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TV Breakout Star Grace VanderWaal Rocks Suffern's Lafayette Theatre

SUFFERN, N.Y.- "America’s Got Talent" breakout star and Suffern resident Grace VanderWaal, 12, rocked the roof off of the historic Lafayette Theatre this past Saturday in front of nearly 1,000 fans.

Grace VanderWaal pictured playing with her band at the Lafayette Theatre on the night of Saturday July, 30th.

Grace VanderWaal pictured playing with her band at the Lafayette Theatre on the night of Saturday July, 30th.

Photo Credit: Christian Halstead
Pictured is the packed out crowd at the Lafayette Theatre during Grace VanderWaal's Q & A after the concert.

Pictured is the packed out crowd at the Lafayette Theatre during Grace VanderWaal's Q & A after the concert.

Photo Credit: Christian Halstead
A slide show, which featured fan art from around the world, preceded Grace's performance with her band.

A slide show, which featured fan art from around the world, preceded Grace's performance with her band.

Photo Credit: Christian Halstead

The event Saturday evening showed the abundance of love and support for VanderWaal within the Rockland community and beyond. Many of those who attended were from out of state, and a particularly avid fan of hers even came from Australia.

VanderWaal’s growing following began with her remarkable audition on AGT back in June during which she performed her original song, “I Don’t Know My Name.”

She was given the “Golden Buzzer” immediately following her audition, a rare honor which sent her straight to the AGT competition live round in August. Judge Simon Cowell called her "the next Taylor Swift" after the audition.

Suffern certainly agrees.

“It’s amazing to see a fan base united, a community that’s come together,” said Claire Benmosche, the event’s MC.

The concert, organized by the Lafayette Theatre and the Suffern Chamber of Commerce, was free to all attendees. Tickets were limited by virtue of their being in high demand and were given out on a first come, first serve basis.

VanderWaal, who primarily sings and plays ukelele, was accompanied onstage by her music teacher Dylan Kelehan who played the guitar, Seth Moutal on the drums, and Dan Anderson who played bass.

The group performed a set of over 10 songs including crowd favorites and covers such as "Ex’s & Oh’s" by Elle King, "Hotel California" by the Eagles, and "House of Gold" by 21 Pilots, VanderWaal’s favorite band.

After the music, there was a Q&A session. The audience’s questions prompted VanderWaal to cheerfully reveal that she has two dogs, began playing piano at the age of 4, and that her bracelets act as good luck charms for her while performing.

VanderWaal is set to perform in the live round of AGT on Aug. 23. 

Concert-goers were encouraged to enjoy Suffern’s numerous local eateries after the show. Many restaurants including Il Villagio, Fink’s BBQ, and Jay’s Thai Kitchen, to name a few, all offered discounts to customers able to present their concert tickets upon ordering.

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