"It's actually one of my favourite places in the world," Cunningham said.

Cunningham once even wanted to "see if it was possible to buy an old lighthouse where I could set up my house on the windswept headland of the wild coast of Tasmania".

The lighthouse fell through, but Cunningham's passion for the state burns strong.

The Waifs will perform in Hobart on Australia Day, alongside the John Butler Trio and San Cisco.

Cunningham said there's a strong sense of camaraderie between Australian artists.

Sharing a manager and owning a record label, Jarrah, with John Butler, has seen The Waifs and the John Butler Trio become inextricably linked.

"As John's concerned it's really quite a bit of a family situation and it has been for a long time ... I think the Aussie music scene is a bit like that."

The Waifs' lyrics and sounds have sophisticated since they formed in 1992, with their latest album Beautiful You exploring themes of place, maturation and addiction.

"Place is a very powerful magnet," Cunningham said.

Beautiful You's eponymous single deals with a band member's close friend's battle with methamphetamine.

"It's not about a physical place, it's more about being attracted back to a healthier place," Cunningham said.

The bands music vocalises "yearning and longing for something better - the world we live in is not really as good as what it could be or should be".

Despite the raw material on their latest album, earlier work still resonates with Cunningham.

"On the last tour...we were pulling out some of the very early songs that we haven't played for probably 20 years, and we're finding a very powerful connection with those songs.

"That's the thing about music - songs may be a snapshot of a place in time but they tend to have ongoing significance and relevance."

Cunningham attributes The Waifs' longevity to patience and understanding.

"We're all pretty tight...as with any human relationship, it requires a bit of love, understanding, tolerance, patience, compromise.

"It's very rewarding as well, investing in those kinds of things really reaps great rewards.

"It continues to be not just a musically enriching experience but personally as well, just to be able to share those experiences with really special people."

GIG FACTS

WHAT: The Australia Day Concert.

WHEN: January 26.

WHERE: St Davids Park, Hobart.

TICKETS: tickets.oztix.com.au