Annika Grace – FIRST CONCERT EVER

In this First Concert Ever segment, the electro pop artist, Annika Grace, talks about the story of her first experience with live music. You can check out the story, after the break.

My first concert ever was a James Blunt concert and the opening act was Christina Perri. It was at a venue in Chicago that was +21 and I was definitely underage (I think I was 13 or 14) but my parents snuck me in. I remember the bouncer just rolling his eyes as my parents snuck me past. It was the coolest old venue in Chicago with really steep seating and a carved ceiling with a huge chandelier. The whole place was so magical.

I remember thinking, this is what I want to do. I don’t want to be snuck in, or get carded at the door, I want to be the one on stage. If you haven’t seen James Blunt live, it’s an experience like no other. It was just him, his band and a grand piano on stage, but he knew how to keep the audience entertained the whole two hours. He was jumping on the piano, running across the stage, I was in awe of his charisma and his ability to be so confident and caught up in his music.

My mom and I had always been obsessed with James Blunt – he played on our speakers in the kitchen every morning, so hearing him live was super special. When he played “Goodbye My Lover” I think we both cried. His songwriting and storytelling was what got me into writing in the first place. It’s crazy to think 10 years later, I get to be writing music and performing, hopefully one day as well as James Blunt.

Keep up with her on her website and Instagram.