Grace Cummings is an artist like no other. No one sounds like her, no one is making music like her; she’s simply in her own lane. Listening to her third album Ramona gives you a deep appreciation for that.
Grace’s voice is the first thing you notice. It’s richly textured, wise beyond her years, deep and full, passionate, uniquely beautiful. Her hushed tones remind me of Dusty Springfield, but then there’s the raw, earthy side that’s a little like Janis Joplin. Honestly, it’d be enough to keep me interested. But then there are the songs. Each one incredible, with a classic sound you can’t quite put your finger on. There are elements of soul, gospel, blues, but you can’t put them neatly into any box. They simmer with emotions that threaten to bubble over, casting a spell each and every time.
One of the things I love most about Ramona is its vintage sound. It’s pure, free from the interference of modern technology. I can imagine Grace and her bandmates playing these songs at producer Jonathan Wilson’s Topanga Canyon studio just as you hear them, in one take. The beautiful thing about music like this is that it’s likely to be just as good, if not better, when you witness it live. Thankfully for us, she’s got plenty of shows scheduled all around the world at beautiful intimate venues. Tickets are on sale now and aren’t likely to last long:
5 May 2024 – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro
7 May 2024 – DC9, Washington City
8 May 2024 – Arden Gild Hall, Wilmington
9 May 2024 – Public Records, Brooklyn
12 May 2024 – The Blue Basement, London
15 May 2024 – Forest National, Bruxelles (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
16 May 2024 – Stadthalle, Offenbach (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
18 May 2024 – Forum Karlin, Karlin (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
19 May 2024 – Arena Wien, Vienna (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
21 May 2024 – Kantine am Berghain, Berlin
23 May 2024 – AFAS Live, Amsterdam (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
24 May 2024 – The Lexington, London
25 May 2024 – Wide Awake Festival, London
26 May 2024 – Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
27 May 2024 – Usher Hall, Edinburgh (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard – SOLD OUT)
29 May 2024 – Civic Halls, Wolverhampton (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
30 May 2024 – Bristol Beacon, Bristol (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
31 May-2 June 2024 – Maifeld Derby, Manheim
3 June 2024 – Import Export, Munich
4 June 2024 – Unaltro Festival @ Circolo Magnolia, Milan (with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizzard)
7 June 2024 – La Boule Noire, Paris
8 June 2024 – Best Kept Secret, Hilvarenbeek
12 June 2024 – Bergenfest, Bergen
12 July 2024 – The Espy, Euro Yuroke/St Kilda
13 July 2024 – Meeniyan Town Hall, Boonwurrung Country/Meeniyan
14 July 2024 – Brunswick Ballroom, Naarm/Melbourne
20 July 2024 – Altar, Nipaluna/Hobart
25 July 2024 – Crown and Anchor, Tarntanya/Adelaide
26 July 2024 – Mojos, Walyalup/Fremantle
27 July 2024 – Rosemount, Boorloo/Perth
2 August 2024 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
3 August 2024 – The Great Club, Eora/Sydney
Images used with permission from Riot House Publicity