Award-winning folk duo Cunningham and Urquhart to grace Albany with ‘Birdsong’ album tour

Smooth rhythmic tones from popular folk singers Josh Cunningham and Felicity Urquhart will hit Albany this weekend as part of a nationwide tour of their album Birdsong. Cunningham, who is a foundation member of ARIA-winning Albany band The Waifs, and Urquhart are touring their second studio album together, which was released in September. Through gorgeous ballads and poetic songwriting, Cunningham said the album tour revolved around liberation from within. “The album is about breaking free from the cage, finding your voice and singing out loud,” Cunningham said. “We’re doing 20 to 30 shows around the country all through October and November. “Albany marks the halfway point of our tour.” Birdsong is the pair’s second album together, their first being The Song Club which won Best Independent Country Album or EP at the Australian Independent Record Awards in 2021. “Felicity and I were invited into a group called The Song Club and we had to write a song each week and then sing it to everyone,” he said. “We were listening to each other’s songs each week and then we ended up writing one together. “Before we knew it we had an album together.” Cunningham said a fellow Waifs band member would make a “surprise appearance” at the show. “Vikki (Thorn) is coming to the show and will be bringing her harmonica so perhaps there will be a couple of Waifs classics that get a run,” he said. “A lot of people love the harmonica so it will be a lot of fun for her to jump in for a few songs.” The Waifs were formed in 1992 when Cunningham first came to Albany, a place he cherishes. “I’m not from Albany originally but I remember when the girls first introduced me to it and since then it’s been a second home,” he said. “There’s times where I feel like it’s more a home than anywhere else because of the friends and family I have there.” Doors to the Albany Town Hall will open at 7.30pm on Saturday, with local emerging folk singer-songwriter Jasper Lemann beginning his set at 7.45pm. Tickets are available for purchase online at Paperbark Merchants.