September 15, 2026 – Australian singer-songwriter Grace Cummings took the stage at MilkBoy on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, delivering a powerful 90-minute performance to a packed house of fans standing tightly shoulder to shoulder. With Cummings directly in front of the crowd on MilkBoy’s second-floor stage, she delivered a heartfelt performance on acoustic guitar, keyboard and vocals. Her voice is unique and able to convey a wide range of emotions. Whether it is tenderness, grief, anger or passion, she makes her audience feel every glorious note she plays and sings.
Photos by Steve Cerf @stevecerf + Review by Ranae Pollicino
Cummings was accompanied by band member Miles Brown, who provided rich accompaniment on synthesizer and theremin. The duo of Cummings and Brown was unbeatable and undeniable. Together, they made the performance feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Cummings, a longtime Beatles fan, performed “John Lennon,” a song from her new album, BLOODHORSE! Cummings has shared that writing is a way for her to deal with difficult, often painful topics. She had the audience join her on the chorus, “John, John, Lennon, Lennon.” The entire crowd loudly chanted the words along with Cummings, united in turning darkness into joyful singing. What an unforgettable experience to share.
“Fake,” also from BLOODHORSE!, was performed next. The power ballad deals with the pressures of being good and the restrictions that come with that construct. The song took us on a journey as we could feel Cummings’ release from the binds of this concept. She enables her audience to take that journey with her and feel every emotion. Her voice is truly powerful on every emotional level.
The set also featured “Bloodhorse!,” “Witch! Witch! Witch!,” “My Island and Me” and “I’m Not Crazy” from her new album before Cummings concluded the evening with “Heaven” from STORM QUEEN. I first discovered Grace Cummings when I heard “Storm Queen” on WXPN. Hearing her close the evening with “Heaven,” from that same album, made an already unforgettable performance even more meaningful.
