Grace Vanderwaal live at Lincoln Hall.
An industry veteran at the tender age of 21, Vanderwaal oozes confidence and maturity on the Chicago leg of her second full-length album tour Childstar.
photo taken by Alana Swarignen.
Six years since her last tour, singer-songwriter Grace Vanderwaal has hit the road again with her new album Childstar. She performed at Lincoln Hall on May 5th to a small but passionate crowd of dedicated day-one fans. The compact and seamless concert lasted just under an hour, with the “Ur So Beautiful” singer effortlessly running through the nine tracks on the new album while splicing in a few welcome throwbacks.
I will admit that I was definitely surprised by the new sound she unveiled through this latest project. Thumping synths and drums clearly differentiated it from her past works, but her familiar powerful vocals blend beautifully with the production and meaningfully enhance the song, as delivered in her near-perfect performance. Her signature voice cracks are charming, and I was continuously completely blown away by the casual riffs and raw emotion bleeding through her voice.
She exuded confidence onstage that belied her age, and should certainly earn her a much larger future venue. She clearly knew both when to interact with the audience and how to introduce each song in a fresh and interesting way—reminiscent of Taylor Swift. Most of the obviously devoted crowd likely already knew many of the inspirations and motivations for crafting her songs she shared in her introductions. Nonetheless, as a casual listener, I appreciated the newfound insight.
photo taken by Alana Swarignen.
As the album name would suggest, Vanderwaal’s experience in the industry has accumulated over the years since her debut as a child star. The new album—more bold and daring than her previous works—illuminates her struggle to move beyond being seen as that young girl with the ukulele: “A lot of people feel close to my story and [are] nostalgic for my past. As much as I would like to honor that, it’s cathartic for me to proclaim truth and what is mine,” Vanderwaal admits in a post on her Instagram.
Ironically, I must admit that my favorite part of the show was hearing her older songs—“Ur So Beautiful” and “The City”—from her 2019 EP LETTERS: VOL. 1. There’s something deeply personal and grounding about seeing her alone on stage with just her and her guitar. It’s not that the new direction didn’t land; it did, and impressively so. But those quieter moments felt intimate and familiar, a kind of nostalgic comfort that reminded me why I first connected with her music. It was a beautiful contrast rather than a critique—proof that she continues to shine in every era of her artistry.
Although Lincoln Hall is an intimate venue beloved by Chicago locals, its modest stage and limited technical capacity don’t necessarily lend itself to elaborate productions. There is minimal space for a live band, much less with backup dancers involved. Still, Vanderwaal navigated the constraints with ease and creativity. She embraced the small stage rather than trying to overpower it, and in doing so, gave the performance an honesty and vulnerability that may have been lost in a more extravagant setting. It was a reminder that her talent doesn’t need embellishment—it speaks for itself.
And it all comes full circle.
It’s been nine years since the wide-eyed girl in a cute blond bob with a gap in her teeth first appeared on America’s Got Talent. With just a raspy soulful voice and her ukulele, twelve-year-old Grace Vanderwaal captured the attention of millions—myself included. How time flies—more than a decade lies between the carefree kid sitting on her bed strumming songs to today’s self-assured performer commanding the stage with creative control and conviction. Yet her passion for her craft has never wavered.
photo taken by Alana Swarignen.
edited by Madison Esrey.
photos by Alana Swarignen (@allamma on Instagram).
