Grace Theisen is a queer Americana artist originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating from Hope College in 2014 with a double major in Gender Studies and Psychology, Grace moved to Nashville, TN from 2015-2018 to run her nonprofit, Songs Against Slavery, full-time. Their mission was to raise awareness and fight sex trafficking in the U.S. through benefit concerts. They ended up raising over $375,000 to aid in the fight. In that time, she opened for Emmylou Harris, played the infamous Bluebird Cafe, participated in songwriter rounds at The Listening Room and opened for Matthew Perryman Jones at The Nashville City Winery.

In 2019, Grace moved back to Kalamazoo to pursue music full-time. Since then she has created quite the buzz. Grace won Cari Cole’s Best New Artist of 2021 and was named “Artist To Watch” by Michigan’s Local Spins media outlet in January of 2022. In March of 2022, she released her 3rd EP, Dance With The Shadows. From that EP, the Down To The River Official Music Video won Best Americana Video & The Audience Choice Award at the 2022 Michigan Music Video Awards. Behind the Rain was picked up by one of Spotify’s official playlists, Home At Last. She was also named by Revue Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Bands Heating Up The Summer.” In the fall of 2022, Grace teamed up with world renowned percussionist Carolyn Koebel, violinist Cori Somers, guitarist Adam Main, and bassist Sarah Fuerst to bring her songs to the stage with a powerful presence.

Grace kicked off 2023 with a splash making her debut performance at the 2023 WYCE Jammie Awards. Grace was nominated for several awards including artist of the year. Her Master of Fire music video was nominated as a finalist in the Toronto Women’s Film Fest and was shown at the 2023 Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. This summer she and her band played several huge Michigan venues and festivals including: Kalamazoo Pride, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Local Spins Fest, Bliss, Buttermilk Jamboree, Dunesville and Earthwork Harvest Gathering Music Festival.

Grace’s newest single and music video, Honey’s Dripping-which highlights and celebrates queer love-is now out on all platforms. She is also 1/3 of the band, The Rebel Eves, an Americana trio featuring herself and 2 other Michigan natives, Katie Pederson and Jilian Linklater.

Catch Grace Theisen with full band shown here at your favorite hometown venue, the historic Playhouse at White Lake, for another of the beloved First Fridays Michigan Music series.