In a statement posted to her Facebook page, bassist Catherine Popper has announced her departure from Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. Popper is the second bassist to part ways with the band, following the departure of Bryan Dondero in early 2009. The statement from Popper’s facebook page reads:

“Hey everybody for the past two and a half years, GPN has been my family away from my family. We’ve all grown so much together. So it’s with sadness that I want y’all to know the Goodnight Irene benefit in VT in September was my last gig with GPN in the foreseeable future. It was a bittersweet night, to be sure, and we had a kind farewell as they left to go make a new record. I’m a lucky so-and-so to have been a part of that crew for as long as I was and I wish them all the joy the world has to offer.”

The news of Popper’s departure comes on the heels of a major tour announcement that will see the band perform at stadiums with country stars Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw.