My husband and I saw Deftones here a few weeks ago. Unlike Los Angeles, shows here start on time and end before 10pm. There's free parking in the neighborhoods and parking structures. Getting through security was super easy and the lines were short. Excellent sound and I like how open the venue is. It's GA "seating", so you can sit, squat, stand or lay down anywhere you fit. You can see the stage no matter where you decide to park it. read more

Small intimate venue. Looks rather outdated. Audio was shitty in the back. Mics kept clicking. Restrooms were clean but some of the stall doors didn't lock. Not sure if this is handicap friendly since it's full of grass and steps. No screens on the side. Free parking if you get there early enough. Easy to get out of the lot after the show. Didn't get any food/drinks so not sure about the price/options. read more

What a terrible experience! We purchased VIP tickets, but nobody was able to guide us where to get a wristband or anything denoting that we were VIP. I spoke with several staff members with no help. One woman made me so uncomfortable that I felt like I had done something wrong just because of asking a simple question very politely. We eventually gave up on trying to find VIP so we could attempt to enjoy the concert. The sound was some of the worst I have ever experienced in a professional setting. You'd think that would be all, but I contacted the venue about the issue and was basically told tough luck. They had VIP people out front at about 5:30. We arrived at about 6, so we "missed" the VIP admission. Nowhere did it state we had to be there early for VIP. The venue has no interest in making it right, so I won't be giving them business again. read more

They operate on the level of a garage band and do not know how to rig a sound machine for Playboi carti, which resulted in the artist leaving and them reassuring he would be back out leaving us in pit for like 45 min. After no prevail the turned the lights on and we all went home. 5 months later I just got email confirmation that the concert is no longer rescheduled and I will be receiving a refund. Very awful experience as to I and plenty more were very excited for this artist to preform his unique concert and to be cut short for a 3 min act from technical difficulties is very disheartening. I have lost respect for everyone involved. read more

This place holds a special place in my heart. The Mesa Amphitheater is literally 1 mile from my childhood home. I'd ride my bike daily through the parking lot to get to the Mesa Library...ahhh memories! I saw a few bands there as a teenager and more recently, Death Cab for Cutie this summer. It's somewhat of a hidden oasis because as we all know, that area of Mesa has seen its share of better days. Yet, the inside of the Amp. remains virtually the same and very well maintained. You can purchase tickets at the box office, free from all Ticketmaster charges. If you live in the east part of the valley, it's much better to just drive over there and pick them up instead of paying the outrageous fees. The entire venue is covered in lush tiered lawn, making it surprisingly cooler even in the summer months. Note, it's by no means *cool* temperature wise but it definitely drops a few degrees by being so grassy. I like outdoor venues. I'd take an outdoor venue any day over a hellish sound reverberation indoor venue. You can see from anywhere in the place and the sound is good. Because of its bowl shape, it also provides plenty of shade in the late afternoon when you're waiting for the band to come on. I enjoy the fact that you can easily park for cheap ($5) and get out relatively easily, or park in the neighborhood across Center St., get out even easier, and pay nothing. The only problem I had was with the security being retarded about the camera I tried to bring in. Although it's a digital SLR and fairly large, the brawny nasty security lady snidely remarked "If the camera was as big as that bag, that there was NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WAAAAAAAAAAAY I'm letting that in!" A simple, "Sorry, there's no large cameras allowed" would have been appreciated. Don't try to bring in blankets either, for some reason an outdoor venue with grass thinks blankets are a sin. read more

Just saw The Black Keys there.. everyone who bitches about any line..get to the venue alittle earlier.. we had no lines... walked right in... bought our Tshirts, poster, no line. grabbed beers, walked around. Best sound is in the middle, on the first curb closest to the stage. Liked the fact that people let you have your space... beautiful warm night...nice concert venue... read more

I have seen some killer shows here... Great place and totally outdoors. They hold most of their shows in the fall ::::so the weather is awesome. If there is a band that tours here, be sure to check it out. I try to fly a couple times a year to see shows..... All ages and general admission. They also have a decent beer garden. read more

By far one of my favorite concert venues. It's the perfect size, even in the last row I never feel too far from the stage. Somehow the weather always seems nice here, too :) The only thing I don't like is how strict the rules are on bringing things in. I don't understand why blankets aren't allowed! read more

I went to go see Playboi Carti but it was canceled due to there terrible speakers being blown out and they had the nerve to charge me a $25 fee for my ticket read more

First the good: this is a small venue, not a bad seat in the place, & who doesn't enjoy listening to great music while laying in grass outside under the stars when it's 75 degrees in AZ? Chris Stapleton was amazing & from the center of the stage the sound was great. Off to the sides, not so great but still good. So the not so good: Really long lines for everything!! Waited 15 minutes for a VERY thorough pat down & purse raid, then another line to scan your tickets. Ticket gal tells me "you'll have to wander around to find someone in a red shirt to get wristbands to buy a drink if you're over 21." Huh - ok....well everyone working there has on a red shirt! But apparently there's only five red shirts in the whole place with wristbands. Why wouldn't you just put the wristbands right next to security, or have them stand next to the end of the concession line? It's just seems logical, but no - we wander... So after wandering for about 10 minutes, we track down Wristband Waldo only to then spend 45 minutes in the beer line. Thankfully we were in between acts but it was still ridiculous. And I'm not exaggerating, it was truly 45 long minutes. We finally make it the front of the line - woohoo! - and the beer selection was down to draft Bud Light only (ugh). But after waiting 45 minutes I'm thirsty so I pay the $7 for it, only to realize it wasn't even cold! Huge disappointment. There was plenty of space available to add a few more concession stands to accommodate everyone. FYI also, concessions end 1 hour before closing, which is 10pm on the dot. And ladies, should you actually get a cold beer and then need to use the restroom expect a 20 minute line for that. Again, just poor planning imo. Perhaps if they ever redo the bathrooms (since they really should fix the ceiling that looks like it's going to fall down in there) maybe they'll add a few more stalls and hire someone to clean them periodically through out the event. I think I've actually used cleaner port-a-potties. All in all we had a good time, just wish Mesa Amp would fix some things so it could've been a great time. read more

Worst venue I have ever been to in my life. They blew the speakers TWICE and cancelled the event after having sound problems all night. They have hung up on every phone call and I am honestly disgusted. Fuck you. read more

I absolutely LOVE this venue! It's truly a hidden gem in Mesa, AZ and gives the live music goer an amazing concert experience. Everyone from the box office staff, to the Security team, to the Concession crews are so friendly, helpful and professional. There is NOT a bad seat in the house and the sound is amazing. Mesa Amphitheatre is a MUST for all live music enthusiasts! read more

Gary Allan! What a show at the Mesa Amphitheater last night! Saw him last year at the Fair but last night was so much better. The sound was unbelievable & he put on a wonderful concert! Our 1st time at the Amphithearter & we enjoyed it. Parking was fine. Had to walk a little bit but it was a beautiful evening weather wise. The attendants seemed to be courteous & attentive. I just wish the popcorn/lemonade guy didn't shout so much before the show. It was annoying. Everyone could see he was selling food/beverage, he didn't need to shout so much. The only thing I would recommend is bug lotion of some sort. The bugs were out & kinda pesty. Other than that it was a WONDERFUL show! read more

I just caught the Pixies here on Friday night and forgot how much I loved the Mesa Amphitheater! Its been a few years since i've been there, in fact I think the last time I was there was the last time the Pixies were here. One big down fall is the parking situation. Although by some sort of weasel like Magic my sister and I were able to get in the line for the parking lot and got the last spot for only $5! Score. The line to get in was a bit of a cluster f*ck, but I ran into Dallas G. and chatted him up a bit, so that was cool. Once in my sister and I got some pretty prime seats. We each brought in a 20 oz. bottle of water so we didn't have to pay some crazy price to keep hydrated, more venues should do this. The sound was AMAZING! My only other compliant is all the smoke. I get that its outside, but damn.... I felt sick to my stomach when we left. Maybe if they made a designated smoking area to keep it all in one place would be cool....but there I go showing my old again. read more

One of the best medium sized outdoor venues in Arizona. I was just there last weekend for the Mesa Blues Blast, which happened despite the cold and rain. There were a small fraction of blues fans that stuck through the weather, and we enjoyed a great show. Usually, when the weather is nice, this is the perfect place to bring a lawn chair, and enjoy a daytime show. Or, I imagine it being a wild place to see a rock band (I think I saw Green Day here a decade ago, but it could have been somewhere else). There is no smoking even though it is an outdoor venue, which is a good thing. Have you ever been in a crowd so thick it is already hard to breathe, not to mention the smoke? Beers were pricey, but expected. If one of your favorite bands plays here, this would be a great place to see them (i.e. the upcoming Black Keys show). read more

We have been to this venue, just a few times. Not exactly close, we live in north phoenix. The Security was insane and the strictness for the cameras caused some problems with our camera. Outdoors amphitheater style seating. makes for great sound and the lush grassy area looks nice. I would not go to a show here in the summer. Minus a star for cost, water alone is almost $4. Minus a star for the insane security. This venue is not on the top of my list. read more

I have LOVED this venue for years! In fact up until last night, labeled it "my favorite"! Last night Chris Stapleton ROCKED that place to a SOLD OUT show! However the venue did his show NO JUSTICE! Ran out of bottled (can) beer WELL BEFORE the opening act was over THEN had ridiculous lines at the multiple locations to purchase ANY beverage! I had a friend wait in line for an HOUR to get a drink while missing the concert. Then when I finally decided I couldn't hold out out any longer(feeling parched) I finally decided to head for the line for a drink only to find out they were all tapped out!! Well before the concert was even over!! EPIC FAIL MESA AMP! GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER AND MAN UP FOR SOLD OUT SHOWS OR DON'T HAVE'EM!! read more

Mesa Amphitheatre is a nice place to enjoy an outside concert. You can pay extra for reserved seating or spread out a blanket on the lawn. There are plenty of concession stands and bathrooms. I also liked that they gave out free earplugs for the concert that I attended. read more

Venue is great! Went there for Rebelution/Common Kings/Stephen Marley/Zion 1...what a fun night! Was hot as expected for weather in Phoenix as I am from northern Arizona. The only complaint I have is the beverage lines....they are sooooooo slowwwwwww....can you hire younger staff? Maybe have someone pouring beer while the cashier takes the money? We stood in line for the "Cocktails" tent, only 4 staff and while we stood in line we missed Stephen Marley's entire set! Hire more workers for a sold out show!!! Thanks! read more

Great venue. The sightlines are very good from pretty much everywhere. Easy access and egress. Very good sound. Great for a Zeppelin symphony. Looking forward to our next reason to return. read more

Went tonight for the Rex Orange County show. Over an hour before doors opened, everyone gathered into a huge mob and security did absolutely nothing to help control the mass. They did make sure to rush everyone to clean up belongings and this caused everyone to run into a mob in the first place. With no way of telling who had been in line first.. I.e. wristbands or numbering system. They showed no regard for concert goers (many of them teenagers) and we're yelling, demanding for people to "push back" when there was no room and the back of the crowd wasn't moving. All of us who were at the front were being compressed against the back wall of people. There were several times, where myself and people around me almost fell over and had no space to stand. The venue sound and space is great but the security really needs a retraining on crowd handling. Especially in this heat and after recent tragic events!! Note to concert goers: in times like this, we should do better, and take into consideration each other's lives, over being first place. We all want to make it home after the show. read more

Mesa Amphitheatre is easily my favorite concert venue in the Phoenix area. You can see and hear from anywhere in the place, and the grassy risers were such a good idea. The sound was excellent for the two shows I've been to there. Really just an overall nice, peaceful place to see a show and enjoy the Arizona weather. Parking isn't too bad and neither are the lines to get in where they check your bags. To top it all of, getting out of there was a breeze both times I was there. read more

I have always had a great experience every time I have seen a show. Amphitheaters are not normally my thing but this place does its job. I always prefer indoor concerts 9 time out of 10 but sometimes I can't help it if a band is coming that I want to see. This place has always been clean and spacious. I like the convenient location and parking. I have seen 311, Something Corporate, Death Cab for Cutie and Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins here and have all been great experiences. read more

My Mom, Sister, and I all went to the Mesa Amphitheater last night to see "The Piano Guys". The facility was very nice and was able to accommodate the large crowd. All of the concert staff were very nice and helpful. Our concert was amazing and I could not believe the level of talent on stage. We sat in the reserved seat section on the left side (stage right). It was a great view! The concert started at 7:30pm- so the amphitheater was a great venue to have it since the weather cooled down. read more

Seriously!!!!! You guys suck moving the Dirty Heads Venue for NO Reason!! We drove from Tucson to see RDGLDGRN. Waited an hour and a half in line getting there at 6. We missed RDGLDGRN because of your f up. Are you kidding me? Tom you should have let the Mesa Amphitheater ticket holders whom bought tickets moths ago when they fist went on Sale first, to the front of the line. Instead you insisted on the "people" whom bought your tickets wait in line with will call, Marquee ticket holders (who just bought there tickets last week when you changed the venue). We drove 2 hours to see the band RDGLDGRN and because you f'd up we did not get to see them! I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!! Jerk! read more

Went here about 5 years ago for a Rancid/Rise Against double header. Was sorely disappointed when Rancid bailed after 45 minutes because it was like 105 degrees at 6pm. If the Mesa Amp didn't close down at 10pm (on the dot) they could have come out at sundown and not sweated off the stage half way into a set. Now I go online to pick up Stephen Marley tickets for $32 and the service fee is $12 a ticket. $12???? I'm sorry but with the other reviews I've read on here and my last experience with you guys, it's just not going to happen. Swing and a miss. read more

Best concert venue in AZ! :) This place has an amazing grass area with good views of the stage no matter where you sit. We always love when good artists play here and wish we had more opportunities to go. We've also been to a few small music festivals here and it's always a good time! read more

Saw Cage the Elephant and Young the Giant. Great time. First time to this venue. Beer was expensive, but the bathroom lines were short. It was a younger crowd, but plenty of space near the stage or sit. Look forward to my next show here. read more

Second time I've ventured up to a show at this place was for the Pixies. There's definitely 4-star potential. But alas, there's some significant problems as well. Interestingly, I didn't think parking was so bad. We basically followed the line of cars in a little late and parked in a lot, FOR FREE, which was roughly 5 or 6 minutes walking away from the entrance. Then began the problems. The entry line was disorganized at best. There were two lines, one for men, and one for women, so they could be patted down (security states are always fun). OK, fine... but the men had more checkers than the women. So immediately, the wife and I are separated from each other. And by separated, I mean that I got in in a reasonable manner, then had to wait near the entrance for over 35 minutes for my wife to "clear security". Many, many other people were clearly in the same scenario as I waited there. Well, certainly a beer would wash away that frustration. OK, they want you to get a bracelet first? Fine, seen this before. But where is the guy with the bracelets? Ahh... there's a crowd of people surrounding a guy in an official-looking red shirt. No line, just join the nebulous blob of people. Get close enough to get a bracelet, and we find out that we need to show our ID to the guy next to him so he can scan them (again with the security state?) and ensure we aren't being shady about our age. Then THAT guy will tell the first guy whether or not we are cleared to move on to the next line--beer. Fortunately, from there on, it was smooth sailing to our $7.50 "premium" Michelob Amber Bock. Yep, that's as good as it gets here. Whatever... I wouldn't have been able to afford anything better likely anyways! As for the venue itself, like I said, there is certainly 4-star potential. General admission, turfed open areas with terraced layers rising up as you move progressively away from the stage. I live for shows at venues with setups like this. As stated by some others, the air quality did seem a little off, but I wasn't sure if that was due to the smoke machines of the bands, or the smoke machines that are many of those in the crowds. But hey, I don't really blame them. Outdoor venues like this are really the last place you can light up while watching the band play to you. Get the entry and service issues taken care of and this place will get another star. I'm sure some day, when there's another of those "epic" shows coming here, I'll be back to test the place out again. read more

First of all, my bad for assuming no one in their right mind would host an acoustic show, with a piano and a cello, in 108 degree heat - despite the lack of sunshine. They DID think to have huge generators running giant misting machines - but they didn't think about how that might affect the sound quality for the audience. The grass was well maintained, and the staff was nice enough, but in 2013 I just expect every single venue to accept debit / credit cards. I don't care that you have an ATM, it's insulting. Also, your parking is a nightmare. That is all. read more

This place wasn't awful but it wasn't great either. We came for the Summer Nationals Tour and hit a few bumps before actually making to the point of being able to find a spot to sit and enjoy the show. First, parking is a little bit of a nuisance but we didn't mind having to walk a couple blocks to get to the theater. My biggest issues are with their processes for actually getting in the door. My boyfriend and I did get split up because the male pat-down line has two lines as opposed to the women's one. This was also frustrating because after we were split up, security came back around and provided the option for boyfriends to stick with their girlfriends in the women's line until they got towards the front. I do think it's nice that they have igloo coolers with water so you can hydrate a little while waiting, especially since it can get so hot in the late summer. Points for that. Next, when I finally got to the front of the line the security personnel yelled at me that my bag was too big and I would have to take it back to my car. She snapped that "Didn't you see the sign?!" I told her no, I didn't see the sign but that it wasn't a problem and that I would take care of my bag and come back. There was a sign out front by the lines that I saw when walking out but you couldn't see what it said because of the crowd of people around it. Maybe putting it in a more open area would be more helpful so people can catch it before getting in line? Either way, I didn't see the need for her to be so rude over something that is easily fixable and was an honest mistake. I also checked online and the rule about "large" bags is there in the FAQs, so my bad for not checking beforehand, but I think it would be more helpful if these rules were printed directly on the tickets similar to other venues so they are a little more in your face and you don't have to go digging for them. Just a suggestion! After the trip to my car and back, I made it through the security line again, after which you are pooled into another area to wait in line to have your ticket scanned in. Once I got in and tracked down my boyfriend, we tried to get a beer but were told we had to wait in yet another line to get over 21 wristbands to drink. This is fine, but I think this whole process would be a lot smoother and less aggravating if we got everything done in one shot at the front gates. Booze prices were steep but expected. Overall we had a good time sans the rough time actually getting in, and actually enjoyed being able to get out at a decent time due to Mesa's noise ordinance that is in effect after 10pm. On a side note, buying tickets online has a steep "convenience fee" which makes you second guess buying tickets. The fee for each ticket is like a third of the total cost of the ticket itself which is a little outrageous. I wouldn't have a problem buying tickets at the venue; however, the box office is only open for select hours in the middle of the work day during the week, so it's difficult to try and make my way over there to make a purchase. Maybe this is just me! read more

Caught the Rebelution show here. Price is perfect right on the money. Parking was insufficient but there is extra parking in structure and hotel. A quick stroll and your there. Security is as usual guys and girls have their own line. They just ask you to remove hats and empty pockets. It's not all TSA'ed out. lol Smoker friendly venue. Don't bring blankets or backpacks. Bring in a couple sealed water bottles for summer shows. They have a cool zone for relief. Food ,water and beer is always expensive at any show and lines take a while. I don't go to eat I go to rock out. They have cops, security and medics on hand throughout. Great acoustics. Love the old school feel. Overall two enthusiastic thumbs up. You get a star and you get a star everybody gets a star. read more

Went to the A Day to Remember Tour with Bring Me the Horizon, Chiodos, and Motionless in White, and it was AWESOME! Had so much fun, the crowd is super friendly. The atmosphere was amazing even down in the pit. Upon arrival you are separated into Male and Femle lines for security search. Bags however, are not allowed, so don't plan on bringing anything with you inlcuding bottles of water. Water and beer served inside but it is pricey. ATMs are also available inside. But overall, great place and enjoyed the show! read more

Nice venue; however, they claim free parking which is nearly non-existent! The parking lot is not big enough for the size of the events it holds. So the neighboring Arts Center takes full advantage at $10/car Lemonade -- more like water with a hint of lemon for $6. That's just ridiculous. Almost forgot, you're allowed a 20 ounce sealed bottle water that you must pour into a cup at the entrance -- REALLY! read more

We visited Mesa Amphitheatre for the Tedeschi Trucks Band concert on May 18. Neither of us had been to this venue in close to 20 years! We arrived about 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and found free parking close by and quick, efficient security lines. We had REALLY great seats for this show which added so much to the entire experience. Actual chairs were set up in majority of sections and security was very helpful as we found our seats. We each brought in a sealed bottle of water but security made us remove the caps upon entry which was frustrating even though this is becoming more common in many venues. Acoustics were outstanding for the show and even though we were seated very close to a speaker it was not excessively loud. Post concert traffic was very tolerable and we were easily on our way within minutes after returning to the car. I highly recommend checking out a performance at this venue if you want more of an intimate concert experience in a lovely outdoor setting, especially during beautiful AZ weather months. read more

the hubs and i drove up to mesa amphitheatre this past thursday to see the good vibes summer tour 2013: featuring rebelution, matisyahu and collie buddz. doors were at 330PM and we got there around 5PM. *tip: if you'd like to bring in bottled water, make sure it's factory sealed. we brought a nalgene and had to take it back to the car. would have been nice to know because i paid for a bottle of dasani water at $3.50/ea. they had a beer garden with lots of attendants and no lines. it was great! the prices at their venue are pretty steep, though. the really cool thing about this amphitheatre is the terraced seating they have. i wish i had taken a photo to share! the terracing provided comfortable seating for many, many people. the area in front of the stage was left open so a large amount of people could stand and dance. the sound people are right in the middle of the terracing and they had pop up tents, but as soon as the sun went down/shade covered them enough they took their tents down which was really considerate of them! i thought they'd be up the entire night. the crew did a great job with the sounds/lighting effects during the show. there were lots of security and personnel around which was good because it made you feel safe, especially with such a large amount of people. they even had EMS on scene near the beer garden area just in case! i would love if tucson could have an amphitheatre just as nice as this one! can't wait to check out more shows here. read more

This is one of my favorite music venues in the Valley. It's an outdoor grass venue that is big enough to get good bands but small enough to feel intimate. It's all open so you can get right up there next to the stage. I saw Modest Mouse here last year and am looking forward to seeing Death Cab for Cutie this December. Keep your eye on the concert schedule. read more

This is my favorite place to catch a show hands down. The outdoor venue is the pinnacle of why I moved to Arizona. The soft grass, great sound, and excellent bands mesh together like a mini Edge Fest. The only thing I could do without would be the Festival Prices of the drinks. Mesa Amp gets great bands, and I can't wait to see another show there soon. read more

Went to see the Avett Brothers here recently. As a first time visitor I liked it. There seems to be quite a good amount of parking and the line to get in went very quickly for our sold out show. After the concert was over we did wait around for awhile on the lawn so I can't comment on how hard it is to get out if you rush out with everyone else. If you decide to hang on the lawn for a bit it's really easy to get back to where you want to go :). The was good for an outdoor venue with more than enough room for people to get around and get beer or head to the bathroom. Overall a very pleasant experience and I will be happy to come back. I'm not sure if I would want to come here in the heat of the summer, but for a fall concert it's a fantastic place. read more

I am very fond of the Mesa Ampitheater on a perfect Phoenix night. It's got tiered grass, and you just pick a place and park. I like the idea of being able get as close or chill as far back as you like. There is just something about rocking out under the stars and not being all sticky with other people's sweat that I dig about it. Parking can be a little inconvenient if you show up later, having to use street parking and walk, but haven't had to walk more than a few blocks. read more