The Grand Rapids hip hop artist lit up the stage outside Studio Park on Thursday for her final concert on a resplendent August night, with Lokella and SuperDre also on board. The review, photos, video.
Beautiful, Magical Moments: Lady Ace Boogie on stage Thursday night. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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Passionate. Bittersweet. Forceful. Poignant. Upbeat.
And that infectious smile.
Grand Rapids hip hop star Lady Ace Boogie’s final performance Thursday – outside on the Studio Park piazza in downtown Grand Rapids as part of the “Listening Lawn” series – boasted all that and more.
Special Night, Special Guests: JRob and others joined Lady Ace Boogie. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
With an enthusiastic and socially distanced sold-out crowd cheering her on, Lady Ace Boogie, aka Linda Tellis-Aguilar, and some special guests revved up the first rap show in the Listening Room’s outdoor concert series with songs from what the hip hop artist said would be her final recording, “That’s All for Now.”
Dedicating the sold-out show to her late father, an emotional yet buoyant Lady Ace Boogie put a satisfying exclamation point on her career amid what can only be described as a resplendent August evening that started with sunshine and blue skies.
Tellis-Aguilar had announced via Local Spins earlier in the week that she was retiring from the stage and the recording studio, saying her solo music venture had taken a toll on her emotionally and financially over the years.
Instead, she plans to devote her attention to “Lady Ace Boogie Presents,” which promotes and supports other artists, and start a new business, Real-Time Cleaning, in the fall.
VIDEO: Lady Ace Boogie, Lokella at ‘Listening Lawn’
Grand Rapids’ popular DJ, SuperDre, and energetic rock act Lokella opened Thursday’s show, giving the evening a powerful, female-driven presence heartily applauded by those on hand.
Joined by the likes of E-Will, JRob, Callab, Dean Martian and drummer Orlando James (from Bedrock), Lady Ace Boogie spent much of her set unfurling dynamic material from the new album, including a compelling, muscular rendition of “Free.”
But she closed things out with audience requests for “classics” from earlier albums, such as “You’re Magic” and “Love Me For Me” from 2018’s “Don’t Box Me In.”
Near the end of the show, armed with her cordless mic, Lady Ace Boogie strode into the audience gathered on the piazza lawn to declare, “I love y’all” and “You’re beautiful,” as fans clapped and joined in the chant.
Yes, it was a beautiful moment, delivered by a beautiful artist who Grand Rapids will surely miss.
PHOTO GALLERY: Lady Ace Boogie, Lokella at Studio Park
Photos by Anthony Norkus
