The folk-rock singer says leaving the stage felt like the right choice — and the overwhelming support she’s received proves fans agree.
Folk-rock performer Dolly Mavies made headlines this summer after she and her band walked out of a show in Daylesford, England, upon learning that U.S. Vice President JD Vance was expected to attend.
Mavies, whose real name is Molly Davies, explained that things felt unusual the moment she arrived at the small venue. She noticed heavy security, police motorbikes, and sleek government-looking vehicles parked outside. That raised suspicions that someone high-profile might be in attendance.
When she was tipped off that the Ohio senator-turned-vice president would be joining the audience, she and her bandmates decided to leave.
“It wasn’t something that we wanted to be a part of,” Mavies later said in an Instagram video, addressing the move that quickly gained media attention.
While British outlets jumped on reports of Vance’s alleged presence, a source close to him told BBC that he never intended to attend the event and wasn’t there at all. Regardless, Mavies’ decision resonated widely with fans, especially across the Atlantic.
In the days that followed, Mavies saw her social media following grow rapidly and received an outpouring of supportive messages. “Obviously, there’s an overwhelming sense of support in America,” she shared. “I think for a lot of American people there’s a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of people are scared, and it was amazing to feel like they’d been heard.”
Of course, not everyone was impressed. Some critics accused her of pulling a publicity stunt. But Mavies brushed off the claim, saying with a laugh, “If we were that clever, we would have done something before now.”
The singer, known for her heartfelt folk-rock sound, has built her reputation on authenticity and staying true to her principles. Her bold choice at the Daylesford venue only deepened that image. For many fans, it wasn’t just about a performance — it was about taking a stand.
And as the reaction online shows, sometimes walking away can be the loudest statement of all.
