Frances Forever just performed her favorite show of her tour — but she doesn’t want you to tell the other cities.
Alongside Grace Gardner, Frances Forever brought flowered covered mic stands, various stuffed animals from fans, and bubbly, synth-filled indie pop to The Atlantis stage in DC on June 15.
Frances Forever is the stage name of Frances Garrett, an indie pop artist and singer-songwriter known for a dreamy and nostalgic sound.
They gained significant attention with their hit single “Space Girl,” which, like many artists producing music in 2020, went viral on TikTok. The song’s catchy melody and quirky lyrics resonated with a wide audience, helping Frances Forever build a dedicated fan base. “Space Girl” was the evening’s encore, complete with an outfit change and choreography.
Following the success of “Space Girl,” Frances Forever released more music, including singles and an EP and their first LP — allowing the DC show’s setlist to have a range of their work. Frances Forever’s sound continues to explore themes of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of human emotions.
The artist was touring in promotion for their new release, Lockjaw, which debuted last month. It is their first LP.
Listen to Frances Forever’s Lockjaw on Spotify:
During “Frankenstein,” which also served as the show’s official dress up inspiration, Frances Forever asked fans to sit on the floor of The Atlantis. It was an unusual sight for the standing-room only venue, but fans were swift to listen.
Suddenly, the dark venue was even more intimate than the 450-capacity venue felt before. Fans were silent during the acoustic performance.
In the blink of an eye, however, Frances Forever was asking fans if they were ready to form a mosh pit. It was a rollercoaster of a crowd, and yet managed to fit the evening’s variation of sounds well.
During “Baby Bangs,” Frances Forever invited Gardner back to the stage: “I love Grace Gardner so much I want to invite her back to the stage!”
“Baby Bangs”originally featured artist dacelynn, whose verse Gardner covered. The chemistry among the headliner and main act was authentic and an exciting surprise.
Gardner’s music often covers themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth, with a notable focus on lyrical depth and emotional resonance.
During her set, Gardner put the “bedroom” in “bedroom pop.” She reminded the audience how much of the production was done in her bedroom with software she taught herself “at Youtube University.” She emphasized the importance of self-releasing and talked about larger artists doing so in recent years. She conveyed her eagerness to help make music production accessible and self-made, and invited fans to DM or ask her questions after the show.
Gardner wanted the audience to know they could be the ones up on stage, too, and let them know you can write about whatever you want or however you are feeling. “Don’t let anyone tell yo you can’t write a song about that!” She said. “This next song is about my ex not knowing [ABBA’s ] Mamma Mia!”
Catch Frances Forever on tour!
Here ares some photos of Frances Forever performing at The Atlantis in DC on June 15, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Sami Pye.
