Davina and the Vagabonds

She plays the piano like it owes her money.

Around her, the horns swagger. The rhythm section swings. Gospel slips into Memphis soul, early jazz crashes into roots and Americana, and somewhere in the middle of all that old-time charm comes a wicked little flash of something thoroughly modern.

This is Davina and the Vagabonds.

Led by singer, songwriter and pianist Davina Sowers, the Minneapolis band has spent years making musical categories increasingly useless — pulling from blues and jazz, soul and swing, tender gospel and dark theatrical pop without ever sounding like a museum piece.

The songs flirt. Stomp. Ache. Grin.

They can get sweet.

They rarely stay there.

Now Davina and the Vagabonds make their first appearance at The Ideal, bringing the full band into the room for one 90-minute Saturday-night set during the Shoot for the Moon tour cycle.

Piano out front. Brass in the air. Upright bass underneath it. A voice capable of going from velvet to gravel before you've quite noticed the knife.

Call it blues if you must.

We suspect it won't sit still long enough.

Saturday, October 24, 2026, at The Ideal Theater & Bar. Doors 7:30 PM. Show 8 PM. All ages. General admission. Tickets are $30.10 all-in in advance and $35.32 all-in the day of the show, with no fees added at checkout.

Early Pre-Show: Kris Lager (solo)

Before house doors open, Kris Lager returns to The Ideal in a form we almost never get from him: stripped down, solo and close enough to hear the songs before the boogie catches fire. A 60-minute singer-songwriter set. Just 50 Pre-Show Passes available.

Pre-show doors 5:30 PM. Set 6:15 to 7:15 PM. The Pre-Show Pass is an add-on sold on the same ticket page, $30.10 all-in. Pre-show guests stay in their seats for the 8 PM show.