Beginnings and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (2002–2015) While in college, Potter met Matt Burr, a drummer and her future husband, who convinced her to form a band. They started playing at the
Java Barn. The band could only find space to rehearse at 2AM, inspiring the band name,
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. They would stay up all night rehearsing and then go to class. The band included Scott Tournet on guitars (including
slide guitar and harmonica), drummer Matthew Burr, Michael Libramento on bass guitar and keyboards, and Benny Yurco on electric guitar and vocals. Bryan Dondero played bass guitar, upright bass, and
mandolin with the group until his departure in early 2009. In 2002, she released her first album,
Red Shoe Rebel. Her second album,
Original Soul followed in 2004. The group independently recorded and released one album,
Nothing but the Water in 2005 with sound engineer Lane Gibson, who recorded and mastered
Original Soul (2004). The band signed a deal with
Hollywood Records in December 2005 and re-released
Nothing but the Water in May 2006. In 2005, the band was nominated in two categories at the
Boston Music Awards, for "Best Local Female Artist" and also for "Best New Local Act". In 2006, the band won the
Jammy Award for "Best New Groove". At the
Boston Music Awards, the band was nominated for Album of the Year (major) for the re-release of
Nothing but the Water and Potter was nominated for Vocalist of the Year. The group released its second album,
This Is Somewhere, on August 7, 2007, on Hollywood Records and was the
opening act for
Gov't Mule on its October and November North American tour. In July 2011, Potter was a guest on
Chelsea Handler's show
Chelsea Lately. In July 2012, she joined
The Flaming Lips during their show at The Lyric in
Oxford, Mississippi, which was part of their attempt to break the
Guinness World Record for Most Concerts Played in different cities in a 24-hour period. That same year, Potter and The Flaming Lips collaborated on a recording of "My Mechanical Friend", which she also wrote, for the companion soundtrack to
Disney and
Tim Burton's film
Frankenweenie. In 2014, she contributed to their cover of
The Beatles' "Good Morning Good Morning" for their
With a Little Help from My Fwends album. Potter made guest appearances on
The Chew in November 2012 and December 2015.
Solo career After Potter's divorce from Burr, the band disbanded. In September 2015, Potter performed
The Star-Spangled Banner during the
New England Patriots' season opener. In 2016, her collaboration on the song "Wild Child" on Kenny Chesney's album
The Big Revival garnered award nominations from the
Academy of Country Music,
CMT Music, and the
Country Music Association. Potter was the musical guest on the episode of
Conan that aired on January 25, 2016.
Daylight, produced by
Eric Valentine, was released in October 2019 on
Fantasy Records. It features guest musicians
Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of
Lucius, and
Benmont Tench. Potter's fourth solo album,
Mother Road, was released in August 2023 on Fantasy Records.
Artistry On guitars, Potter primarily plays the
Gibson Flying V; however, she also plays
classical guitars with nylon strings. She has also been described as a "grittier
Patty Griffin".
Tracks used in film and television Potter's song "Apologies", was used in an episode of
One Tree Hill; Potter also made a cameo appearance as a street performer in the episode. "Apologies" was also featured on
All My Children,
Kyle XY, and
Brothers & Sisters. The song "Falling or Flying" was featured on
ER and ''
Grey's Anatomy'' and appeared on
Volume 3 of the latter's soundtrack. In 2010, Potter re-recorded "Something That I Want" with altered lyrics for the end credits to
Disney's animated feature
Tangled. In December 2011, Potter was the voice of Carol in Disney's
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, for which she also wrote and recorded "Naughty, Naughty Children (Better Start Actin' Nice)." In 2011, the song "Paris (Ooh la la)" was featured in the Season 2 promo for the TNT television series
Rizzoli & Isles. In 2012, the song "Nothing but the Water" was used in trailers for the short-lived 2012 ABC drama
Last Resort. Potter's version of the
Stealers Wheel song "
Stuck in the Middle with You" was used as the theme song for the
Netflix series
Grace and Frankie (2015–2020). In June 2017, her song "Instigators" was featured in the video game
Dirt 4. In 2019, the song "The Lion the Beast the Beat" was featured in the season 2 episode of
Cloak & Dagger titled "Vikingtown Sound". ==Personal life==