Grace Cummings kicked off 2022 by unleashing Storm Queen, an album-length documentation of the Australian songwriter’s consistently interesting vocal performances weaving through various folk- and blues-centered instrumentals. The debut record kicks off with one of the most impressive songs of the lot, with “Heaven” setting the scene for the rest of the album featuring Cummings’ gruff voice always at the forefront as it alternates between singing and shouting over little more than an equally coarse acoustic guitar and the occasional flourish of electric guitar and tambourine.
Bringing this track to her “Neighborhoods” set in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia alongside guitarist Cahill Kelly (and an audience of Keith the koala), Cummings manages to capture all of the dramatic vocal nuances of the recording in her sunny backyard. Check out the engaging performance below, and catch her on tour with Ezra Furman this spring—find those dates here.
