The Davidson Trio are soon to release their first album Cougar, and it’s not about me. I first discovered this superbly talented trio at my favourite festival, Legends Of Rock, when The Davidson Trio, who hail from the West Midlands, headlined the main arena and blew thousands of us fans away with their bold blend of rock and blues.
The Davidson Trio – Cougar
Release Date: 14 March 2025
Words: Sara Harding
The Davidson Trio are a dirty, bluesy, southern rock combo with some serious musical chops. Frontman Owen Davidson’s vocals are some of the best I have heard on the new British music scene. He does look and sound a bit like my telly boss, Sir Lenny Henry, with a strong Brummie twang, which is always a good thing, in my opinion.
Also a very talented bass player and frontman, Owen’s vocal range and superb songwriting is on point, and this British blues act could certainly give the American legends a run for their money.
With Ben Bicknell on guitar and Ellis Brown on drums, this band is a tour de force to be reckoned with and is without doubt one of the best-emerging bands on the UK music scene. 
Medusa Touch kicks off the album and is an absolute blues rock banger. It has got the word ‘anthem’ all over it. Beginning with a catchy guitar solo against a superb backline, Owen’s voice then kicks in. This is a masterclass in bluesmanship with that rock ‘n’ roll rolling into it.
This is the way to blast off an album listening, and as the guitar shines and the drums kick in, it’s sheer aural joy. I’ve seen these dudes play this at gigs, and they sure deliver these songs live as well as on record.
Track two takes us on a tour of the blues delta via Birmingham with a full-on blues anthem entitled The Deep. Hints of The Three Kings, Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf are packed into the song, and the DNA of these legends is encompassed into the blue notes of this slick slice of musicianship. What wows me is that this is a Midlands three-piece is creating and playing this genre of music.
Track three showcases Davidson’s badass bass voice. If anyone can make blues rock sexy, it’s this dude. It is slow, sultry and sensual as Owen celebrates his love of a good cougar (ahem). The lyrics are verging on soft porn, but with his ample sense of humour thrown in, it’s beyond superb. If Barry White did Blues, this would be it. This is one to enjoy with the candles on with your beloved making sweet lurvvvvveeee! Holy smokes, this is the real deal.
The guitar shines on this tune and showcases Ben Bicknall’s guitar chops with searing solos so slick that I’m sure he traded his soul with the devil. Absolutely outstanding guiiiiitarrrrrr.
Hold On kicks off with Davidson’s trembling bad bass into a killer riff and sublime drum beats. This track is to be enjoyed with a large bourbon on the rocks as Owen encourages us to “hold on.”
Ellis Brown is one of the best young drummers around. He reminds me of the brilliant Animal thumping his kit with perfect precision. Ellis may be young but has an old soul and the best hair/tache combo on the scene today.
Bad Moon? Oh, hell to the yes. I could so hear this in a juke joint or honky tonk in the Deep South with my pink cowboy boots. Nods of funk, blues and southern rock all rolled neatly into one song. The guitar solo is fuzzy, funky and frikkin’ brilliant. The drumming is so clever on this, with hints of bells and ting tings (whatever the technical word is for that). Literally mind blown. Then there is the duality of the bass and the guitar that lifts this song to yet another level. Can I get an amen?
The Davidson Trio’s rockier side has been compared to Black Country Community, and you can sure hear that in the Glenn Hughes-eque baselines and trembles.
Blue River gives us a chance to slow down and just breathe as we take in the uber-coolness of some serious blues. A nod to the old school, but with the very young Ben and Ellis, it has a new vibe about it and Davidson’s falsetto on this is truly out of this world. Goosebumps time.
The Cure brings back the energised rock chops with a catchy, punchy lil tune that will have everyone up dancing as it paces along with Owen Davidson waxing lyrical. Killer chords and, once again, the beats to drive it along. Pure class.
Catfish Blues is the last track on this sensational album, and I love it. I’m totally buying into the lyrics on this track – upbeat modern blues with attitude. The guitar solo is once again off the charts. What is brilliant is Owen Davidson gives all three of the band time to shine. In this soon-to-be anthem, his bass solo is bone trembling with guitars, then drums crashing into a Catfish crescendo.
This album deserves to be heard worldwide, so do yourself a favour – download, buy and come to a gig. You can catch The Davidson Trio at this year’s Legends Of Rock in Great Yarmouth, where you can pick the album up before the official release date. 50 classic rock artists over four days from 6 to 10 March 2025.
I promise you won’t be Catfished at all.
