VPT to air and Webcast Grace Potter’s “Goodnight Irene: Flood Relief Benefit” concert Sunday

Vermont native Grace Potter will return to her home state on Sunday, Oct. 9, for her ‘Goodnight Irene: Flood Relief Benefit’ concert in Burlington. Potter and her band, The Nocturnals, organized the benefit to raise money to go directly to Vermont businesses, farms and families devastated by the flooding after August’s Hurricane Irene. Vermont Public Television (VPT) will broadcast two hours of the concert live from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and webcast it at the same time on vpt.org.
VPT is a statewide network covering Vermont and neighboring areas of New Hampshire, New York and Canada.
The Vermont Disaster Relief Fund, the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund and the Mad River Valley Community Fund will benefit from the event. VPT has arranged for TV viewers to contribute to the cause by phone or online as they enjoy the concert.
The concert will be at the historic Flynn Center. It sold out within hours after tickets became available.
"I'm so touched by the overwhelming response to our "Goodnight Irene" benefit concert,’ said Potter, a Waitsfield native. ‘When I heard that the tickets were selling so quickly, I felt a deep swell of gratitude and love for Vermont. I feel so blessed to live in a place where so many people feel such a deep responsibility to their community through good times and bad times. This is the exact reason I became a musician. I can't wait to give my fellow Vermonters a beautiful night of music."
VPT’s president and CEO, John King, said, ‘It’s great to be able to use our broadcast network and website to extend this benefit throughout the region. If you’re not one of the 1400 people lucky enough to be at the Flynn, you can be one of the thousands who’ll enjoy a front row seat via VPT.’ Setting up to do the broadcast and take the contributions is a big undertaking for. As a non-commercial station, VPT even had to request a waiver from the FCC to raise funds for the relief organizations. Various partners stepped up to help VPT. ACD Direct, which will answer phone calls during the broadcast, has donated its services.
Ben & Jerry’s, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and People's United Bank will sponsor Vermont Public Television’s production.