Red Rocks Ampitheatre
We’re all familiar with the natural wonder that is Colorado. Pristine lakes and rivers, massive mountains and expansive skies. If you’re from California (like me) you’re familiar with Colorado because 15% of your friends have moved there and 100% of them are “really thinking about it”. Despite all of the fanfare and mental preparation, I was simply unprepared for the awe-inspiring beauty of Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
With sounds bouncing off the rocks in every direction, the venue, and surrounding 700 acres, offer an immersive and awe-inspiring setting for your favorite musical acts. On our trip, we photographed deer and birds (and one random feral cat) as we awaited entry to Phoebe Bridgers show. For lovers of nature and music, there simply could not be a more beautiful place to lose yourself. (Spoiler alert: I cried twice.)
What is it? A breathtaking open-air amphitheatre set 10 miles east of Denver, Colorado. The venue hosts more people each year than any amphitheatre in the country and has played host to some of the biggest acts in the world. (Think: The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Mumford and Sons, Diana Ross, The Grateful Dead, Radiohead, and the list goes on). Officially dedicated in 1941 and designated a National Landmark in 1973, Red Rocks has made a name for itself not just as a great place to see a show, but as a destination for music lovers and nature lovers alike.
What makes it different? For starters, basically everything. Situated at approximately 6,450 elevation (read: you might pass out if you ascend the stairs too quickly) the historic venue offers visitors a chance to attend concerts, view films and practice yoga (yes, really) perched perfectly above the city of Denver (and virtually everything east of it). Looking out beyond the stage the view feels more like a green screen than anything real life could possibly offer. (To be noted: we threw some rocks, as a test, and are pretty sure it is legit.) In addition to the incredible acoustics and jaw-dropping views, the venue is also dedicated to sustainability and in 2008 implemented a recycling and composting program which helped them to reduce their landfill waste by 85%, a number that, we’re sure, is greatly appreciated by the nature-revering concert-goers that are drawn to the place.
Why do people need it? Whether you’re there for the natural beauty or the musical offerings, or a combination of the two, Red Rocks offers something spectacular. A chance to connect (both personally, and spiritually) to something bigger.
We love music for the artistry and the escape, for the catharsis it offers, and the feeling we get that maybe someone out there understands us. The experience of being immersed in nature offers something similar. We are present and awe-struck, lucid but in a dreamlike reality. Red Rocks sits at the convergence of these two places. It pulls us in with it’s beauty and keeps us there with a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience.
What do people need to know? In addition to a concert series that runs from Spring into Fall, the venue also hosts Yoga on the Rocks, Film on The Rocks and Snowshape (a fitness series programmed for winter sports enthusiasts). Beyond the amphitheatre itself, Red Rocks is also home to The Colorado Music Hall of Fame, miles of hiking trails and the perfectly-situated Ship Rock Grille.
How can people be inspired by this place, wherever they are? While it may not be feasible to rush to Red Rocks from wherever you are, some of the biggest acts in the world have recorded live sessions from the venue. You can find a list of these sessions on their website, or stop by to check out their live cam and video gallery.
And, if you’re anything like us, you may want to go ahead and develop a full on obsession with Red Rocks Concert Posters. We have spent many many years going to concerts / working in the music industry / designing merch and can confirm, nothing is as a wondrous as a Red Rocks concert poster.
In their words: “Red Rocks is a geologically formed, open-air amphitheatre not duplicated anywhere in the world. With Mother Nature as the architect, the design of the Amphitheatre consists of two 300 foot monoliths (Ship Rock and Creation Rock) that provide a stunning setting for any performance. The dramatic sandstone monoliths serve as a history book of animal and plant life in the area for the past 250 million years. Red Rocks hosts some of the biggest names in music, which is why it’s also one of the most popular music venues in the country.”
