The 12th annual Greggfest Music Festival returns May 1 and 2, continuing a tradition rooted in both music and meaning. What began in 2014 as a fundraiser for Jake Gregg, a Music Business Industry student diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the VTSU-Lyndon campus.
Since his passing, Greggfest has continued to raise money for an endowment in his name, turning a weekend of live music into something much bigger than a festival. Each spring, the VTSU-Lyndon community comes alive, bringing an energy and vibrancy that draws both students and locals together.
Entirely student-run by VTSU MEISA, Greggfest highlights the depth of talent within the campus and surrounding area. A centerpiece of the lead-up to the festival is the annual “Battle of the Bands,” where performers compete for the opportunity to open the weekend.
This year’s lineup of competitors showcased a wide range of styles, from country to punk at The Loading Dock in Littleton, NH, reflecting the diversity of the local music scene and setting the tone for what promises to be another standout year for Greggfest.
First to the stage was Run Don’t Walk, a high-energy rock and punk band with roots in psychedelia. With a short set of three songs to win over the crowd, the band jumped in with a new song the band primiered titled “No Escape”. Up until their performance at Greggfest 2025, the band had been strictly instrumental, with Noah LaPointe on bass, Charlie Mack on guitar, and Campbell on drums. With the addition of powerhouse vocalist Alex Haimovitch to round out the band’s sound, this new era for Run Don’t Walk has brought incredible energy and new releases on the horizon.
Mollie Jean brought her unique country singer-songwriter blend to the stage as she stepped up with her acoustic guitar. She was joined by a backing band, with Noah LaPoint on guitar, Finn Paterson on bass, and Dakota James on drums. Mollie performed a couple of her original songs with her acoustic guitar. For her show-stopping third song, she shed the guitar and really shined while performing a Kelly Clarkson cover as the audience sang along. In a breakout performance, the newly formed band Breaklight, the third act of the night, shocked everyone with a high-energy performance and incredible stage presence. Headed by guitarist and vocalist Noah LaPoint, the band shared several high-energy covers as well as an original song. The band immediately pulled the audience in and even had a group of students moshing during their performance. The final act of the night slowed the energy down as Dakota James took the stage with Ben Perreault on bass, Mollie Jean on guitar, Max Groft on keys, and Brody on drums. The classic rock performance started out slower with a selection of ballads that Dakota performed with heartfelt, powerful emotion. Despite the slow start, the performance kicked into high gear for the third and final song, “Centerfold” by the J. Geils Band. This dramatic change in energy took the audience by surprise as they started dancing and singing along.
Video from : The Loading Dock
Voting for the night was completed on-site after all the bands performed. Results were released quickly after the night wrapped up. Fans look forward to seeing Mollie Jean and Breaklight at Greggfest 2026. Runners-up Dakota James and Run Don’t Walk aren’t done yet, though, they will be opening the Greggfest kickoff event on March 27th.
RUN DONT WALK
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MOLLIE JEAN
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BREAKLIGHT
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DAKOTA JAMES
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THE LOADING DOCK
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VTSU-Lyndon MEISA
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