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It's the rite of summer for the touring industry — the shed trek. Ohio has a plethora of outdoor venues that feature the biggest touring names in music. Here's a primer of places in the Buckeye State that take it outside when the weather heats up.
RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER
Our hometown shed has been providing the majority of big-time outdoor summer concerts in the Cincinnati area since opening on July 4, 1984.
Capacity: 20,500
Perks: The riverside location. With the Ohio River streaming by and Coney Island's park welcoming visitors, Riverbend is surrounded by a picturesque setting.
Downside: The riverside location. Flooding has caused the cancellation of season-opening shows the past two years.
Past Shows: Lots of Jimmy Buffett; H.O.R.D.E.; Lollapalooza; Sting; Billy Idol with The Raisins
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It's the rite of summer for the touring industry — the shed trek. Ohio has a plethora of outdoor venues that feature the biggest touring names in music. Here's a primer of places in the Buckeye State that take it outside when the weather heats up.
RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER
Our hometown shed has been providing the majority of big-time outdoor summer concerts in the Cincinnati area since opening on July 4, 1984.
Capacity: 20,500
Perks: The riverside location. With the Ohio River streaming by and Coney Island's park welcoming visitors, Riverbend is surrounded by a picturesque setting.
Downside: The riverside location. Flooding has caused the cancellation of season-opening shows the past two years.
Past Shows: Lots of Jimmy Buffett; H.O.R.D.E.; Lollapalooza; Sting; Billy Idol with The Raisins
Web site: www.riverbend-music.com
Upcoming events:
5/25 Harry Connick Jr.
6/4 Sammy Hagar, David Lee Roth
6/7 Usher, Nas, Faith Evans, Mr. Cheeks
6/12 Deep Purple, Scorpions, Dio
6/18 Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
6/21 Bad Company, Foreigner, Joe Bonamassa
6/22 Kid Rock
6/23 George Benson with Dianne Reeves
6/24 WEBN Lunatic Fringe Fest with Nickelback, Default, Jerry Cantrell
6/25 Poison, Cinderella, Winger, Faster Pussycat
7/3 The Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh
7/15 John Mellencamp, Shannon McNally
7/24 Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack
7/29 Lenny Kravitz, Pink, Abandoned Pools
7/31 Vans Warped Tour 2002 — Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Hot Water Music, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Bad Religion, NOFX, New Found Glory
8/2 JamGrass Festival 2002 — Dark Star Orchestra and more
8/4 Rush
8/6 Chicago
8/8 Dave Matthews Band
8/10 Frankie Valli, The Association, The Buckinghams, Lou Christie
8/15 Ozzfest 2002 — Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, Rob Zombie
8/18 B.B. King, George Thorogood, The Fabulous Thunderbirds
8/22 John Tesh
8/24 Hall & Oates, Todd Rundgren
9/19 Toby Keith
FRAZE PAVILION
Unlike the behemoth venues, Dayton's Fraze is intimate and cozy, more of an outdoor theater than a shed. It's been the nicest mid-sized venue in Ohio since it opened in September 1991.
Capacity: 4,300
Perks: Probably the most family-friendly venue of its kind in Ohio. It's also very community-minded, presenting things like high school Jazz and band concerts, local and regional acts, Kidsfest, local radio station WTUE's "Breakfast with the Beatles" broadcast and several free concerts.
Downside: Not really set up for big Rock or mainstream shows — it's just not their niche. Don't look for Pearl Jam to play here anytime soon.
Past Shows: The annual Cajun Swamp Romp; Yes; Rick Springfield; B-52's
Web site: www.fraze.com
Upcoming events:
5/30 Al Green
5/31 Rick Springfield, The Fixx, The Outfield
6/6 Judy Collins, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Arlo Guthrie
6/7 Robert Cray, Booker T. & The MG's
6/20 Fourplay, Rick Braun
6/27 Indigo Girls, Norah Jones
6/29 Kenny Loggins
7/12 Smokey Robinson
7/19 Bruce Hornsby
7/20 The Canadian Brass
7/25 Peter Frampton
7/26 Dave Koz & Friends with Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson and James Ingram
7/29 John Mayer and Guster
8/7 Michael Bolton
8/8 Kansas, the BoDeans
8/15 Jethro Tull
8/16 Riders in the Sky with Elizabeth Cook
8/17 Jim Brickman with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
8/23 Dennis DeYoung (of STYX) with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
8/30 Wayne Newton
POLARIS AMPHITHEATER
Though a fairly generic facility, Polaris' central location north of Columbus has allowed it to host tours that don't make it to the Cincinnati area. Very much like Riverbend on all ends. Not a bad place to see a concert, but nothing spectacular.
Capacity: 18,000
Perks: The Levi's First Stage on the plaza as you come in offers performances from local bands and up-and-coming nationals.
Downside: It's $7 to park for a regular show and a whopping $10 for "festival" concerts.
Past Shows: Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie; Yanni; Lollapalooza; The Cure; Dan Fogelberg
Web site: www.polarisconcerts.com
Upcoming events:
6/6 Usher
6/9 Bad Company, Foreigner
6/11 Sammy Hagar, David Lee Roth
6/14 Kenny Chesney
6/16 Scorpions, Deep Purple, DIO
6/20 George Benson
6/21 Kid Rock
6/23 The Allman Brothers Band
6/26 Poison, Cinderella, Winger, Faster Pussycat
PROMOWEST PAVILION
This intriguing state-of-the-art facility in Columbus' Brewery District opened in September 2001. Its versatility is helping it nab some of the better tours this summer. The indoor/ outdoor venue can be reconfigured for various capacities, allowing for everything from smaller indoor club shows to theater-type events (like the recent Wilco performance) to mid-range outdoor concerts.
Capacity: 2,500 (for outdoor shows)
Perks: The design is really set up for sound (in all its configurations).
Downside: Too much concrete and not enough green space for an "outdoor" show (but a fair trade-off for the other amenities).
Past Shows: James Brown; Live; Incubus
Web site: www.promowestpavilion.com
Upcoming events:
5/31 Lynyrd Skynyrd
6/1 Static X, Coal Chamber, Earshot and more
6/7 Natalie Merchant
6/9 Elvis Costello and the Imposters
6/14 Midnight Star, Bar-Kays, Dazz Band and Slave
6/28 B-52's
6/29 Indigo Girls and Norah Jones
6/30 Jewel
7/3 Chuck Berry and Link Wray
7/10 moe. and Les Claypool's Frog Brigade
7/17 Tesla, Vince Neil, Jackyl and Skid Row
7/26 John Mayer with Guster
7/27 Billy Ray Cyrus
7/30 Vans Warped Tour
8/3 Jamgrass Festival with Dark Star Orchestra and more
BUCKEYE LAKE MUSIC CENTER
Technically not a shed, but worth a mention for the interesting shows it has hosted and will host this year. Buckeye Lake — which opened in 1986 with a ZZ Top concert — is essentially a huge field with a stage at the end.
Capacity: Over 50,000
Perks: Perfect for festival shows. Nearby camping access is also a bonus.
Downside: The venue is less than perfect for the sunburn-prone (though some solace can be found under the surrounding trees).
Past Shows: Lollapalooza; Metallica; Grateful Dead; Aerosmith and Guns and Roses; Hookahville
Web site: www.buckeyelakemusiccenter.com
Upcoming events:
5/24-26 Spring Hookahville featuring Ekoostik Hookah, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Medeski Martin & Wood, Umphery's McGee and more
6/14-15 Showing the Love 2002 with various Hip Hop, Reggae, Electronic and Jam Bands (see www.showingthelove.com for full line-up)
BLOSSOM MUSIC CENTER
Walking up, it's a little like Kings Island, with its "wooden" motif, but it's still a nice facility overall. Blossom has been the top northern Ohio shed for over 30 years and also is the summer home for the Cleveland Orchestra. The video screens in the lawn are actually quite useful and the video team does a good job on the filming end.
Capacity: 19,500
Perks: Blossom is in a small valley surrounded by 800 acres of woods, which creates a cooling effect — very nice on those above 90 degree summer evenings.
Downside: Bathroom facilities are horrid and few.
Past Shows: Pearl Jam; Jimmy Buffett; the first Lollapalooza; Radiohead
Web site www.blossommusic.com
Upcoming events:
5/19 Alan Jackson
5/29 Sammy Hagar, David Lee Roth
6/9 Brooks & Dunn
6/12 blink-182, Green Day
6/22 Poison
6/29 Melissa Etheridge
7/2 Phil Lesh & Friends, The Allman Brothers Band
8/4 Ozzfest 2002
TOWER CITY AMPHITHEATER
Near the heart of downtown Cleveland, this new venue just opened on April 24. The amphitheater is a part of the huge Tower City Center, an entertainment megaplex featuring shops, restaurants, movies and hotels.
Capacity: 5,200
Perks: Its location. Near the shores of Lake Erie, Tower City is surrounded by Cleveland Browns Stadium, Gund Arena, Jacobs Field and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Downside: Not too pretty to look at it — resembles a giant tent. The circus is in town!
Past Shows: Kid Rock; No Doubt; Rat Dog
Web site: www.towercityamphitheater.com
Upcoming events:
6/1 Lynyrd Skynyrd
6/2 Rob Zombie, Tirk Turner, Apex Theory, Static-X, X-ecutioners, Quarashi, Unwritten Law, Our Lady Peace and Earshot
6/4 Toots & The Maytals, Luciano, Tanta Metro, Tony Rebel, Stone Love, Dean Fraser and Morgan Heritage
6/5 Pink with Candyass
6/6 Natalie Merchant
6/7 Bad Company
6/8 Michael Stanley and the Resonators
6/9 Trey Anastasio
6/10 Indigo Girls
6/11 Elvis Costello
6/16 Dan Fogelberg
6/21 Warren Hill & Marc Antoine with Geoff Golub and Richard Elliot
7/4 moe. with Les Claypool
7/9 Widespread Panic
7/10 Scorpions, Deep Purple, Dio
7/11 Lucinda Williams
7/19 John Michael Montgomery
7/21 Marc Anthony
7/22 Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack
7/24 John Mayer, Guster
7/26 Vans Warped Tour with Bad Religion and Mighty Mighty Bosstones
7/27 Frankie Valli, The Association, Lou Christie and Felix Cavaliere's Rascals
7/31 Chicago
8/3 Huey Lewis and The News
8/7 Marina McBride and Little Big Town
8/16 B.B. King with George Thorogood and the Destroyers and The Fabulous Thunderbirds
8/18 Jam Grass Festival featuring Dark Star Orchestra, Sam Bush Band, David Grisman Quintet, John Cowan Band, Yonder Mountain String Band and Peter Rowan & Tony Rice
8/21 Cake, The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, Kinky, De La Soul
8/22 Hall and Oates, Todd Rundgren
8/25 John Tesh
NAUTICA PAVILION
Located in The Flats (the party capital of, uh, downtown Cleveland), Nautica Stage was the only game in town for bigger outdoor shows in Cleveland. Spurned by the massive developments around the city, the Stage is becoming Nautica Pavilion, following a $4.6 million facelift. It will reopen this summer.
Capacity: 5,000.
Perks: Still has that "new concert venue" smell.
Downside: It's in The Flats.
Past Shows: Helmet; Echo and the Bunnymen, New Order and Gene Loves Jezebel; Orbital; Ani DiFranco; Green Day
Web site: www.nauticaflats.com
Upcoming events:
6/11 O-Town
6/19 Mannheim Steamroller
6/29 Nickelback
7/1 B-52's
7/6 Linda Ronstadt
7/7 Jewel
7/12 Tesla, Vince Neil, Jackyl and Skid Row
7/14 String Cheese Incident
7/21 Chuck Berry/Little Richard
8/22 Eddie Money
