Want to Rock Out? Check Out These 6 of the Best Outdoor Amphitheaters in the US! Mary Zakheim June 27, 2016 Arts & History, Destinations, Interests 3 Comments With summer comes longer days, lobster-red sunburns, weird tan lines, and, our favorite, all of our much-loved bands coming out to play! While seeing your favorite band play anywhere would be enough for a true fan, seeing your favorite band play at a truly spectacular setting is worth the plane ticket that it takes to make that happen. Luckily for all of us, there are plenty of stunning music venues across this scenic country that play host to a variety of popular and indie acts! Pack your bags, folks, and get ready to watch your favorite bands in your (soon-to-be) favorite venues: Jay Pritzker Pavilion – Chicago, Illinois This mountainous stage, located in Chicago’s Millennium Park, is an architectural wonder – with its fluttering steel ribbons and intersecting maze of pipes. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a mix of fixed seating and standing room that can host up to 11,000 people for its summer concerts. It plays host to an assortment of acts – from pop to country to classical – that draws huge crowds eager to see sets on such a magnificent stage no matter who’s playing. Not only it´s a beautiful sight to see, but the setting also offers grand views of the Chicago skyline from its vantage point! The Gorge Amphitheatre – Gorge, Washington View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Gorge Amphitheatre (@gorgeamphitheatre) Overlooking the magnificent Columbia River in Central Washington, the Gorge Amphitheatre is the perfect setting for a summer plan! This awesome venue usually has tons of events and performances throughout the summer months – culminating in an annual Labor Day Weekend show by the Dave Matthews Band. Since its opening in 1985, the venue has often been called one of the best (and most beautiful) outdoor amphitheaters for its sweeping mountain views and a slanted lawn that can seat 20,000 people. For more adventurous travelers, you have the option of camping out there too. You can access the Gorge campgrounds starting at 3:00 pm on the day before the show, but you should make sure you check beforehand since times may vary. The campgrounds include hot showers, bathrooms, and even a convenience store. Crosby Theatre – Santa Fe, New Mexico View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Santa Fe Opera (@santafeopera) Home to the Santa Fe Opera, this stunning outdoor theatre is surrounded by the towering Jemez and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, providing patrons with beautiful, scenic views of New Mexico’s natural landscape. Not only is it architecturally interesting, with its plunging and arching rooftop, the design is also meant to capture rainwater to recycle and use around the grounds. From July to August, the theater invites guests from around the world to come and listen to the Santa Fe Opera in a wonderfully unique setting. To date, the venue has hosted events ranging from typical classical music performances to international opera premieres. The theater seats over 2,000 people and each seat even has its own LCD touchscreen with live English and Spanish translations. Another cool feature of the building is that the roof collects over 80,000 gallons of water after rainstorms and is used for the opera grounds. Red Rocks Amphitheater – Morrison, Colorado View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre (@redrocksco) About a thirty-minute drive outside of Denver lay the impressive Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Surrounded by Colorado’s trademark hulking crimson rocks, the setting provides the world’s only naturally-occurring and acoustically perfect amphitheater. The vistas are so sweeping, beautiful, and breathtaking, that a visit is a must for any music lover. The theater seats close to 10,000 people and has hosted acts as big as The Beatles, as classic as country legend Dolly Parton, and as modern as indie darlings The Avett Brothers. Sitting 6,450 feet above sea level, this mile-high amphitheater delivers acoustics as beautiful as its views. You may also like: The Best European Cities for Music Lovers to Visit Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, California View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hollywood Bowl (@hollywoodbowl) Known as the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the country, the Hollywood Bowl is the stuff of legends. As an amphitheater, public park, and picnic area, the Hollywood Bowl has played host to music greats like Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, and The Beatles. To provide its patrons with the best sound, the Hollywood Bowl is crowned with its iconic shell design over the stage – a piece that was replaced in 2003 for improved acoustics. Though the Bowl is known for hosting music legends, it also regularly hosts the Los Angeles Philharmonic throughout its season. Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, Maryland View this post on Instagram A post shared by Merriweather Post Pavilion (@merriweatherpp) Forty acres into the Symphony Woods in Columbia, Maryland sits the scenic Merriweather Post Pavilion. Though it was initially built to house the National Symphony Orchestra, the wooded space eventually become known as a stage for rock legends. With iconic rock acts like Green Day, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin gracing the stage, the pavilion is a true rock haven…something to keep in mind if you’re looking for flight deals to Maryland! The stage inspired larger music festivals to be hosted in the Symphony Woods. Though it opened in 1967, the venue has installed important updates with the environment in mind – solar panels line the roof of the stage to power the house lights and other facilities. Which famous amphitheater are you most eager to check out? Let us know in the comments section below!
