During the latter of her 12 years living in Utah, Albany local Vikki Thorn was surrounded by memories of WA.
“You have the same desert feeling as when you get off the coast around here,” she said.
“I just had this very deep yearning to come home. I’d been away too long.”
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READ NOWThe guitarist and vocalist found herself writing songs about Australia and missing a home more than 9000km away.
Thorn is one-third of the acclaimed folk rock band The Waifs, who have been gracing local and international stages since 1992.
After making her way home to WA, the guitarist struck up a three-piece Albany band called Vikki Thorn and the Red Tails before later releasing her first solo material in 2021 as Thornbird.
While Thorn has worn many musical hats, it will be her solo venture Thornbird which will headline the upcoming Melville Summer Music program.
Kicking off in November and ending in March, the free 10-concert series will see several talented musicians take to the stage across Melville parks and reserves.
“I think it’s really important for cities to put on free musical events,” Thorn said.
“So your music can be accessed by a whole new audience that aren’t necessarily fans already, but are just wanting to be outside and experience live music.”
And the vocalist promised her performance — to be held at Centennial Park on February 10 — will include some music that has never been heard before.
“I’ve got a bunch of new songs that I’ve written in the last year or two that we’re going to be performing for the first time,” she said.
“It’s exciting for me. I just love playing with these guys from Perth, we don’t get to do it a lot because they’re all in different bands.”
She said she felt most connected to Australian audiences when performing.
“When you’re writing songs about travelling and being in Broome or you’re doing gigs around the South West, the people that are showing up are actually people experiencing those times with you,” she said.
“The connection is closer.”
Perth-based jazz ensemble Artemis Orchestra will kick off the summer series on November 4 at the Goolugatup Heathcote Lowerlands.
The Melville Summer Music program is also set to include appearances from five-piece rock BOOM! BAP! POW!, Jack Davies and the Stamps and Kankawa Nagarra and Flooded Palace.