A Night of Smooth Soul and Family Funk at Stone Pony Summer Stage for North to Shore Festival
Gracie Lawrence
Clyde Lawrence
This past weekend at Stone Pony Summer Stage, I watched as the night unfolded into one of those rare concerts where you feel like everyone—on stage and in the crowd—was fully present for something special. Allen Stone opened the evening with his signature blend of soul and feel-good vibes, setting the perfect tone for what would become an unforgettable headlining set by Lawrence as part of the Prudential North To Shore Festival.
From the moment Allen Stone stepped on stage, you could feel the energy shift. I watched the crowd move in closer the moment he invited them up. There was this instant connection, like we were all part of a giant living room jam session. His vocals had this rich, smooth warmth that filled the space effortlessly, with falsetto flourishes that he used to accent the emotion of a lyric. At one point, Allen asked everyone to turn to someone they didn’t know and introduce themselves. I actually saw groups of strangers laughing and chatting like old friends; and every time he pointed out to the crowd with a smile and “thank you,” it felt genuine. Not the usual scripted crowd interaction—it was Allen being Allen.
Allen Stone
When Lawrence took the stage, it immediately became clear we were in for something bigger than just a concert. The band—led by siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence—rolled out their set with the kind of energy and precision that you’d expect from a Broadway production, but with a funk-pop-soul heart that made it impossible not to dance. Clyde’s skill as both keyboardist and vocalist was front and center all night, seamlessly leading the band while delivering intricate keyboard work that gave each song its signature groove. His stage presence as a bandleader kept everything locked in, while still allowing the show to breathe and feel alive. Gracie Lawrence, in particular, was electric—her powerhouse vocals filled every inch of the stage. Watching her command the spotlight, it was easy to see why she’s earned Broadway recognition, including a Tony nomination for Just In Time. You could tell she was born for this. The horn section practically lit up the stage, and hearing multi-instrumentalist Swatkins deliver that funky “robot voice” through his talkbox rig was one of those very special musical moments. The entire show felt choreographed without losing any of its spontaneity—each musician getting a chance to show off their undeniable talent while still feeding off each other’s energy.
Some of the biggest moments of the night came during songs like “Watcha Want,” “Don’t Lose Sight,” and “Family Business.” But when they launched into “Death of Me,” it was on another level. As Gracie hit those breakout, inspirational moments, I literally felt goosebumps all over. That one hit differently. They were joined by Allen Stone for a stunning version of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"—a Carole King classic. And just when you thought they couldn’t surprise the crowd any further, they threw in a completely fun NSYNC cover that had everyone smiling.
One of my favorite parts of the night came mid-set when the entire band transitioned into their Acoustic Office segment—a stripped-down session set in an actual office scene on stage, complete with the sound of hold music as they made the switch. It was quirky and completely on-brand with their Family Business album and tour theme, but more importantly, it gave the crowd a moment to catch its breath and really listen.
As the final notes rang out, you could sense that everyone there knew they had witnessed something special. This wasn’t just another stop on a tour—it was a rare, one-off performance. With Gracie currently starring on Broadway, the Family Business Tour is temporarily on pause, making this night at The Stone Pony even more unique. Lawrence will resume their tour later this summer, but for those of us lucky enough to be there in Asbury, this felt like catching lightning in a bottle.
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