Jo Davie

Biography

Graced with vulnerable yet powerful vocals, Jo Davie delivers authentic storytelling through heartfelt simplicity, technical precision, and impressive versatility. The 2024 Carol Lloyd Award winner graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium with First Class Honours and the University Medal before emerging as runner-up 2018 Folk Alliance Young Artist of the Year. Jo has since captivated audiences across Australia's festival circuit, performing at Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), The National Folk Festival (ACT), Caloundra Music Festival (QLD) and numerous others.

Since her sold-out solo performance at 2024 Sydney Festival, Jo has taken her career to new heights supporting Megan Washington on a national Australian tour, Ball Park Music for 2 x sold-out Tivoli shows, and ARIA-winner Katie Noonan to capacity audiences at QPAC Concert Hall Brisbane, Sydney Festival, Bleach Festival, and Darwin Festival. Parallel to her solo work, Jo has garnered recognition as lead vocalist of Cigány Weaver (nominated for 2 x National Live Music Awards) and as a core band member for award-winning artist Asha Jefferies, touring internationally with her across the UK, US, and Europe.

Jo's solo artistic evolution began with her debut single "Throw Me A Rope" (produced by Sam Cromack of Ball Park Music) in October 2023, marking a shift toward full-band arrangements that integrate drums, bass, and electric guitar into her delicately crafted sonic world. Her second single, "Sandcastles", cracked the top 100 in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition and reached semi-finalist status in the International Songwriting Competition.

Finally, May 2025 saw the release of Jo's debut EP "Nothing Comes Free", achieving remarkable industry recognition with prominent placements on both Spotify & Apple Music playlists including Tapestry (Front Cover), New Music Friday AU & NZ, Fresh Finds AU & NZ, Barefoot Acoustic, Morning Coffee, New in Pop, and New in Alternative. The release earned airplay on Triple J, Unearthed, Double J, ABC Country, and Community Radio, alongside a coveted Triple J Artist Spotlight feature.

Jo celebrated the EP release with an eight-date headline tour spanning Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Warburton, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Northern NSW, and Brisbane, generating coverage across prominent music publications including TheMusic.com.au, The AU Review, and Scenester.

Beyond her performance career, Jo is completing her PhD examining female singer-songwriters' use of music technology and self-production.

Music

Listen to Jo's Debut EP 'Nothing Comes Free'.

New Cigány Weaver album, out NOW.

Festivals

As either herself or in her collaborations, Jo has performed extensively both nationally and internationally, 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 - Reviews

Press & Media

Jo Davie was announced as the 2024 winner 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.

Jo Davie on Her Journey

The Music.com.au

Jo Davie On Her Journey As A Female Singer-Songwriter: ‘Conceding To Others Opinions Was Letting Me Down’. A candid conversation about identity, creative control and carving a path as a female singer-songwriter.

A Love Letter to the Record

Music Feeds via Yahoo Entertainment

Music Feeds’ Love Letter to a Record series asks artists to reflect on their relationship with the music they love and share stories about how it's influence on their lives. Brisbane singer-songwriter Jo Davie has offered an ode to Bon Iver‘s 22, A Million.

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 full review

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 its 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"

Brianna Dunigan

The Lay Music

"Arriving on stage in a flowery cottage-core dress with guitar in hand, Jo Davie made a stunning first impression, wasting no time in showing the audience her gorgeous voice, introspective lyrics, and comforting music, which still excites in the tenser turns and builds of the bridges, seen in opening songs Cemetery and Colder. Her songs about love loss and self-doubt resonate, while her sweet nature reassures the audience. After receiving recognition as the frontwoman for Cigany Weaver, Davie’s solo work has seen her working with Sam Cromark (that’s right, from Ball Park Music!) as the producer of her debut EP, Nothing Comes Free (and the wistful, romantic title-track!). With a bit of a country twang to her voice, overflowing charm, and lyrics that’ll make you think, feel, sing and dance in equal measure, Jo Davie is definitely an artist you’ll want to join for her eventual, rapid rise! Fave song: Throw Me A Rope"

B Side Guys

EP Review - "Nothing Comes Free"

"Folk music breathes memory. Across six spellbinding tracks, Queensland's Jo Davie doesn't just tell stories—she conjures ghosts, builds sandcastles, and plants seeds in cemetery soil. Her debut EP 'Nothing Comes Free' emerges not as mere introduction but as fully-formed artistic statement from an artist who earned her University Medal and First Class Honours the hard way: by understanding that technical brilliance means nothing without emotional truth...Every note here feels earned through lived experience rather than calculation. In navigating these waters alongside Davie, listeners receive a rare gift: stories that transform individual experience into universal resonance without sacrificing an ounce of specificity"

Read the full review

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 full review

MILKY Magazine

Single Review - "Sandcastles"

"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."

Read the full review

The AU Review

EP Review - "Nothing Comes Free"

"Jo Davie showcases her incredible vocal range and songwriting prowess on her debut EP 'Nothing Comes Free'. Each track reveals new layers of her artistry, from intimate folk ballads to indie-rock arrangements that highlight her versatility as a performer."

Read the full review

Good Call Live

Single Review - "Colder"

"Colder is her newest single, a folk-pop song that feels like a well-worn memory. With kaleidoscopic guitar, heavenly strings, and dreamy riffs, this song builds an intimate atmosphere. Jo Davie’s vocals are powerful yet gentle and vulnerable, perfectly carrying the listener through the story of the song."

Read the full review

Scenester

Top 5 with Jo Davie

"Teased last month with the single release 'Colder' that beautifully introduces her folk-pop songwriting fans of Julia Jacklin and Phoebe Bridges will engage with, 'Nothing Comes Free' (released tomorrow) is a six-track EP that features previous releases 'Throw Me A Rope' and 'Sandcastles'."

Read the full article

From The Strait

EP Review - "Nothing Comes Free"

"Overall, Jo Davie's Nothing Comes Free EP is a masterclass in emotional songwriting, as she creates palpable feeling with every song. Her vocals are impeccable, matched only by the depth of her words and storytelling."

Read the full review

Aipate

EP Review - "Nothing Comes Free"

"Nothing Comes Free is a showcase of masterful storytelling and, simply, a beautiful collection of songs that enthrals from beginning to end. The singer baring her soul on the songs make them deeply relatable and worth listening to again and again."

Read the full review

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."

Country Town

Single Review - "Nothing Comes Free"

"Acoustic guitars, distorted electric guitar, and light drumming can't distract from Jo Davie's stunning, wistful voice. On 'Nothing Comes Free', the title track of her debut EP, the Australian singer-songwriter combines classic country with indie-folk stylings."

Read the full article

Tone Deaf

Single Feature - "Cemetery"

"Davie's haunting harmonies and expansive melodic layers create a clear emotional arc, while her carefully constructed lyricism grounds the track in a sense of intimacy. Blending folk and pop with authenticity, 'Cemetery' is delicate and deeply felt."

Read the full article

Theatre Haus

Cigány Weaver @ 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

Luka Bloom

Award-Winning Irish Songwriter

"Jo was one of the highlights of Katoomba (Blue Mountains Music Festival) for me."

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