Davina and the Vagabonds returned to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival last night, following their 2022 debut, when Davina cheekily admitted she wasn’t quite sure what cabaret was. Three years on, she reflects that the band is often the blues act at jazz festivals and the jazz act at blues festivals, and that perhaps cabaret is exactly where they belong. Whatever genre you put them in, one thing is certain: Davina and the Vagabonds are a toe-tapping, must-see act.
In Australia for two shows only, both at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, if you haven’t seen Davina and the Vagabonds yet, or even if you have, tonight is your last chance. Brave the weather and make your way to the Dunstan Playhouse—you’ll be rewarded with smooth vocals, sensational musicianship, and a tour through the American jazz songbook, sprinkled with Davina’s own original compositions.
In the opener, one of her own songs titled Sugar Drops, she sings, “I’ll do what I can to make you fall in love with me”—but, to be honest, she didn’t have to try very hard. Her warmth, wit, and talent had us won over from the start. Early in the performance, when Davina announced the title of an song they were about to perform, it earned just one enthusiastic whoop from a knowing member of the audience. By the end of the evening, she had converted the entire crowd.
If the audience wasn’t already toe-tapping, Devil Horns sealed the deal. It was impossible not to move along to this percussive, old-time jazz vibe of a song.
Davina’s stage presence is magnetic. Though she spends much of the set seated at the piano, Davina sings directly to the audience, turning toward us and gesturing expressively with her hands, when she’s not playing the keys. Her energy draws us in, making the performance feel personal and intimate. She’s also witty, playfully introducing the 1931 classic As Time Goes By with the quip, “We’re known for our contemporary music,” before launching into the beloved tune with its timeless line, “A kiss is still a kiss.”
Each member of Davina and the Vagabonds is given their moment to shine. Classical piano trained Davina dazzles with a lightning-fast piano solo in Fats Domino’s Ain’t That a Shame, her fingers a blur across the keys. The Trumpetist Becca Lozier even takes centre stage to sing Jimmie Noone’s upbeat Four or Five Times, turning it into a playful, interactive moment encouraging the audience to count along on their fingers.
In one of the most unexpected, and entertaining, moments of the night, Davina launches into a vocal showcase of bizarre gurgles, gargles, and vibrations. It turns into a hilarious battle with the trombonist, who attempts to mimic each strange sound on his instrument. It’s weird, wonderful, and a testament to the band’s playful showmanship.
The setlist is carefully curated and perfectly paced. We’re never left too long in melancholy territory. After one of Davina’s more heartbroken original songs Bad leaves, she lightens the mood with Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby, a tune she recalls first hearing on Tom and Jerry at age six, which was originally recorded by Louis Jordan in 1943.
The set closes on a high with St. James, which which rises from a low, slow, bluesy style to a thrilling crescendo of driving drums, triumphant trumpet, and soaring trombone.
From heartfelt originals to spirited jazz standards, Davina and the Vagabonds delivered a performance that was equal parts soulful and dazzling. It’s a musical journey that lingers long after the last note, leaving you wishing the night would never end.
Catch Davina and the Vagabonds live tonight at Adelaide Cabaret Festival before it’s too late. This is jazz at its vibrant, and captivating.
5 CROISSANTS
Matilda Marseillaise was a guest of Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
KEY INFO FOR DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS
WHAT: Davina and The Vagabonds
WHERE: Dunstan Playhouse, ADELAIDE
WHEN: Tonight, 7:30pm
HOW: Purchase your tickets via this link
HOW MUCH: Tickets start at $79 plus $9.95 transaction fee for A Reserve tickets.
(P.S. Tonight’s show is also on the RushTix list so you can get $20 tickets at the box office)
