Evolve Tour (Imagine Dragons) [4]

Grace opened for Imagine Dragons on their third concert tour in support of their third studio album "Evolve". Her part in the tour was announced in February. Grace told KING5 News: "My mom called and said, 'don't freak out, I don't want you to get your hopes up and [then] be all sad, but you got an offer to open for Imagine Dragons on their tour', and I was like, 'cool, yeah, no I'm not getting overhyped, it's fine'. Inside I'm like, 'OH MY GOD!' I'm getting up my hopes so much I'm doing exactly what she doesn't want me to do!" (KING5 News interview, February 23, 2018). Lead singer of Imagine Dragons, Dan Renolds wrote on Twitter: "Thrilled to tour with the gracious, talented and intelligent Grace VanderWaal - can't wait for my 3 girls to meet her and have a role model like Grace to look up to every night on tour. She's a powerful activist and brilliant artist." (Dan Renolds twitter, February 24, 2018)

Grace was the opening act in the tour's 2018 summer leg in North America from June to August 2018. Grace told Billboard, about the experience: "They truly are kind to everyone they work with, and I don't think they realize what that means to their opener." Imagine Dragons surprised Grace when, at her last show on the tour, they came on stage under her set with four vases of flowers. Later in the evening, Grace, her band, her brother Jacob (who had been her roadie on the tour) and her sister Olivia (who had also accompanied her on parts of the tour) pranked Imagine Dragons by going on stage dressed as hippos, dinosaurs etc. The day after, Imagine Dragons went on Twitter and thanked their crew and particularly mentioned Grace: "Thank you to Grace VanderWaal for bringing your powerful voice and art each night."

Reviewers of the shows wrote: (selected experts, more on the pages for each show)
"Her set … was full of energy. Effortlessly hitting the right notes, she bounced around the stage completely winning over the audience." (Richard Knowles, Monkeygoose Magazine June 15, 2018)

"...Her set was very fun, lighthearted, and just made you want to get up and dance. … her musical talent is exceptional. … ...Her voice is pure, and just draws you right in." (Joshua Davis, The Chimera Magazine June 12, 2018)

"Before Imagine Dragons, we were treated to an amazing performance by up-and-coming artist Grace Vanderwaal. Despite the extremely windy conditions Grace commanded the stage ….Did I mention she’s only 14 years old?! Grace is a truly gifted singer." (Kiss925.com)

"Grace VanderWaal opened up for Imagine Dragons … and knocked it out of the park!". (Q104.com June 17, 2018)

"… opener Grace VanderWaal is one of the youngest performers at Summerfest this year. She's also one of the most talented, bringing a honeyed, slightly frayed rasp to assured pop songs". (Milwauke Journal Sentinel 2018-06-27)

"Texture and personality aren't attributes one expects from a voice found on a reality TV show … but that's exactly what VanderWaal's soulful, raspy tone has. It's just not fair for a teenager to have a voice already that interesting.". (onmilwaukee.com 2018-06-28)

"Grace Vanderwaal had brought some unbelievable vocals to the stage being only 14 it was quite shocking!" (DMV Access July 7, 2018)

"As the opening act for Imagine Dragons, [Grace Vanderwaal] displays ... confidence, humbleness, graciousness. Her voice has a raspiness that most musicians crave. The last description her bare feet leave impressed upon me is "swagger." This young lady bee-bops back and forth as a new-age indie type singer with so much soul. ... I question to myself, "What old soul is living inside this young girl?" She ... sings a new version of a Johnny Nash song called "I Can See Clearly."... Before my eyes this young artist is bridging a generational gap through music." (South Florida Insider August 9th, 2018)