Grace Potter and the Nocturnals kick off free Spring Back to Vail concert lineup tonight in Vail

Spring Back to Vail returns to Vail beginning today and running through Sunday, April 24 with a jam-packed lineup of free concerts, après and after-dark parties and the legendary World Pond Skimming Championships. Celebrating the conclusion of one of the best ski and snowboard seasons in Vail's history, the party kicks off tonight with a free headliner concert in Vail Village from blues-rockers Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

Evolving quickly from a home-grown Vermont act into a national touring band that can hold its own with the very best in the business, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals is known for delivering an energy-packed live show that keeps the crowd grooving to the very last note.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Named one of the “Best New Bands of 2010” by Rolling Stone, the magazine said the sound of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals “finds a sweet spot between rowdy, blues-driven live sound and tight, classic-rock songcraft.” The band's concert in Vail Village is a show not to be missed.

Denver-based The Chain Gang of 1974 will open for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals this evening. Led by the shape-shifting singer/multi-instrumentalist Kamtin Mohager, The Chain Gang of 1974's brand of electronic rock will get the crowd going and ready for a great night of live music.

Tonight's free concert will take place in Vail Village on Meadow Dr., just in front of Solaris. The venue will open at 6 p.m., and the music will get started at 6:30 p.m.

The lineup of events for today also includes après and after-dark parties in Vail Village. The Red Lion will host the Bud Light Après Party from 4 to 5:30 p.m. where guests can expect to find drink specials and giveaways. After the concert in Vail Village, Vendetta's will host the Bud Light After Dark Party from 9 to 11 p.m. with more drink specials and exciting giveaways.

Spring Back to Vail is an annual festival in Vail that includes a full schedule of free headliner concerts, nightly parties, the legendary World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar and more. Taking place this year April 15-24, the lineup of entertainment for Spring Back to Vail spans two weekends and includes free headliner concerts from Train, Stephen Marley, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Greyboy Allstars, Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars, Shpongle presents the Shpongletron Experience, Saint Motel, DJ Logic, Chris Velan and more.

For more information on Spring Back to Vail, including a full schedule of events and registration for the World Pond Skimming Championships presented by Rockstar, visit www.vail.com/springback.

Spring Back to Vail is brought to you by Vail Mountain, Bud Light, SoBe Lifewater, Sprint, Captain Morgan, Town of Vail, Cadillac, Maui Jim, and Men's Journal and is brought to you in part by U.S. Army, Nature Valley Granola Bar, Smartwool, Macanudo, Sonnenalp Resort of Vail, Merrell, Liberty Skis, Colorado Mountain Express, Vail Daily and KZYR-The Zephyr.

Spring Back to Vail Schedule:

Friday, April 15
Bud Light Après Party

The Red Lion

4 – 5:30 p.m.

Free Concert

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

With The Chain Gang of 1974
Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive
Venue opens 6 p.m.
Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Bud Light After Dark Party

Vendetta's

9 – 11 p.m.

Saturday, April 16

Bud Light Après Party

Los Amigos

4 – 5:30 p.m.

Free Concert

Train presented by Bud Light

With Saint Motel

Ford Park
Venue opens 6 p.m.
Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Bud Light After Dark Party

The Club

10 p.m. – midnight

Sunday, April 17

Free Concert

The Greyboy Allstars

With The Jonny Mogambo Band
Vail Village - Checkpoint Charlie
Venue opens 4 p.m.
Music starts 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 16 – Sunday, April 17
Reverb Eco Village

Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16) base area

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22 – Sunday, April 24
Spring Back to Vail Expo Village and the Men's Journal Lounge

Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16) base area

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 22

Bud Light Après Party

Vendetta's

4 – 5:30 p.m.

Free Concert

Shpongle presents the Shpongletron Experience

With DJ Mo:Rockin

Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive
Venue opens 6 p.m.
Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Bud Light After Dark Party

Whisky Jack's

9 – 11 p.m.

Saturday, April 23

Bud Light Après Party

Ore House

4 – 5:30 p.m.

Free Concert

Stephen Marley presented by Bud Light

With DJ Logic

Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive
Venue opens 6 p.m.
Music starts 6:30 p.m.

Bud Light After Dark Party

The George

10 p.m. – midnight

Sunday, April 24

World Pond Skimming Championships presented by ROCKSTAR

Golden Peak base area

Venue opens 1:30 p.m.

Competition 3 – 4:30 p.m.

Free Concert

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

With Chris Velan
Vail Village - Solaris/Meadow Drive
Venue opens 4 p.m.
Music starts 5 p.m.