The Meadowbrook music outdoor theater is a wonderful little venue outside of Detroit. It's not Pinab, but it has some fantastic acts, easy parking, wonderful experience that everyone should support. read more

This is my first and hopefully last Yelp review, because when something like this happens (apparently repeatedly, judging by other reviews) concert attendees need to know what to expect. This is a beautiful venue. The staff were perfectly good and friendly. Too bad I couldn't see a thing on the stage. Yesterday I went to see Paul Simon (one of my all-time favorite musicians) only to find that the venue had MASSIVELY oversold on their tickets, which meant people flooding up and over the hill, plus people standing in clusters in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the show and blocking the view for others. Thankfully there was an absolute downpour that returned on and off throughout the concert. An hour in, damp and uncomfortable, I was finally able to get a good view of the show because so many people had fled to the safety of their cars. And even then it was overcrowded. Never coming back here. Good riddance. read more

Had the pleasure of returning to Meadow Brook for the first time in a few years over the weekend to catch Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett. As we easily parked and strolled over to our seats in the pavillion I said to my husband and mom, "I think this is my favorite outdoor venue ever." And they agreed. It's just big enough to get great acts, just small enough that getting in isn't a huge production (why yes I have lost my car in the Pine Knob parking lot thankyouverymuch), parking was free, the sound was fantastic, and every seat in the pavillion rules. But if you want to go lawn you'll still have a really great view (although I honestly always go pavillion because when I go to a show I wanna SEE the band/artist). And the grounds are PRETTY. The trees, the the waterfall, all lovely. Still not a ton of food and beverage options but that's fine. I rarely eat at shows anyway because they charge so much. I will say, everyone in my entire party did get a soft pretzel here that night and we were all VERY pleased with them. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Was here for my daughter's graduation this year was a success beautiful venue when the weather permits last year it rained and it was horrible, because there isn't any shelter to stay dry. Parking is good at this facility. read more

Meadow Brook Amphitheatre - My graduate - Music Venues Near Me - Rochester Hills, Michigan

See all

The security check in was a joke! I'm surprised we were not told to take our shoes off for a security check. This was over the top and ridiculous. One line for people with chairs and it was ridiculous. Make sure you allow an extra 30-45 minutes just for the check in. They even had my boyfriend open his wallet to check for security issues. What in the world???!!! read more

I typically avoid leaving poor reviews but I want to help others be informed and maybe help out the venue itself for future events. My friends and I stayed at a hotel 10 minutes away, as we live 4 and a half hours away. We left our hotel an hour before the opening act was set to take stage. GPS said it would take 9 minutes to arrive. Instead it took an hour! We got to the venue but there was no one directing or managing traffic. Once we got in to park, we found no parking lot, just grass to park in and one poor worker out there trying to direct literally everyone. He was running out of room and had to move cones for us the park. We still just figured oh it's just bad parking, it's ok, we are here now. Well we go through security and get in only to find that the lawn was extremely crowded, to the point I feel they over sold the show. The pavilion seats are probably decent but the lawn was hard to find space and had a steepish slope off the back of it. There are no screens to see the stage and once everyone stood up for the show there was no way to see any of the performance even for the tall person in our group. The ladies bathroom had a geyser coming out of one of the toilets to add to the fun. The only bright side was nice concession stand workers and deep dish little Cesar's pizza. The layout for this venue is just not great and we were disappointed. The sound quality was also just ok and got worse depending on where you were in the lawn. Please add screens to this venue and re-estimate the numbers of tickets sold for the lawn! The park and area is very pretty, it's just sad we could not see anything. read more

Meadow Brook Amphitheatre - Lawn view. - Music Venues Near Me - Rochester Hills, Michigan

See all

Typical amateurish 313 security. Targeted my girlfriend because her purse wouldn't fit In their "measuring tray" when actually it was because we aren't Rochester Hills Yuppies. We saw at least 50 women with bigger purses walk through. When we complained we were told that these bags were for "a medical issue". Yeah. Right. You can carry in rolled up blankets, folding chairs, and the like, but a 8"x8" purse? NO WAY. I set off the metal detector due to jewelry, and rather than wanding me, they told me I had to take "Everything Off". YOU COULD SEE I HAD BRACELETS AND A WATCH. Stupid, and amateurish. Typical Rochester Hills "look like us, or pay the price" mentality. SO glad I moved out of this judgemental shit hole. Elvis Costello was great, but this venue needs to hire professional security, not off duty teachers and Best Buy employees. read more

Grr, Meadow Brook. Had a subpar time here tonight so 3 years later I'm updating my review. We had purchased Groupon lawn tickets to see DSO play the music of Queen. We got to the venue a little late, around 7pm (the concert was starting at 730) and had to wait forever to park and then another 1/2 hour or so to enter the venue. The lawn was predictably PACKED and we had to sit just over the hill, where we couldn't see the stage at all. We actually sat facing away from the stage, because of the sun. My question is this: I see on Wiki that MB can hold 7700 people max. The performer on stage tonight said there were 7600 people there. Do they ever put a cap on lawn tickets/seats? My other big complaint with MB is the bathroom situation, as I noted in my previous review. I waited about ten minutes to use the bathroom when we arrived, which may not sound like long but when you have Crohn's like I do, sometimes it can feel like an eternity. They did have more Port-A-Potties today, I noticed, but there were lines for those too. I definitely will still keep seeing musicians here but perhaps next time I'll spring for pavilion, I guess. Pretty disappointed in the lawn situation tonight. read more

See all

Don't you bring chairs to this place!!!! The worst venue ever just to get in. 1:20 minutes in line waiting to get in. I'm not talking about the parking that was fine but they do have the worst system to check in the people. Just one long line if you bring your chair. We were hungry and tired by the time we got in. read more

Bathroom was dirty The lawn was decently sized, but there is a ridiculous chair height restriction. No screens to see the performers more clearly Decent sound read more

I haven't been to Meadowbrook Amphitheatre since about 2010 and it really is such a beautiful facility and so close to home. I went there for a Steely Dan concert and we got there at 6:00 for the concert that started at 7:30. We recently went to the DTE Energy Music theatre and the parking was such a nightmare that we wanted to make sure we didn't have the same situation. We were able to park really close from the entrance off of Walton Blvd. We bought seats in the Pavilion and had row X which had flip down seats that weren't super comfortable but the view was great. They had bathrooms on both sides of the stage that were fairly close. They don't allow any pictures to be taken. The sound was awesome Leaving the parking lot was quick and easy. We were able to get home in no time. read more

I usually like to pay a place multiple visits before tossing up my opinions here on Ye Olde Yelp Site, but I had such a swell time at Meadow Brook Amphitheater on a Sunday August evening that I decided I need to bestow on them the full five stars. It almost shames me to admit I'd never been to Meadow Brook before. Man, is it nice! The brightly painted barn when you pull in, the sloping, manicured grounds, the woods off to the side of the stage... and somehow nobody charged me that $15 to park I read about! Parking is just over grass, and I don't know how healthy that is for the grass but it beats looking at a sea of concrete. I came to see Gary Clark, Jr. and he put on an over two hour set. (Unfortunately I missed opener Jessy Wilson. She must have went on nearly at the 8pm start time.) Gary Clark Jr. delivered the goods, though. It wasn't quite a full house but I'd say this 7,700 person venue was well over 3/4 full. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people and so was Gary Clark. "I guess I've been sleeping on y'all. My bad" he said of his southeast Michigan fandom. There's lots of aging classic rock fans in this region and it was nice to see a new school update, the closest thing we have to a present day Hendrix, be embraced. The acoustics here are spectacular! I thought maybe they might have just seemed extra good after I recently went to another concert with muddy sound at Aretha Park Ampitheater on the Detroit River, but then I looked up Meadow Brook on Wikipedia and saw it was built in 1964 specifically to be a summer residence for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. So, yeah, the acoustics really are that stellar. The light show was nothing to sneeze at either. They got some seasoned pros here. I bought my ticket at the box office and the wait wasn't bad at all. I sprang for pavilion as we'd had quite a bit of rain earlier and I didn't want to brave the lawn. There was a good sized crowd up there, though. And I saw to my delight, that there's a smaller lawn area off to the side, in front of and going up into the woods. How cool! I was smart and ate before and after the show, so I can't report on concessions. I didn't so much as buy a bottle of water. (Concessions were such a chain of fools during my last trip to Aretha Franklin Amphitheater that I didn't want to go near em. They HAVE to be better than there, though.) To cap it all off, traffic leaving was nowhere near as bad as I expected. I sat on my phone for 5 or 10 minutes before pulling into the great stream of red taillights but it was fairly easy to navigate. Good show, Meadow Brook! I'll be back. read more

Meadow Brook Amphitheatre - Twilight barn - Music Venues Near Me - Rochester Hills, Michigan

See all

Meadow Brook Amphitheater is a staple in the community and a wonderful place to be entertained! Parking is not included in your ticket and there is a handicap/VIP parking lot that is by Meadow Brook Hall while parking for everyone else is off of the Walton entrance. We have parked before with VIP and I must say this is awesome. You avoid the crazy crowds and your access is in the back of the amphitheater. Normal parking is also fine - but a lot more walking through the field and getting through all the gates. When we went most recently we were warned to not use photography and I am not sure if it is standard procedure or what the act requested? It was annoying though and those workers were like vultures checking to make sure people were not taking pictures of anything. I mean anything! No selfies, no far away pictures of the stage, basically nothing. This was my only complaint and I thought was strange. A more insider tip is to take advantage of the property and walk the grounds. There is some gardens and small walking paths that are peaceful and they are tucked away in the back/side of the property. You can even see the OU president's home from an angle you cannot get off the property so that is kind of neat as well. Beautiful land overall with the amphitheater tucked in the woods of Rochester Hills - the views are amazing! Is the beer and food overpriced? Sure! Try to eat before coming here or else you will pay a ton for sub-par food. A mixed drink was like $18 - ridiculous! Bathrooms are okay but old, they could use an updating. The stage is intimate and the sound is great. Go see a concert/show and you will not be disappointed! I have seen Rocky Horror, a couple comedians, and a couple concerts and they have all been great. You may even see some turkeys, deer, or other critters as well while on the grounds. Great place! read more

See all

Of all the outdoor concerts venues, Meadowbrook is probably my least favorite. It's much smaller than DTE and Freedom Hill. The pavilion area is smaller and the grass area seems to be less wide. If you have lawn tickets, I'd definitely suggest arriving early. I came to Meadowbrook to see the DSO perform Queen and they oversold tickets, and there was absolutely nowhere to sit on the lawn. We had to sit behind the crest of the hill and a tree with our backs facing the stage so we wouldn't slide down the hill and thus weren't able to see anything and really were not able to hear much either. At one point the singer even said "Do you want us to turn up the volume?" and he also said "We sold 7600 concert tickets for the show and there's people sitting way out in the woods and we can't even see them!" All of this after standing in a very disorganized chaotic line for 40 minutes. I've only ever seen chaotic lines at Masonic but it paled in comparison to this. There were multiple lines that wrapped all the way to the back of the parking lot. It seems like they should open their gates sooner like they do at DTE to avoid a bottleneck of people all trying to get in at once. Another one of my friends said that he had a similar experience at Meadowbrook where he had to sit behind the crest of the hill. For most shows, doors open 90 minutes in advance of show time. Ninety minutes prior to a show for a sold-out show still didn't seem like enough time to get people through the gates. The parking lot usually opens around 4:30 pm for evening shows and you can bring food and drink into the parking lot but alcohol is prohibited as it violates city ordinances so no alcohol if you're tailgating. They don't allow bottled water (even if it's sealed) or any food or drink once you pass through the gates which is pretty standard at most venues. I came back again to see The Violent Femmes and Ben Folds this summer and had lawn tickets but this time arrived way earlier. Doors opened at 6:00 and the show started at 7:30 so we got there right at 6:00 and this time there was no line and we snagged a spot right at the front of the lawn. The viewing was much better but there was a bar/metal fence that somewhat blocked the view and there are no large monitors for better viewing. Still really enjoyed it and it was a great show. Pavilion probably has the best view but seats are usually pricey. For concessions, they have tacos and nachos for around $13 and a taco truck from El Guanaco. Concession stands also sell bottled water for $5 and White Claw, Mike's Harder Lemonade, and other canned beers for around $10.50 a piece. They have cocktails for around $17 and boozy smoothies for around $20. The line to the bathroom was pretty significant and definitely had to wait in line for awhile. Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad getting out of the parking lot but we did leave a little early. Overall, Meadowbrook books some great talent for shows but if you purchase lawn tickets make sure to arrive early, especially for sold out shows if you don't want to sit "way out in the woods" lol. read more

See all

5 stars for the venue- 0 stars for parking. Saw Detroit symphony orchestra- tribute to Freddy Mercury and queen excellent show. They now include price of parking into tickets- smart ! However - why not turn both lanes one way for entering and exiting? They even do that at dte. Frustrating for only 7000 people - 35 minutes in and out. The older volunteers are to cool - soo helpful! read more

Have been going here for years, and while it's still a beautiful venue, and has great acts, the changes made regarding bringing in food and beverage is kind of disappointing. I believe they're pushing the "tailgating" angle, but I miss the old days. read more

Great concert, terrible venue. You pay a ridiculously high price for a drink and there are no lids for the cups. Since it's an outdoor venue you have to watch every sip to make sure there are no bugs in your drink. Bathrooms are disgusting. The sections are not clearly marked, and they do a terrible job of helping you find your seat. If I could give less than one star I would. read more

We've been to Meadow Brook many times in the past and have always enjoyed it. This was our first visit post-Covid, and it's not the same. First of all, there's no food allowed. Next is that your chair can't be more than 12 inches off the ground. Ours was 13 from the front of the seat and 10 from the back. We still couldn't bring them in. So, lawn seating literally means sitting on the lawn. I really don't understand this rule. If I sit behind someone who has a 12 inch high lawn chair and I'm on the grass, it's my own fault for not being able to see. Lastly, the price of anything is outrageous. We bought two drinks and it cost $28. Two bottom shelf drinks! Plan on tailgating, sitting on the grass and spending a fortune for a below average drink. read more

January 29th, my friend and I saw the 2 o'clock matinee performance of Blithe Spirit. I go to many professional and community theater productions. The auditorium is great (there's not a bad seat in the house). The set was amazing I felt like I was in someone's home. The costumes were fun right down to the wigs and they looked really good . I knew it was gonna be good when the creative director did a little talk before the production, which was cute and funny. You have threw February 2 Sunday to see this play don't miss it! They do a great job everyone in it (seven of them), were great. I will definitely be going to that theater again. If this the quality of the plays, I am in! Thanks for a fun afternoon! Donna Haapala read more

Attended the Jim Gaffigan show last night and due to the huge traffic jam to get to the venue, it took 1.5 hours to get in off of Adams road, we missed the first 15 minutes of Jim's set. The parking and traffic control was non-existent. And then during the show they blasted him with his intro music, which I guess they didn't play when he was introduced,many completely scared the performer and the entire audience. I do NOT recommend this venue!! Adding this tidbit a year later. After I wrote the initial review I was contacted by palace staff. They offered me tickets to a throw away Piston game. Not being a basketball fan I declined. They promised me they would call in the spring summer once the new calendar of events was known for the season. Never happened. I will not go back this place as it was a terrible experience and they are not true to their word. read more

Been coming here for years. Never disappointed. The parking is $15 someone told me that's because it's on a college campus I don't know what that has to do with anything. I sat in the pavilion and good seats. What's nice about the pavilion here is it's narrow not fanned out like Pine Knob. There is no obstruction that I can see. The parking attendants are courteous and do a good job getting you in. The ushers are friendly and helpful. The sound last night (Roger Daltrey and the DSO doing The Who's Tommy.) was great not over the top loud like some shows. The concessions are typical high priced beer and soda. But all in all a super nice venue. There are a few different pathways to walk. The restrooms were clean and lines moved quickly. The show itself was fantastic Mr. Daltrey can still belt it out. The DSO was fantastic. There was violin solo during Baba ORielly that was incredible that young lady had great talent. read more

See all

Closer than Pine Knob, just as easy to access and far more intimate - Meadow Brook Music Festival is an ideal spot to check out a show! The Counting Crowes were amazing last week and given the fact that it's maybe half the size of the Knob, the shows are way more chill and lawn seats will actually get you a spot on some real grass so don't fear if you didn't bring a blanket. read more

Cute little venue! You have to park in a grassy field and the line to leave was pretty terrible. Restrooms looked terribly outdated but the line moved pretty quickly. Front row was super squishy. read more

I have been to more than a few shows here, but this is the worst. Currently at the Music of Queen by the DSO. We arrived an hour before the show was to start and waited an hour and a half in the security line. Watched as others decided to start lines out of no where, at the beginning of the other lines all the whole security just watched on with no direction. Finally get through and the best spots on the lawn are over the crest of the hill. No speakers have been set up, so you must be dead silent to hear the concert. If I had not already spent 2 hours of my life invested into this, I would absolutely leave. At least what little music I can hear, does sound nice read more

Meadow Brook Amphitheatre - The best view in the whole place. - Music Venues Near Me - Rochester Hills, Michigan

My husband and I are here from Indianapolis to see The Lumineers. Due to an unfortunate incident involving mud and me nearly falling on my face, I am on crutches. I was a little concerned about the walk from the car to our seats (pavilion) but no less than three different employees asked if I needed help (hindsight is, in fact, 20/20 and I wish I had taken them up on their offers). Everyone from the parking lot attendants to the "crowd control" people exceeded my expectations. Yes, it was super busy and yes, it took forever to get out of there. The beer and water were extraordinarily overpriced and the lines for the bathroom were too long for me to even consider standing in but I don't know of a venue where those things aren't true. All in all we were very happy with our experience and would definitely come up here again if the performer we want to see isn't playing closer. read more

Meadow Brook Amphitheatre - Music Venues Near Me - Rochester Hills, Michigan

I'm at Meadowbrook as we speak & we are actually sitting on the back of the hill for Queen & the DSO. Way oversold ! I literally could be at home listening to the radio.! The lines were terrible, very disappointed!!!! read more

Lawn seats oversold tonight for DSO Queen performance. Never again. Like countless others on the wrong side of the ridge we couldn't see the stage or hear the performance. You'd think they'd have speakers on the other side. Or limit the sales. On the bright side I spent time with a wonderful date and instead had a 2-hour conversation. Next time we'll go picnic st Cranbrook and put the $90 towards a good bottle of wine. read more

This is a great outdoor venue that offers excellent seating from most anywhere and a great country/woodsy feel to it. We took row U for an adventure last night in seeing the Rocky Horror Show live production, it was a blast. Meadowbrook has been a long time favorite of mine mostly because its clean, easy to get to, about a third the size of DTE (aka Pine Knob) and is as high quality as anything else owned by PalaceNet. I think it is a gem that is very much under-rated and undiscovered, but certainly holds their own for smaller events. The acoustics are superb, the concessions are decent (although the prices are no cheaper than anything that the Palace folks run), the restrooms were surprisingly easy to navigate without major lines, considering there were not that many facilities, then again this is one of the smaller venues so there are less people needing to "go"! I have been a hill dweller as well as a pavilion squatter and regardless of the resting spot, I have always been comfortable and not had any obstructions. So bottom line, if an event comes up that is at Meadowbrook Music Festival, I will not hesitate in going! read more

Toilets are badly in need of upgrades. Beware when u purchase Pavillon seats that some seats don't hv a roof covering. Food is the worse concessions at any stadium or park or music venue in Michigan. Pizza was raw doughy, sauce slapped on sideways with gluey substance for cheese. We will not be back. 1 star because the entertainer was great but not worth the subpar venue. No video screens like at dte. You would think for the locale they would offer a better experience. read more

Just went to Meadow Brook Music Festival for Of Monsters and Men. The venue is great - just the perfect size for an outdoor concert. The low rating is due to pricing - $10 to park in a muddy field significantly further away from the venue than most other places. It took me well over 45 minutes to get into the parking lot off the highway. Meadow Brook needs to find a better parking system so that this kind of back up doesn't happen. I've never experienced something like this at any other venue. For less traffic congestion and the same type of atmosphere, I'll go to DTE for outdoor concerts in the future and try to avoid this venue. read more

Came here for a concert and leaving was an absolute nightmare. The parking situation is completely unorganized, there were several different lines facing every direction possible; there is no one directing parking whatsoever. There is only one exit and entrance and several drivers decided to drive up on the road to avoid the hell of trying to get into the one exit. I urge you all to choose a different concert venue and I pray that the meadow Brooke gets there shit in order. read more

Meadow Brook Amphitheatre - Parking - Music Venues Near Me - Rochester Hills, Michigan

I "heart" the Meadow Brook Music Festival! It is absolutely, hands down, without a doubt my favorite outdoor concert venue in Michigan. The setting is lovely - feels like you are watching a concert in the woods. It isn't huge like Pine Knob, so even on the lawn it has an intimate feel. The vibe is just friendly and happy. I'm not going to lie - getting into the parking lot can be a bit of a challenge. Long lines and mud and all that. Plan ahead and allow some extra time. Also, make note -- not all pavillion seats are under the roof. I have seen sooooo many great shows here over the years - Wilco, Of Monsters and Men, Ray Lamontagne, The Special Beat Elvis Costello, David Byrne, the DSO, and even the Von Trapp Family Singers (who doesn't love The Sounds of Music, yo?). read more

Mark Farner and George Throgood, what a deal for $10.00 on Groupon. $15.00 to park. Like that they don't pack cars to close togather. Got a great lawn seat, full view in center. Acoustics were awsome but not earsplittig like many venues I've attended. Place is spotlessly clean, lots of security and food venders had reasonably priced meals.. $800 to $12.00 on average . Drinks on the other hand were sky high...I drank water from a well hidden drinking fountain. Love to attend concert here; only 5 mins from my house on the campus of OU. WOW... on comes George and the place ROCKS with The Destroyers. Great light show. He's still got it ! read more

See all

I love the shows .... but i always hesitate to go to a concert unless its a really good show.. The parking and then leaving afterwards is simply horrible... Meadow Brook ... get a clue read more

You'd think for charging $5 a ticket for traffic control there might actually be some damn traffic control.

Beautiful, drive out from California! Just wish y'all had nice seats other then fold ups! read more

Meadow brook either needs to 1) improve their venue so that all ticket holders have a reasonable view of the stage or 2) sell less tickets so that all ticket holders have a reasonable view of the stage. It doesn't seem ethical to me to sell tickets to a show where you won't be able to see the stage AT ALL. We had lawn "seats", and even while standing up I could not get a glimpse of the stage. I'm 5'8, so not short. We moved all the way to the side, where we could get occasional glimpses of the performer through the columns on the side. That's not ok. Terrible concert experience. If I had taken a photo for this review, it would have been of the backs of people's heads. read more

I went to a show last night. The musicians=great! The venue=super disappointing. Let me start by saying I used to work at this venue, and the other 2 local concert venues owned by the same company. I don't know when, but the quality has gone down and prices have just gone up. Let me start reviewing the evening with parking- $15 for one car?! I had to ask twice if that was for a bus, when I called ahead of time to get details (no, a bus is $60 btw.) As other reviewers have mentioned, the parking line took forever, then the parking attendants wanted us to park within inches of the car next to us, um no. We needed to use the restroom...port-a-potty options available just inside the entrance, yuk. The nearby chatting police officers read our body language about using the port-a-potties and directed us down the hill to find running water toilets. We found more port-a-potties, and eventually found running water bathroom. The bathrooms were incredibly dirty (the stall walls were streaked and looked like they hand't been cleaned in a year) and the stall I went in had no hook for my purse. I was forced to balance my purse and blanket- not an easy task. Then finding a seat on the lawn: the sound booth blocks many clear views (always been the case.) We found a nice spot at the top of the hill, but the artists looked like mice on the stage, as other reviewers have mentioned, there are no video screens- wtheck? I saw manned video cameras. It was a hard time finding details out online about the show ahead of time: doors open? show starts? I eventually just called the box office. All in all, super disappointed at the increase in pricing, decrease in quality and lack of details about shows available readily online. I'll think twice, and three-four times before coming back to a show here. read more

The actual venue is nice, great for summer concerts, staff on the other hand, not so friendly. And the food/beverages are way too overpriced. $5 for a bottle of water and I'm not even allowed to keep the cap for it or bring me own water? Seriously? read more

See all

Meadowbrook is our favorite concert venue in SE Michigan. All pavilion seats are great. I think some seats aren't covered though. The only drawback is the after-concert traffic jam. I don't remember any parking attendants helping with the exit. Plan ahead. It takes an hour to get off the property--but that's true with larger places too. Fun time, great sound, courteous staff. read more