Grace Potter Sets Grand Point North Festival Lineup, 9/12-13

Grace Potter announced today the lineup for the 2015 Grand Point North music festival, scheduled for September 12th and 13th at Burlington, Vermont's Waterfront Park.

This year the festival will feature the legendary Flaming Lips, marking their first return to Burlington since 2006 and carrying on the tradition of Grace inviting friends she has met along the way since forming Grace Potter & the Nocturnals in 2003. Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne and Grace first collaborated when she recruited him to record "My Mechanical Friend" with her on the Tim Burton-Disney film Frankenweenie.. Most recently, they worked together on The Flaming Lips' 2014 tribute to The Beatles classic album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on With a Little Help from My Fwends.

Joining Potter and the Flaming Lips will be Shakey Graves and Greensky Bluegrass, both coming off sold out performances at Higher Ground. Additional acts include Mike Gordon, Spirit Family Reunion, Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers and Odessa. Keyboard wizard Marco Benevento, another longtime pal of Potter's, will also make an appearance following the release of his critically acclaimed album, Swift which was recorded with renowned producer Richard Swift. Each night will close with a full set from Potter's new band, featuring both new and old faces.

"I am thrilled to be rolling out another epic lineup for the 5th annual Grand Point North! When I first started daydreaming about putting together a music festival, one of my desert-island bands was the Flaming Lips, and I'm so grateful & excited to see it become a reality," said Potter. "Grand Point North Festival is a heartfelt symbol of my commitment and love for the home state that nurtured and supported all my crazy creative endeavors, and it's never been more true than this year, as I roll out my first proper solo album. I've got a killer new band featuring plenty of familiar Nocturnal faces and songs, as well as some new fireballs! There are more lineup announcements to come ... as always, expect the unexpected! I can't wait to see everyone's shining faces this September down on the breathtaking Burlington Waterfront Park."

Continuing its tradition of highlighting local talent, this year's lineup includes a strong representation of local and regional acts making their mark on the Burlington, Vermont music scene. Local bands featured this year include Madaila, Soule Monde, Heavy Plains, Maryse Smith w/ Michael Chorney, The Snaz, Barishi, and Mal Maiz.

For the third year in a row, Seven Days, Vermont's award-winning alt-weekly, is running a crowd sourced online contest giving Vermont artists the chance to open this year's Grand Point North festival. Musical act submissions start May 6th with public voting beginning the following week on May 14th. Check www.sevendaysvt.com for more details.

The festival will close Sunday, September 13th with a post-party performance featuring Matt Burr's widely buzzed about Pink Floyd project, Dark Side of the Mountain at the Higher Ground Ballroom.

"When Grace came to me about establishing a festival here in Vermont, it gave me the opportunity to collaborate on a real passion project. Her intense devotion to the integrity of the Vermont community became the heartbeat of the festival and an enriching part of the fan experience," said Alex Crothers, Grace's long-time partner on the festival. "I am so proud to have been in at the ground level and to have helped grow Grand Point North into one of the finest boutique festivals in the country. I can't wait to celebrate its fifth year this September!"

Dates: Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th, 2015

Time: Saturday, Gates at 3pm. Sunday, Gates at 2pm (Box Office opens each day at 11am)
Location: Waterfront Park, Burlington, VT

Two-day festival tickets are currently $79 while supplies last. Single day tickets are $59. Children 12 and under are free. Festival is rain or shine.

VIP tickets are also available for $159 and include early entry to the festival, VIP viewing area at the soundboard, a commemorative VIP laminate, festival poster signed by Grace Potter as well as access to a VIP tent featuring shade and seating, discounted beverages, and light food.

Tickets are available online at www.highergroundmusic.com, by phone at 802-652-0777 or in person at the Higher Ground Box Office, 1214 Williston Rd., S. Burlington.