Well with Labor Day weekend behind us another fantastic festival season has come to a close. Between last weekends Bumbershoot in Seattle, bringing us a line up with everyone from Hozier to Atmosphere, and the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dylan going electric with this unbelievable musical moment, it was truly one for the record books. But fear not festival goers for there is still hope out there. So dust off your muddy blue jeans and gas up whatever this decade’s equivalent of a VW Bus is because this weekend the music is up North.
Burlington, VT has a lot going for it. It has Lake Champlain, UVM, and of course is the birth place of the jam band Phish, but that’s not why you should be there this September 12th and 13th. This weekend is the 2015 Grand Point North music fest in beautiful Burlington. While GPN is a little more modest than Bonnaroo or Firefly, it still offers some awesome acts that are no strangers to the festival scene. Personally, having Shakey Graves in the line up would be enough for me to go regardless of who else was there (he takes the GPN stage Saturday at 7:45) but luckily, GPN pulled some other awesome up and coming names as well as some classics.
Spirit Family Reunion put their foot-stomping Americana to the test this year at the Newport Folk Fest and it was a huge hit. They are scheduled to play Sunday afternoon at 4:15. One of the pioneers of the indie rock scene will be making an appearance as well. The Flaming Lips have booked themselves a slightly extended set taking off at 6:35 on Sunday night. If you are looking for a more feminine touch in your music, well I don’t know what to tell you cause while Grace Potter and the Nocturnals may be headlining BOTH nights, they’re not exactly doll house music. Potter’s blend of Rock n Roll, Country, Folk, and the Blues will be an awesome way to wrap up each day.
A couple other great festivals to look out for this month are Americanafest for the folkies like me, or Telluride Blues and Brews, which is a three day celebration of music and micro-beers in the Rocky Mountains, so it’s pretty much on you to find anything wrong with that combination.
Here is Shakey Graves performing “Pansy Waltz” at this years Newport Folk Fest, now GET YOUR ASS TO BURLINGTON!
-Ryan Schmitz
