

The set began with ‘Bullets and Heartache’, a folky start that was anchored by the blues-style double bass laying down a warm and soulful groove. Thorn’s vocals shone right from the beginning of the set, as her raspy yet so sharp and crisp voice bellowed throughout the room.

She introduced the next track ‘That Kinda Man’, as a track some had described as ‘Elvis-style’, which was evident from the second her voice rang out against the electric guitar riff. Here, we were introduced to the skilful way Thorn is able to create a character and covey emotions in her vocals, as she exudes personality and charm. It’s one thing to be able to capture audiences through the story-telling in the lyrics of a track, but the way Thorn is able to go beyond this and tells a story through the tone of her vocals is phenomenal. Every choice she made throughout the set in her vocal tone was deliberate, soft and gentle when she needed to, shifting to a sharp fierceness when she needed to bring this texture to a track. These choices made the set feel like a performance, taking us on a journey of her music.

The set moved into more slow and soulful grooves, with the track ‘Tempass’, telling the story of an old high school friend of Thorn’s. The song felt uniquely Australian, where again Thorn used her vocals to tell a story, shifting to her distinctly Australian accent, shaping the delivery of every line.

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Vikki Thorn

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‘Big Girl Pants’ was a more sultry tune with a kind of late-night blues groove. This one utilised the vocals of the ThornBird band, as other tracks did throughout the set, utilising stacked vocal harmonies. The whole band riffed of each other with such ease, which was highlighted when Kathleen Halloran was welcomed back on stage and played two tracks with the band. The second track was unrehearsed, as Halloran on guitar jumped into spaces and fleshed out the instrumentation when it allowed. The unplanned and completely authentic nature of this was so fun to watch, as the band riffed together, each giving each other moments to shine and hold space for one another to do so.

The rest of the set carried on with a slower ballad, one that had not been released but where we got to see the softness of Thorn’s vocals.

The mood was quickly lifted for the remainder of the set, where Thorn invited the audience to sing along, teaching us vocals that would ring throughout the chorus to create complete engagement with the crowd.

ThornBird put Vikki Thorn’s formidable vocals front and centre, proving she can command a stage vocally completely on her own. Her tone, charisma and magnetic lyrical delivery captivated the room. The band sat beside her with seamless chemistry, creating a rich atmosphere to carry each track with blues and folky inspired grooves. The band worked together instinctively, feeling as though they are decades-deep in their collaboration, and creating an engaging and captivating night for audiences.

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Vikki Thorn

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Follow THORNBIRD
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Vikki Thorn

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AMNPLIFY – DB