“Davina Sowers creates her own Americana mishmash — a little Amy Winehouse-worthy neo-soul here, a little Great American Songbook-influenced songcraft there.” – Rolling Stone Magazine
With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band is converting audiences one show at a time. Davina and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene with their high-energy live shows, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Davina’s commanding stage presence. I will be driving and Tour Managing the group on their UK Dates. If you want to come and see, let me know and I’ll put you on the Guest List. If anyone has a number for Jools Holland, please let him know.
“One of the best shows we’ve ever seen!” – Cluny promoter
“Davina and the Vagabonds combat heartache with sugar and sass.” – Downbeat Magazine
“This music…feels fun, frisky and alive.” – American Songwriter
In 2011 Davina released her first full length, all original album Black Cloud. It was named one of the 10 best releases of the year by the Minneapolis Star & Tribune and awarded 4 ½ stars from Downbeat Magazine. Their next release in 2014, Sunshine, hit number 13 in the Billboard Blues Chart and led them to landing a performance on the hit BBC2 show, Later with Jools Holland.
MAY 2026
Tuesday, 19/05/2026, Barnoldswick, Music and Arts Centre Lancs
Wednesday, 20/05/2026, Selby Town Hall
Thursday, 21/05/2026, Acapela, Cardiff
Friday, 22/05/2026, Wrotham Arms, Broadstairs
Saturday, 23/05/2026, The Cluny, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sunday, 24/05/2026, Godalming
Monday, 25/05/2026, Sidmouth Jazz & Blues Festival, Devon
JULY 2026
Saturday 18th July – Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Scotland
Sunday 19th July – Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Scotland
Monday 20th July – Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival,Scotland
Wednesday 22nd July – Live Room, Saltaire
Friday 24th July – Minack Theatre, Penzance
Much like the music, the story spurns era, expectation, and classification. The often unbelievable, sometimes harrowing, and wholly inspiring journey of Davina Sowers gave birth to her eponymous band Davina and The Vagabonds in 2004. As the tale goes, she grew up in the economically depressed Allegheny town of Altoona, PA, which she now describes as “awesome in the industrial era, but horrible for high school.” She was adopted by her much older stepfather when he was in his 80s; he passed away when she was just 13. Through him and his Edison phonograph, she first heard The Ink Spots, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and many others. “Great man. He was my angel and still is,” she says.
On her own, she vividly recalls hours in front of the record player where she religiously spun Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Simon and Garfunkel records belonging to her folk singer mom.
To this day, Davina still refers to music as “my first and eternal love.” Despite early dalliances with classical piano and guitar, she developed a heavy drug habit in high school, which morphed into heroin dependency, left her homeless, sent her in and out of jail, and brought on all manner of trouble. Kicking dope on the streets, she “got clean, started the band, and worked her ass off every day since.”
“Rooted in early-20th-century blues and jazz, but freshened up with the 21st-century cheek of Davina’s teasing vocals and clever lyrics.” – NPR
Davina and the Vagabonds shine every time they play. To date, they’ve performed in forty-five states, twelve European countries, and two Canadian provinces. Not to mention, they’ve earned feverish acclaim from the Chicago Tribune, NPR, and more in addition to performing on BBC’s international favorite late-night program Later… With Jools Holland and appearing on PBS’s Bluegrass Underground.
https://www.davinaandthevagabonds.com
https://www.davinaandthevagabonds.com/assets
https://www.movinmusic.co.uk/davina_vagabonds.htm
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