Jo Davie

Music

New 'Jo Davie' single 'Sandcastles' out NOW.

New Cigány Weaver album, out NOW.

Graced with vulnerable yet powerful vocals and poignant lyricism, Jo Davie offers up genuine storytelling and sings with heartfelt simplicity, technical skill and impressive versatility. Winner of the 2024 Carol Lloyd Award, Jo graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2017 with First Class Honours and the University Medal before bursting onto the Australian scene as runner-up 2018 Folk Alliance Young Artist of the Year. Jo has since won audiences and accolades across Australia and become a regular on the festival circuit, performing at Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), The National Folk Festival (ACT), Caloundra Music Festival (QLD) and many more.

In the last couple of years, Jo has taken her career to new heights, performing a sold-out solo show at the 2024 Sydney Festival, and supporting ARIA-winning artist Katie Noonan to sold-out audiences at QPAC Concert Hall Brisbane, Sydney Festival, Bleach Festival and Darwin Festival. In conjunction, Jo has gained recognition as lead vocalist of Cigány Weaver (nominated for 2 x 2023 National Live Music Awards) and as a long-term band member for her friend and award-winning artist Asha Jefferies. October 2023 marked the release of Jo’s first solo musical offering, a single entitled ‘Throw Me A Rope’ (recorded by Sam Cromack, Ball Park Music) representing a change in her artistic direction, leaning into a full band sound, wrangling drums, bass, and electric guitar into her delicately curated world. She has since released a second single, 'Sandcastles' in May 2024 leading into the release of her debut EP in 2025. And of course, Jo is also completing her PhD investigating the female singer-songwriter’s use of music technology and self-production.

As either herself or in her collaborations, Jo has performed extensively, both nationally and internationally. She has completed EU, US and UK tours, and performed at festivals including:

South By Southwest (US), Great Escape (UK), Reeperbahn (Germany), Glastonbury Festival (UK), Edinburgh Fringe (UK), Sydney Festival (NSW), Darwin Festival (NT), Bleach Festival (QLD), Bigsound (QLD), Caloundra Music Festival (QLD), National Folk Festival (ACT), Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), Sunshine Sounds Festival (QLD), Noosa Alive (QLD), Mullumbimby Music Festival (QLD), Palm Creek Folk Festival (FNQ), Bello Winter Music Festival (NSW), Blue Mountains Folk Festival (NSW), Hidden Lanes Festival (QLD), Horizon Arts Festival (QLD), Brisbane Festival (QLD), The River Folk Festival (VIC), Stanthorpe Apple & Grape Festival (QLD), OzManouche Festival (QLD), Perisher Peak Festival (NSW), Cobargo Folk Festival (NSW), Teneriffe Festival (QLD), Tablelands Folk Festival (FNQ), Bushtime Festival (QLD), Illawarra Folk Festival (NSW), Cullulleraine Music Festival (VIC), MOSAIC Multicultural Festival (QLD), Maleny Music Festival (QLD), Wallaby Creek Festival (FNQ), Dots & Loops NONSTOP (QLD), Swell Sculpture Festival (QLD) and more.

Jo Davie was recently announced. as the winnner of the Carol Lloyd Award, administered by QMusic and Arts Queensland: a $15,000 grant presented to an emerging female-identifying or non-binary singer-songwriter to record and tour an EP.

Helen Pitt (Sydney Morning Herald): "Two names stand out for me from the entire 24-day Sydney Festival program: Christie Whelan Brown and Jo Davie. Remember them. I won't forget their performances. Jo Davie was the support act for Katie Noonan: Joni Mitchell's Blue 50th Anniversary...Davie took to the stage in a '70s-style chiffon style dress that could have come from the Canadian crooner's wardrobe, and her husky, sweet, high, bell-like voice could easily be mistaken for Mitchell's, who made leaping up to her head voice an art. She was an exquisite entree to the main act of Noonan." Read the review here.

Ash McGregor (Triple J, live on Home & Hosed): "It's a stunning song, it's about being left in relationship limbo, like love me, or leave me. And her tone is beautiful, she's influenced by artists like Julia jacklin and Phoebe Bridgers and I can just hear her singing their singles, she's someone that I've been watching for quite a while since I used to live in Meanjin/Brisbane and she's always been creating, collaborating, working in music in it's purest form, playing gigs at Woodford Folk Festival. It's something that I've always admired from her, she's got so much craft behind her so I'm very excited that she's finally got a debut single out in the world...She's someone you've gotta be keeping an eye on, and if you want to hear her four octave range live, she's playing a show in Brisbane on the 21st of this month."

MILKY Magazine: "In [Sandcastles] she ponders all the big life moments that are to follow, without her mother by her side, fuelled by introspective and emotional lyricism. Recorded with Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music), a driving indie-rock-meets-folk soundscape unfurls beneath, threading together warm sonic notes that perfectly capture the songs heartfelt standpoint"

Luka Bloom (Award-Winning Songwriter): "Jo was one of the highlights of Katoomba (Blue Mountains Music Festival) for me."

John Andrew (Weekend Notes, QPAC Review): "Jo Davie looked apprehensive – "I'm shaking," she said - but the audience had clearly come to reminisce and to enjoy and warmly applauded as her pure voice celebrated "Both Sides Now". Many in the audience were singing quietly along as her voice soared, finishing with the familiar words. Jo then chose to sing her own songs – it was a good choice. Her lyrics were perceptive and sensitive, and her vocal technique is excellent. In particular, her last song with a jazz-blues flavour allowed her to showcase her four-octave range, and she saved her highest note for last, to rapturous applause. We will be hearing a great deal more of this wonderful lady." Read the review here.

Peter Dawson (National Folk Festival Review): "Cigány Weaver is the vehicle for the four-octave range of Jo Davie’s amazing voice, with bandmates producing extended solos on violin, bass and guitar. Grinning from ear to ear, Jo sat at the feet of each soloist when not leaping energetically about the tiny Scrumpy stage."

Music Is My Muse (Cigány Weaver Album Review): “Cigány Weaver’s self-titled debut showcases exquisite and vibrant instrumentation and breathtaking vocals brought together by a perfectly in-sync band.” Read the full review here.

Theatre Haus (Brisbane Festival Review): "The sextet works together with the ease of years, but the passion and the freshness that they bring to their music is captivating. Putting such an experience into words feels somehow elusive and inadequate”. Read the full review here.

Trad & Now Magazine (Edition 161): “Cigány Weaver caught my ear a few years back when they had an outside tent packed and rocking at the Illawarra Festival. At Woodford a few of us caught [Jo Davie] up close and personal in the confines of the Cirque Bar. This was an unprogrammed performance for the lucky few passing by at the time. She played quiet songs from her back catalogue including a stunning a cappella number full of loving and heartbreak. Pause. Tears. Yum. Jo is a favourite wherever she appears”.