Grace Kelly Sparked Her Musical Expertise in Rockport

Always believe in your dreams.

The Shalin Liu Performance Center rocked out to a magnificent evening as musician Grace Kelly captivated audiences with her talented saxophone skills during a thrilling stop in the beautiful waters of Rockport, MA, on her 20th anniversary tour.

Grace Kelly is a multi-talented musician, singer, and songwriter who has played the saxophone since childhood. When she was thirteen, Kelly was invited on her first tour at a jazz festival in Norway. Now, twenty years later, Kelly never imagined she’d be doing all this, but said that if her 13-year-old self were given a chance to see the future, she would find it awesome.

Kelly opened the evening with the signature theme of Pirates of the Caribbean, which met with warm applause from the audience. Her set list combined songs from her At The Movies album, like renditions of the Bond medley and ‘Power of Love.’

Three talented musicians joined Kelly on drums, keyboard, and guitar. Kelly never upstaged anyone, giving them recognition throughout the evening.

Not only does Kelly play the saxophone, but she also has a beautiful rhythmic blues voice. She performed songs including ‘Sweet Sweet Baby,’ ‘On My Way Home,’ ‘By the Grave,’ and ‘Trying to Figure it Out,’ a meaningful song about self-love.

Kelly's firecracker passion lights up the stage as she dances around playing the saxophone and doing hair flips. She also had the audience join in clapping and singing lyrics.

“Performing is all about connecting with audiences,” Kelly said in an interview with me. “We’re there to serve the story and take them out of day-to-day life.”

I had the amazing opportunity to interview Kelly before her show. Kelly said she has experienced incredible moments throughout her twenty years of performing, like playing at Barack Obama’s inauguration, the Stephen Colbert show, and playing in forty countries.

Speaking of which, traveling is a big part of Kelly’s career. One moment she’s in Portsmouth, NH, and 24 hours later she’s performing in Spain. “I love naps,” Kelly responded to how she makes traveling work. “I treat my body well, get as much sleep, get sunshine, and eat.”

With every performer comes a story. I always enjoy the story portions. The first thing you’ll know about Kelly is that she LOVES movies. I always enjoy her story about her trips to Blockbuster when she was a kid (I miss that place, too!) The story about how she got her last name is another one of my favorites.

The sold-out theater was filled with excited attendees. One audience member had seen every one of Kelly’s concerts during the 17 years she’s performed at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, and this was before the venue got its official name in 2010.

The Shalin Liu Performance Center made an excellent backdrop for Kelly’s concert. Kelly’s voice and music echoed wonderfully in the acoustics of the venue. It was my first time at the venue, and I will return to see Rockport’s beautiful ocean view through the stunning glass window, which beautifully reflected the colorful stage lights.

If you are a sunset lover, you are going to want to put this place on your list. Kelly’s show began at dusk as the sun slowly set until it became evening.

Grace Kelly’s shows are never over when you think they are. She returned to the stage with an encore of Billy Joel’s ‘And So It Goes.’

In her twenty years of performing since the age of 13, Kelly said she has learned a lot from making albums, working with legends in jazz, and building her craft. Kelly’s concerts are something to experience, and this one left audiences radiating joy at the end of the night.