Grace Cummings – Polaris Hall, September 30, 2026
Grace Cummings and a theramin
Grace Cummings visited Portland last month. It marked her first visit to the city since her 2022 Wonder Ballroom show. Cummings performed songs of her latest record, Bloodhorse!. The Australian chanteuse brought her unique vocal style to Polaris Hall have been referred to “as if watching a seance or someone speaking in tongues”.
A Haunting
Grace Cummings walked on stage with Miles Brown, a multi-instrumentalist who synth and vocal accompaniment played well Cummings’ singing. However, it was Brown”s theramin playing that added texture to the set. Songs like “Fly a Kite” blossomed under the gentle wails of the instrument. Soon thereafter, Cummings briefly asked in between songs if Polaris Hall was haunted by a ghost. She then played “I’m not Crazy”, soulful song interrupted by a lyrical mishap which Cummings blamed on Polaris Hall’s ghost.
Throughout the evening Cummings’ voice played with her audience’s expectations. At once, her vocals existed as a tender embrace while at other times a gutteral rasp fillled the room. She held attendees’s attention and while some invariably pulled out their phones to record the drama, most decided to listen. Just listen.
Cummings ended her show alone with Roy Orbison’s 1963 ballad “In Dreams” during her encore. The legendary Texan’s song seemed appropriate as Orbison’s Her rendition haunted the souls present as she wowed her audience vocal prowess haunted . Polaris Hall’s ghost was pleased.
