The astonishing Davina & the Vagabonds are coming to tear up Cluny 2 in Newcastle this May, which is nice of them.

If you’re looking for a performance that feels less like a concert and more like a high-octane time machine, Davina & The Vagabonds are essentially the gold standard. They are a thrilling proposition primarily because they’ve managed to strip away the “museum piece” stiffness often associated with vintage jazz and blues, replacing it with a raw, “anything-goes” energy that is pure rock 'n' roll at its core. Frontwoman Davina Sowers is a force of nature – part Etta James soul, part Amy Winehouse grit, and part Fats Domino piano-pounding bravado. Seeing her live is a masterclass in stage presence; she possesses a rare, magnetic ability to flip from a heartbreaking, pin-drop ballad to a brassy, foot-stomping anthem without ever losing her signature sass or wit. Their shows are famous for their spontaneity and collective improvisation, where the band functions like a single, breathing organism, and whether they are tearing through a 1920s jazz standard or one of Davina’s original, darkly theatrical compositions, the result is a joyful, boozy, and utterly infectious celebration that leaves audiences feeling like they’ve just witnessed the best-kept secret in live music. JL

Davina & The Vagabonds, Saturday 23 May, Cluny 2, Newcastle, 7.30pm, £20, thecluny.com