Grace Graber
Murray Hill Theater, Jacksonville, FL — September 26, 2026
When Grace Graber performed “Breakthrough” at Jacksonville’s Murray Hill Theatre on Sept. 26, I brought about a year and a half of personal history into that moment.
The song has helped carry me through a lot. Hearing it live, alongside my wife, Christie, and our daughter, Lorelai, gave the evening a significance that extended well beyond the setlist. Grace’s music has become part of our family’s story, and we had traveled from Tampa to finally experience those songs in person.
Grace and Adam Verdi, her tour manager and the evening’s opening artist, are friends of ours. That connection is part of my perspective. I was excited to watch a friend shine onstage, and equally eager to experience how her music and message would come together in a venue I had known about for years.
Murray Hill Theatre made a memorable first impression. From outside, I hadn’t expected such a spacious room. Arriving a little before 5:30 p.m. gave us time to visit with Adam and Grace and check out the green room before the evening began. The sound was excellent throughout the show, and the modest-sized audience gave the concert an intimate atmosphere.
Before any music began, the venue’s owner shared the deeply personal story behind its mission. As a young Christian, he had found friendship and support at an alcohol-free coffeehouse that hosted Christian rock bands. Years later, after losing two children in a devastating accident and helping his wife through a lengthy recovery, he felt called to create a similar space for others. He spoke openly about the healing he credits to God and the mental health professionals who helped him through his grief, encouraging others to seek help without shame. That calling eventually became Murray Hill Theatre’s Christian music ministry, now celebrating 31 years.
Knowing that history added meaning to the room around us. This was a place built to offer the kind of community and encouragement that would surface repeatedly throughout the evening.
Grace was already making those connections before taking the stage. She talked with attendees, posed for photos and selfies, and worked her own merch table. Her personal involvement reflected the approachable warmth we know and helped establish the welcoming feel of the night.
Adam opened with “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” accompanying himself on Grace’s acoustic guitar. His solo set continued with “See This Through” and “Hand of God,” followed by “Way Maker” and the closing song, “I’ve Got a Story.” The simple arrangement provided a fitting introduction to an evening where testimony would be as meaningful as the music.
Then Grace brought the punk energy.
“Punk Rock Diamond in the Rough,” “Jericho” and “The Signs” opened her set with a clear sense of identity. With Aaron “Skwid” Tosti on drums, the performance delivered the sound I had been looking forward to hearing live. My immediate reaction was simple: This was definitely a punk show.
“As I Am” and “Conversation” followed, bringing more of the personal honesty that runs through Grace’s catalog. Between songs, she discussed Breaking Through with Grace Graber, her K-LOVE Podcasts show exploring faith and mental health. Its conversations about anxiety, trauma, healing and hope extend the same openness listeners encounter in her music.
For me, “Breakthrough” became the emotional center of the concert.
There is something powerful about hearing a song live after it has accompanied you through difficult seasons. The memories and meaning are already there before the first note. Watching Grace perform it brought that history into the present, reminding me how deeply music can become connected to our own testimonies.
She transitioned seamlessly into “Solo,” keeping the set moving before pausing to share her story. During that testimony, she recalled the life-changing impact of track eight on Hawk Nelson’s first album—a detail that would become especially meaningful later in the show. “Why I Still Believe” followed her testimony, giving the song added context.
The acoustic section created space for some of the evening’s most personal moments. Grace performed “Saved,” then sang the chorus of Hawk Nelson’s “Take Me,” the eighth track on the band’s debut album, Letters to the President.
Earlier in her testimony, Grace had described how that song helped save her life during a suicidal crisis. For Lorelai and me, already familiar with her story, hearing her sing its chorus was particularly moving. The reference to track eight on a Hawk Nelson album carried a deeply personal history: a song that had reached her when she desperately needed hope. Now we were hearing it from someone whose own music has brought encouragement to our family.
Grace continued with the chorus of “My Favorite Part,” mentioning Daniel Spriggs, who joins her on the recorded version. She then closed the acoustic portion with a new song co-written with Adam Agee, offering a glimpse of what is ahead.
That next chapter also includes Sophomore Year, a coming-of-age album she announced for Nov. 6. Grace explained that the project had originally been planned for an earlier release, but Punk X Praise took priority after her songs went viral. Hearing new material alongside familiar favorites gave us another reason to look forward to what she is creating.
“Grace of God” followed the acoustic section, bringing another memorable interaction when Grace invited a fan onstage during the song. The personal connection she had established before the show continued naturally within the performance.
The closing stretch drew from Punk X Praise, beginning with the first verse and chorus of “That’s Who I Praise.” Grace moved through “You Say,” “Dusty Bibles,” “Oceans” and “Lemonade,” before ending with “Gratitude.” The sequence brought familiar worship songs into the punk setting that had shaped much of the evening.
Afterward, Grace stayed to greet fans. The time she gave people before the concert continued after the final song, reinforcing the personal nature of the experience.
I left grateful that we had made the trip. Murray Hill Theatre’s sound, character and welcoming atmosphere made it a venue I would gladly return to. Watching Grace perform was a joy, and sharing those moments with Christie and Lorelai made the night even more meaningful.
What stays with me most is the connection between the music and the lives it touches. Grace shared a song that helped change hers. I heard “Breakthrough” with the knowledge of how much it has helped me. And beside me was my daughter, sharing a moment whose meaning we both understood.
That is what I will remember about finally seeing Grace Graber live—and why I am excited to see what God has ahead for her.
Grace Graber’s setlist, in order
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“Punk Rock Diamond in the Rough”
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“Jericho”
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“The Signs”
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“As I Am”
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“Conversation”
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“Breakthrough”
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“Solo”
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“Why I Still Believe”
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“Saved” — acoustic
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“Take Me” — Hawk Nelson chorus, acoustic
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“My Favorite Part” — chorus, acoustic
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New song co-written with Adam Agee — acoustic
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“Grace of God”
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Closing sequence: “That’s Who I Praise” → “You Say” → “Dusty Bibles” → “Oceans” → “Lemonade” → “Gratitude”
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