In The News
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."
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”.
Videos
Cigány Weaver:
Commercial Work: