104.7 The Point and VPR welcome
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ timeless, organic brand of American rock & roll uniquely blends funky blues, soul, and rock from decades past. The band's stirring mix of talent and hard work has earned them a loyal and rapidly expanding audience throughout the country. The quartet is led by 24-year-old phenomenon Grace Potter, whose vocal chops have drawn comparisons to legends like Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, while her scintillating work behind the B-3 conjures up visions of Steve Winwood, Garth Hudson and Billy Preston.
After a national tour, which includes shows with legendary group The Black Crowes, this will be the band’s only area appearance this summer and the first since their successful three-night sold out run during New Year’s Eve at Higher Ground in So. Burlington. This also marks the return of the band to the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival for the second year in a row.
"The magic of last year's waterfront show was truly unforgettable for us. We'll cross our fingers for the same golden weather, but rain or shine, it's a hometown show and the crown jewel in our summer tour."
--Grace Potter
The band’s newest album, This is Somewhere, finds the group capitalizing on their immense promise. The album reflects incredible growth in the writing and singing of Potter, who has clearly found her true voice in both respects, as well as the instrumental prowess of the band: Potter on the Hammond B3, guitarist Scott Tournet, bassist Bryan Dondero and drummer Matt Burr.
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Children 12 & under will be admitted for free. Glass, pets, alcohol, blankets, and coolers are all prohibited. This event is rain or shine.
The Lake Champlain Maritime Festival, August 17-19, embraces the celebration of Vermont’s own “great lake” and the vibrant waterfront in all its splendor. The Burlington Waterfront has grown from what was once an industrial/commercial site to a beautiful and active recreational lakeshore. The Lake Champlain Maritime Festival 2008 will join with the many attractions and activities that line the Waterfront to celebrate the past, present and future of Lake Champlain and Burlington. The Maritime Festival is committed to assisting historical, educational, family and community organizations in enhancing their visibility and outreach.
www.lcmfestival.com
Blues and Lasers came together out of the debris of the Scott Tournet Band. Scott, Steve Sharon, and Bryan Dondero had been playing music from Scott's first two solo albums (Next To Canada, Everyone You Meet is Fighting a Hard Battle) whenever Scott and Bryan had time off of tour with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. While Scott's gigs were slowly getting better, he wasn't entirely satisfied with the sound. "I wanted something heavier, bluesier, and riskier" states Tournet. "I wanted the force of Led Zeppelin, the groove of swampy Delta Blues, and the guitars of the late 60's and early 70's. I wanted to start writing music that lent itself to Saturday night as opposed to Sunday morning. Before when I would go into song writing mode, it would be an acoustic in front of a fireplace or something like that. This time it was more like a bottle of whiskey, my tele, and a fender amp with the reverb turned up." Listening to the force of Sharon and Matt Burr (drummer for the Nocturnals) connecting with Dondero who then branches off into the twin lead guitar attack of Benny Yurco (Turkey Boullion Mafia) and Tournet, you get the feeling that he got what he was asking for...