Watch Grace Potter Join Mavis Staples For Powerful ‘The Weight’ Cover In Burlington

Legendary performer Mavis Staples played a show at The Flynn Center in Burlington, Vermont on Monday night. Vermont’s own Grace Potter made a surprise guest appearance at the end of the concert to duet with Staples on the iconic The Band song “The Weight.”

Mavis Staples is no stranger to “The Weight.” The Chicago-born vocalist came to fame as a member of The Staple Singers. Mavis was joined in the family gospel group by her father Roebuck “Pops” Staples and sisters Cleotha and Yvonne Staples. The Band recruited The Staple Singers to appear in The Last Waltz, a Martin Scorsese-directed movie filmed in 1976. The Staple Singers accompanied The Band on a performance of “The Weight” featured in the film.

The Band initially put out “The Weight” as their first single under the moniker in 1968 and later that same year included the song on their debut album, Music From The Big Pink. Mavis has made “The Weight” a regular feature in her solo performances over the past few decades. Grace Potter and Mavis Staples traded verses at The Flynn and harmonized together on the choruses. Mavis’ guitarist, Rick Holmstrom, also got in on the action by singing the “Crazy Chester” verse.

“Singing and catching up with my dear friend & biggest inspiration, @mavisstaples!” wrote Potter on social media. “As always with this light of a human, it was a night I’ll never forget.”

See audience-captured video of Grace Potter and Mavis Staples’ “The Weight” duet below:

Grace Potter was scheduled to pick up her fall tour tonight in Pittsburgh. The show has been canceled due to a medical emergency in Grace Potter’s touring party. Refunds will be issued automatically.