Grand Point North


Grand Point North is an annual music festival founded by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, produced by Grace Potter and Higher Ground Presents, and held at Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont. The last festival was held September 12-14, 2025.
The festival was first held in 2011 and typically is a two-day festival taking place over a weekend in mid-September. The performers alternate on two side-by-side stages, allowing for continuous performances with no overlap. Potter performs both nights, usually as the headliner, and the festival has attracted national artists such as The Avett Brothers, Gov't Mule, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Lake Street Dive, The Flaming Lips, Old Crow Medicine Show, Guster, Trey Anastasio Band, Jackson Browne, and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.
There is an emphasis on local acts from Vermont, especially the Burlington area. Since 2013, the festival has partnered with Seven Days to give fans a chance to choose a Vermont musician or band to perform at the festival. The festival features Grand Point Local, a celebration of local Vermont restaurants and food products organized by the Skinny Pancake, and Grand Point Weird, an art installation curated by Grace's sister Charlotte. An official afterparty is often held at a nearby venue after one or both nights; these late-night shows can involve performers from the main festival lineup.
The 2020 and 2021 festivals were both cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2022, Higher Ground co-founder Alex Crothers stated the festival would not be returning that year, and that the festival's status in future years was uncertain; however, it returned in 2024 as the Grand Point North Concert Series.

Lineups and schedule

2011

The inaugural festival was held in August. Beginning the following year, it would be held in September. Kenny Chesney made a surprise appearance and performed with the Nocturnals.
Saturday, August 13Sunday, August 14

  • Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
  • Taj Mahal Trio
  • The Wood Brothers
  • Anais Mitchell & The Hadestown Orchestra
  • Hoots & Hellmouth
  • Eames Brothers
  • Barbacoa
  • Split Tongue Crow
  • Fredricks Brown

    • 2012

    The lineup for 2012 was announced on May 1. That year's festival was held on Friday and Saturday; every other year it would be held on Saturday and Sunday. Phish keyboardist Page McConnell joined the Nocturnals on Saturday night for a guest appearance.
    Friday, September 14Saturday, September 15

  • Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
  • The Avett Brothers
  • Galactic
  • Sam Roberts Band
  • Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
  • Waylon Speed
  • Gregory Douglass
  • Bow Thayer
  • Bob Wagner

    • 2013

    The lineup for 2013 was announced on May 14. Kenny Chesney joined the Nocturnals on Saturday night for a surprise guest appearance.
    Saturday, September 14Sunday, September 15

  • Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
  • Gov’t Mule
  • City and Colour
  • Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
  • Shovels & Rope
  • Rough Francis
  • Natalie Prass
  • Paper Castles
  • Belle Pines

    • 2014

    The lineup for 2014 was announced on April 22.
    Saturday, September 13Sunday, September 14

  • Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
  • Trampled By Turtles
  • The Devil Makes Three
  • Dr. John & The Nite Trippers
  • Debo Band
  • Lowell Thompson
  • Anders Parker & Cloud Badge
  • Gold Town
  • The High Breaks

    • 2015

    The lineup for 2015 was announced on April 29. Potter released her solo album Midnight in August and was billed solo for the first time, although her band included Nocturnals members Benny Yurco and Matt Burr. Kenny Chesney again made a surprise appearance on Sunday night.
    Saturday, September 12Sunday, September 13

  • Grace Potter
  • The Flaming Lips
  • Greensky Bluegrass
  • Marco Benevento
  • Spirit Family Reunion
  • Soule Monde
  • Heavy Plains
  • The Snaz
  • Barishi

    • 2016

    The lineup for 2016 was announced on April 14. Basia Bulat was originally scheduled to perform on Sunday but had to cancel the night before; she was replaced by River Whyless, who had performed at the official after party on Saturday. This festival featured free yoga classes for the first time.
    Saturday, September 17Sunday, September 18

    • Grace Potter
    • Guster
    • Kaleo
    • Blind Pilot
    • Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band
    • Smooth Antics
    • Billy Dean & The Honor Roll
    • Blue Button
    • Evansville Transit Authority
  • Grace Potter
  • Old Crow Medicine Show
  • The Wood Brothers
  • The Record Company
  • River Whyless
  • And The Kids
  • Eliza Hardy Jones
  • Steady Betty
  • Iron Eyes Cody

    • 2017

    The lineup for 2017 was announced on April 26. The Trey Anastasio Band, performing in Burlington for the first time since 2011, was the headliner on Sunday night. This was the first time that the headliner at Grand Point North was not Grace Potter or her former band, the Nocturnals. Anastasio's set featured many guest appearances by former members of his band and Phish.
    Saturday, September 16Sunday, September 17

  • Trey Anastasio Band
  • Grace Potter
  • Joseph
  • Low Cut Connie
  • Son Little
  • Henry Jamison
  • Barika
  • The Welterweights
  • Eastern Mountain Time

    • 2018

    The lineup for 2018 was announced on May 23, with Jackson Browne and Ani DiFranco being announced later, on June 25. Greg Holden was originally announced, but was not on the final schedule. Ariel Zevon, Warren Zevon's daughter and Jackson Browne's goddaughter, performed with Browne during his set. Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced Potter on Saturday, and Kenny Chesney made another guest appearance to perform with Potter.
    Saturday, September 15Sunday, September 16

    • Grace Potter
    • Jackson Browne
    • Ani DiFranco
    • Mt. Joy
    • Darlingside
    • Clever Girls
    • West End Blend
    • Miku Daza
    • Nina's Brew
  • Grace Potter
  • Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
  • The Magpie Salute
  • Caroline Rose
  • Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
  • Seth Yacovone Band
  • Harsh Armadillo
  • JUPTR
  • Julia Caesar

    • 2019

    The lineup for 2019 was announced on June 13. On July 15, Gov't Mule was announced, along with a special set from Potter and Warren Haynes.
    Saturday, September 14Sunday, September 15

    • Grace Potter
    • Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
    • J.S. Ondara
    • Lucy Dacus
    • Bailen
    • Francesca Blanchard
    • Matthew Mercury
    • J Bengoy
    • Ben Fuller
  • Grace Potter
  • Special Acoustic Set With Grace Potter & Warren Haynes
  • Rainbow Kitten Surprise
  • Gov't Mule
  • Lucius
  • Michael Nau
  • Lady Moon & The Eclipse
  • The Bubs
  • Sabouyouma
  • Princess Nostalgia

    • 2024

    On February 27, Potter announced the festival would return as a four-day event in July called the Grand Point North Concert Series. Thursday would be headlined by a mystery performer, later announced as The Head and the Heart, and Friday would be headlined by The Flaming Lips. Saturday and Sunday would proceed as in previous years, with Potter headlining both nights, although it would only feature one stage instead of two, reducing the number of performances each day. The rest of the lineups were announced on May 13.
    Saturday, July 27Sunday, July 28

  • Grace Potter
  • Anderson East
  • Ali McGuirk
  • Acqua Mossa
  • All Night Boogie Band
  • Marcie Hernandez

    • 2025

    The 2025 festival was announced on June 16. It would be returning to its typical weekend in mid-September, although the two nights headlined by Potter would be held on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday night being headlined by jam band Goose. The full lineups for Friday and Saturday were announced at the same time.
    Friday, September 12Saturday, September 13

  • Grace Potter
  • Ista
  • Slob Drop
  • Heady Betty
  • Dutch Experts