Grand Point North


Grand Point North is an annual two-day 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 next festival will take place on September 11-12, 2021.
The festival was first held in 2011 and typically takes 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.
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. In 2016, the festival featured free yoga classes for the first time.
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. 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.
On June 30, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 festival would be postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.
    Saturday, September 17Sunday, September 18

  • 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

    • 2020

    The 2020 festival was originally scheduled to take place September 12-13, but will be postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    2021

    The 2021 festival is scheduled to take place September 11-12.