The band was formed in Melbourne in 1999 by Henry Wagons with his school friends from Glen Waverley in Melbourne; Si "The Philanthropist" Francis, Richard Blazé, Steve "Harmony" Hassett and Mark "Tuckerbag" Dawson. The band has cited influences including
Johnny Cash,
Scott Walker,
Nick Cave and Vegas-era
Elvis on their musical style. A regular feature of their live shows is a version of the Wayfaring Strangers song "Willie Nelson". They are known for their energetic and dramatic indie country rock performances in which Henry Wagons engages in banter with the audience between songs. Henry Wagons is the grandson of
Henry Krips, a Viennese emigree conductor of the
South Australian Symphony Orchestra. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in Melbourne by the AGE magazine in 2009. Prior to forming the band, Henry (as Henry Krips), was synthesizer player in a Melbourne improvisational quartet called Dworzec. Wagons released their first album in 2000. On 26 July 2004, they released
Draw Blood on Spunk Records. In 2009 they won
The Age EG Best Band and Best Album awards.
Rumble Shake and Tumble was released on 16 August 2011 on Spunk Records, and was again produced by Cornel Wilczek. Wagons toured in the US and Canada appearing at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle in September 2011. They won The Age EG awards for Best Band, and the Best Album award for
Rumble Shake and Tumble. The album also won the Best Independent Country Album award in the Jägermeister Independent Music Awards 2011. Wagons performed in the US and appeared at SXSW in March 2011.
Acid Rain and Sugar Cane was released on 16 May 2014 on Spunk Records. Montreal Jazz Festival, and RBC Ottawa Bluesfest. Wagons have toured extensively in Australia as well as in New Zealand, the US and Canada, appearing at music festivals including
SXSW,
Bumbershoot,
Montreal Jazz Festival,
Bluesfest,
Big Day Out and
Laneway. ==Members==