THE SOUL BEHIND RAGGED GRACE

On stage, as the front woman for Pennsylvania-based band Ragged Grace, you’ll rarely see Rachael Thomas in footwear. “I like to feel grounded when I sing, feet firmly planted. So as soon as set-up is done, off come my flip flops or UGGs.”

Alongside bandmates Slade Heller and Jeremy Chubb, Thomas brings crowd-pleasing covers and clever originals to audiences in Hershey, York, Lancaster, and beyond. Performing solo, as a duo, or a trio, Ragged Grace blends country, Americana, pop, and classic rock with undeniable charm.

Despite her petite stature, Thomas’ voice delivers powerful soul and energy. Whether she’s belting out Grace Potter, channeling Zach Bryan’s thoughtful lyrics, singing Miranda Lambert’s latest, playing classics, or sharing originals including “Roll Me Over” and “Man 101,” she captures every room with her heartfelt vocals and charisma.

From humble beginnings to taking the stage...

Thomas’ musical path was anything but typical. Raised in a strict Seventh-Day Adventist household, her early exposure to music was limited to Christian hymns. “When I was little, we weren’t allowed to listen to popular music or watch mainstream TV,” she recalls. But an old, out-of-tune upright piano her parents brought home when she was six became her musical gateway. “I tried lessons, but quickly realized they weren’t for me, so I taught myself some chords and dabbled in songwriting. Those early songs are buried in a box somewhere,” she jokes.

She also has fond memories of roller skating around the basement with her sisters while her dad unleashed riffs on a 60s Gibson electric—a sound that inspired her to pick up the guitar.

As a teen, her older siblings broadened her musical horizons. Her brother’s love for The Beatles, Elton John, and Billy Joel, and her sister’s obsession with blasting Top 40 hits on her car stereo, shaped Thomas’ eclectic tastes. She honed her vocal chops singing in her high school choir and in church.

Though music was always a passion, she fully rediscovered her love for playing and performing in 2018. After becoming more confident on piano, she joined her first band, Hemlock Groove, on keys and singing harmonies. In 2019, she took on a stronger vocal role with Last Shot, gaining clarity about the music she wanted to make and perform.

When Last Shot dissolved during the pandemic, Thomas saw an opportunity to chart her own path. With encouragement and support from Last Shot drummer Dre Verde, she founded Ragged Grace in 2020, on vocals, guitar, and keys, with Verde on drums. Guitarist Jeremy Chubb joined in 2023, and Slade Heller took over percussion in 2024, completing the band’s current lineup.

“We’re constantly challenging ourselves to learn new songs to keep things fresh for us and our audiences,” Thomas shares. “It’s exciting to see how tight we’ve become as a band and the ways we continue to evolve.”

The meaning behind Ragged Grace...

Ragged Company - Grace Potter on Spotify

The name Ragged Grace captures both Thomas’ journey and her influences. Inspired by Grace Potter’s song “Ragged Company” and its lyric, “every town has a mirror and every mirror still shows me, that I am my own ragged company,” the name reflects the balance of grit and elegance in Thomas’ life and music. “I’m pretty down-to-earth and maybe a little clumsy,” she admits, “but I can be graceful when it counts, so it just fits.”

Making musical connections...

For Thomas, music isn’t just about chords and lyrics—it’s about connection. Her engaging performances, complete with her signature shoulder shimmy and cut-up band t-shirts (her usual gig attire in warmer weather), create a vibrant energy that has made Ragged Grace a sought-after act for bars, events, and music lovers seeking a night of fun, escape, and maybe a little shimmying of their own.

Discover more about upcoming Ragged Grace shows or follow the band on social media. For bookings, contact 717-440-3151. 

CONTACT RAGGED GRACE

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