Really love the general admission space here--strikes a great balance of optimizing the outdoor air not afforded by indoor clubs, but not at the sacrifice of the intimacy found at those places. The high-quality of sound is notable--crisp, clear, and not interrupted by the buzz of the city surrounding the space. This venue is also set apart from similar locations not just because of its outstanding location in the city but the way that it has been situated in a downward direction so that the skyline and nearby moving mural hugs the performers and attendees during the show. Its placement also makes for substantial air movement once inside the grounds--there always seems to be a nice breeze, which helps in the hotter temperatures. Showgoers can easily dine in the nearby Warehouse District and then walk to the show. Or, dinner options are also available within the amphitheater. It's an awesome experience! read more

Certainly conveniently located, this place is fine for concerts but not amazing or anything. On the positive side, the sound system is decent and the downtown location is handy and feels nicely urban. On the downside, the seating configuration is just OK (not a lot of rake to the seating area, so the sightlines aren't amazing) and, as the sun is going down, it's right in your face if you're looking at the stage. Also, the crowd noise tends to get lost and it's not easy to build any energy. Randomly, trains or sirens will go by and interrupt the performers. Also, beer is $11--I guess you expect to be gouged a bit at venues like this, but that's pretty stiff. The shimmer wall is nice though. In terms of seating, the seats in sections 5, 6, and 7 are fixed to the ground and I find them more comfortable than the closer ones in sections 1-3, which aren't fixed. Section 6 is central and has fixed seats, so that's my choice. Parking note: Most of the garages in downtown Raleigh are free after 7pm; meters aren't monitored after 5pm, so you can park for free if you luck into an open spot. read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Luck and a Sense of Humor...two essentials for seeing a show here! Luck because shows are rain or shine and no umbrellas are allowed. Sense of Humor because a performer can be right at a poignant spot, or just hitting that last incredible note and Amtrak rolls in with a horn in a different key. (same key if luck holds up). Plus maybe a siren or two or three. Fortunately for me (and tons of other people), the weather held up nicely for Idina Menzel, and she did have a great sense of humor about the city noises. Seating-wise, I was happy to discover that there is a lot of room between rows, which made for leg-comfort and ease of getting in and out. I will be less concerned about getting an aisle seat in the future. It also means that if you're in one of the back sections (we were in section 6), it is FAR to the stage, and I don't know if it was the performer's decision, or the venue's but there were no screens or video cameras to show her close up. That would have helped a lot. Refreshment-wise, there were booths with a small variety. I'm a wine girl and the only wine option was Fetzer red or Fetzer white in a plastic glass with a plastic lid for TEN bucks. Smart way to serve it. Crappy wine. But at least where I bought it from, it was a benefit for a school. I did it for the children. :) Otherwise, there were beer and cocktails. Beer was of the wimpy type, imho (I like the dark stuff, didn't see any). There were some food options which I didn't pay much attention to, but Sis had a decent soft pretzel with mustard. Bathrooms were air conditioned and clean. Most importantly, sound quality was very good! Getting in and out of the show was a breeze, even though they were having problems with the ticket scanners. Security was checking bags. The BEST thing about his venue is that it is in downtown Raleigh, with plenty of parking nearby. The city noises that might interrupt a show are part of its charm. Not sure how charming it would all be during a thunderstorm though. Sure glad we got lucky! read more

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So finally after 3 years, I make it to the Red Hat Amphitheatre! I remember when this vacant lot was just a big pile of dirt so it's great to see this venue picking up a stronger music schedule and cleaning up its services after a rocky start! I had heard horror stories when it first opened up ranging from ticket lines to concessions and of course, mother nature. But I guess good things come to those who wait because I had a great first experience here! Lines out front for the John Legend concert were manageable and security was pretty quick with a peek inside bags. The seating area takes up the majority of the venue here with limited GA/lawn space. Concessions on both sides offered a nice assortment of beers along with limited wines (which they did run out of) but prices weren't out of control at $7/wine and $11/beer. Might actually be a bit less than TWC Amphitheatre. And the acoustics were solid for an outdoors venue, no choo-choo going by during the concert, thankfully! What really makes Red Hat Amphitheatre is its downtown location. A great view of our growing skyline, the shimmer wall and the sun setting behind the stage makes for a great backdrop. If the weather is good (which we got lucky with), it's a fantastic evening with great music and scenery. If and when it rains it's gotta suck but you roll the dice my friend! Sorta unavoidable with any outdoor venue with no covered seating. So thanks for a great first visit, Red Hat Amphitheatre. Yeah, the stage could probably use an upgrade but it's held up decently over the years. Already have tickets for my second event here and I've got my fingers crossed on the weather! read more

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Waste of money and time ... got a babysitter so we can enjoy the day with my other child .. wasted day long line not organized at all ... waited 1 hour for skates wen we got to the front the told us there might not be enough skates and to sit and wait or get something to drink from the one concession that was also about 20 people in line and not moving.. also the ring is as big as the stage for more than 200 people trying to get in ... it was just a hot mess ... $90+ also made me get insurance for the invent ... such a waste of money read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I will happily drive the nearly 3 hours to see live music here again. Brought two teenagers for Twenty One Pilots tour, and we had a great experience. Staff was courteous and the vibe was very positive over all. There was a severe weather delay, which was handled in the best way I have ever witnessed. We were evacuated across the street to the convention center, and police, security and even convention center staff were very helpful. When we were allowed to return, things were handled efficiently and I witnessed no problems. I was in the pit, but I imagine there is not a bad seat in the house. Very intimate venue, right in the middle of the city, and the sound was very good. I can't address parking, we took uber from a nearby hotel. I'm looking forward to finding another show I want to experience up close and personal, Red Hat is the perfect place for that! read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Twenty one pilots, Tyler on top of a building - magic! - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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First time here was a HUGE hit. Made the trek from Richmond to see a favorite, and managed to park right across the street. I'm used to paying lot fees or parking deck fees in Richmond - I paid .50$ because we got there a little before 5 on a Friday, and we got out SO easily. Awesome. Now for the venue itself - there was almost no line to get in. Security and ticketing kept things moving so fast, but they did a pretty thorough search which made me feel like they kept the arena good and safe. The bathroom trailers were clean, air conditioned, and cut down on lines because there were so many available. There were tons of beer options, and wine and liquor. They had food but we did not partake so I can't speak to that. Every employee we encountered was super nice and helpful, and they did a good job of keeping the aisles clear from people standing around. The seats were not cramped and I never felt like anyone was on top of me. We were in section 2, row V, and I still could clearly see the band and everything sounded great. This was a great experience and one that I'd drive back to Raleigh for to see another band. read more

If you're a concert fan and I'm a big fan of Maxwell the performance and show was outstanding! The venue was almost perfect. Bathrooms were clean, lots of space and sight lines were good. Concession we're a little high but I expected that. The only problem I had with Maxwell which again I'm a big fan is that when it ended we wanted more but the Amphitheater is in downtown Raleigh and I'm not for certain but I assume that they're time restrictions. Great venue for a show! read more

Red Hat is one of my favorite venues for concerts. They're very organized, the staff is great, and the concessions are great. The location is perfect if you're looking to have dinner and drinks before or after a show. Parking decks and lots are nearby but I suggest getting to the area a little early to avoid being late to the show in the event of traffic and full parking decks. read more

Wasn't all that great. There is a train RIGHT next to the venue. And the trains come by often and are loud. At one point as another train started coming by they said "do we wait for it to go by"? Also the seating. It's a concrete pad and the front 3/4 of the seating was just cafeteria style chairs. Not bolted down or anything. The back 1/4 was stadium style seats and actually good legroom. Not sure if they are between remodeling or what. But it seemed very ghetto. Oh and there is NO roof. I drove 3 hours to see the band (seen them before). They were great but this venue not so much. I've been to concerts at other locations and this was by far my least favorite. Not horrible but not great. I think next time I'll catch them at a different city. Sorry Raleigh. read more

So Lindsey Stirling was and is amazing. However the concert was totally ruined by the venue. The Red Hat Amphitheater was the worst venue I have ever experienced. Lots of people walking and standing in front of the show but 80% of them were the event staff. No care or respect for those of us that paid to watch the show. read more

Traveled four hours to see The Offspring. Great venue. Perfect size. Clean. Not a bad seat in the place. Hope to go again and see other bands. read more

I LOVE live music. L-O-V-E! So when my man says put in for a vacation day on 7/29 because we're going to see Maxwell and Fantasia, you can only imagine my excitement. We traveled to NC from DC/Richmond for this outdoor Friday night show and met his longtime friends in Raleigh. After dinner, we parked at our hotel which was within walking distance to the venue. And it was pretty obvious, all we had to do was follow the crowds of people to get there. Admittedly, we were a bit late and missed Ro James (no biggie) and we could hear Fantasia singing. We approached the entrance and saw a line. The line was so long that we couldn't see the end of it and we were standing at the top of the hill looking down. As we walked down, we cringed because the line was wrapped around the venue. I immediately began to speak in tongues. I don't do lines. It was absolutely ridiculous! Since Jesus was not on the stage, I thought I was just going to have to skip this concert. There is NO ONE I want to see that bad. It was 90 degrees, humidity on hell percentage, and there was no way we were getting into this concert on time to see Maxwell hit the stage. I turned to my man and gave him "the look." I was trying to be nice since this was the first time I had met his dearest friends but my pissisivity level was on 100. Did they have enough people at the door to take tickets? Didn't they know this venue holds 5000 people and the concert was sold out? Do they know a sista bought a new outfit, had on heels, did her hair and had enough anti-humidity hair spray in it to ignite a nuclear bomb to see the man that takes her from 40 to 14 years old in less than 3 seconds all to stand in line and sweat to death before she even enters the gates? Oh hell no. I wasn't going down like that. So I did what I only knew how to do in moments like that...I prayed. Ha! I prayed hard! And within a couple of minutes, the line that wasn't moving causing everyone around us to become increasingly frustrated was now moving rapidly. We couldn't believe our eyes. When we got to the front, I noticed that the ticket ladies were no longer scanning tickets but simply checking the date and passing folks through after the security check. Once we got through the gates, we had no idea where we were going and the attendants were no where to be found. The line for drinks was ridiculous. We kept asking folks what section they were in until we ultimately found ours. Thankfully, the stadium seats were marked. We couldn't wait to sit down. Everyone was jamming to Fantasia and when I looked up, all I could see was my neighbors sweaty backsides. There was a Jumbotron but it was directly behind the stage so if you sat down, you still couldn't see it. There were no other screens in the outdoor amphitheater. They need to put some up high to the right and left of the stage so everyone can see the performers, sitting or standing. I continued to sit and conserved my energy for Maxwell. Maxwell's performance was average. He mentioned several times how hot he was in his suit. He eventually took off his suit jacket and his button down was completely soaked. Poor thing. I'm sure that had something to do with his performance. Could they have provided the brotha with one of those massive cooling fans? It is summertime in the south - geez. Overall the venue was easy to get in and out of but customer service was severely lacking. As hot as it was, they could of made a killing selling cold water aisle to aisle. The music/acoustics sounded good with a few blips that were fixed quickly. Each act did start and end on time. In fact, they cut Maxwell's mic off at 11pm on the dot, I'm assuming due to the sound ordinance. He was in the middle of introducing his band. I think the venue needs to upgrade its facilities with better customer care and viewing capabilities. When you pay that kind of money for a concert ticket, I expect everything to be worth it. read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Maxwell was very hot in his suit in 90 degrees outdoor amphitheater! - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Keisza has not appeared for the warmup to Lindsey Stirling. Scheduled for 7 pm in 90+ heat, audience has waited with no performance, no explanation from the benue, and mow at 8 pm, no concert in sight. Will not recommend this venue ever. read more

My wife and I came to see the reggae band Rebolutiion. What a great band. Come back for sure. Great culture and music. read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This was our first time at this venue and we had a great time. This outdoor amphitheater is located right downtown across from their convention center which makes it ideal to walk to after dinner or to somewhere open later after the show. They do have some concessions available inside as well. I love outdoor concerts, and this place has a good list of pros. A few of my favorite things were the ease of entrance, air conditioned restrooms and the fact that even though this is a smaller venue, they had multiple restrooms on either side of the stage so there was never a line. And they were clean. I've spent many concerts missing my favorite songs because I was waiting in line at the ladies room. I'm sure you can feel me on that one. Also, the city serves as a beautiful backdrop to the evening. Surprisingly you don't hear any outside noises being right in the heart of the hustle and bustle either. The sun can be a bit harsh until it gets behind the stage so probably bring some shades. The only things I would change is that even though we were only 4 rows deep in the center section, we were still a good ways from the stage. There is a decent size pit area before the seated section starts. So if it is someone you really want to get up close and personal with, I would just pay for GA pit. And lawn seats would be a big no unless you are have no interest in seeing anything. It is very far back with no elevation as well as a sound booth obstructing the few. Also, you have to show your ticket to get back to your seat anytime you leave the section which is a bit of a hassle and ended up ruining my ticket. I think color coded wrist bands would suffice here. Overall.. the tickets were priced right, the sound quality was good and we had no issues with staff. I would attend another show here. read more

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I love Red Hat. Excellent place to see a show. The atmosphere is pretty unbeatable being downtown with a great view of the shimmering wall and downtown Raleigh! They always have great acts coming through. Different genres as well.. I've seen everyone from Darius Rucker, Kendrick Lamar, Sublime (with Rome), and many more. I usually go all out and get tix for the pit. Usually they aren't much more expensive, if at all... definitely worth it. Either that or we'll just sit lawn. I'd say we have probably been here more often than any other music venue in the past 5 years or so. Can't tell you the last time I went to Walnut Creek (or whatever it's called these days.. it'll always be Walnut Creek to me). The beers are a bit expensive, but what mid to large size venue isn't like that? Sports venues too. Food seems limited, but it's got everything you could want, I feel.. Might need to check the calendar. I want to go back asap! Maybe to see Nas/Lauren Hill/Chronixx in a few weeks.. we'll see. read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Run the Jewels at Hopscotch! - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This outdoor venue gets a strong 4 stars. A few things keep me from giving it 5. I've been here for quite a few concerts. If you're in the area and there is a show rolling through here, definitely check it out. For me, I think I'm going to start fitting it in as a destination paired with backpacking/hiking for a week in North Carolina/Virginia. The Red Hat is smaller than other outdoor venues I've been to. It's also a flat space so unless you get there early or you're tall, you might be disappointed. The thing I love about this venue is the front space. They have a larger than expected front area for standing directly in front of the stage. Seats are behind that area followed by a normal lawn area in the back. You might want to eat before you go to a show. The food and drink options are limited once you're inside. For me, that's not a huge deal because I normally eat and drink elsewhere before every show. If you're the type that gets to a show early to enjoy the pit or a space directly in front of the stage(This is me!) then I think you'll love this place. If you like to take your time, you're short, show up right before the headliner, and buy overpriced beer then you might have a bad time. Speaking of overpriced beer, the problem that I encountered with Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville applies here.. TOO EXPENSIVE! Why do people buy awful beer at such a premium price? What's wrong with you! While the sound is surprisingly good here(you never know what to expect with an outside venue), there is a train close by that might roll by during your show. I've been to shows where the train honks! Small distraction but not too bad. If you're in Raleigh and your favorite band plays here then definitely check it out! read more

So, I've been to RHA a few times over the years, most recently Led Zeppelin 2 and Australian Pink Floyd (tribute bands, not the real thing just in case you were confused). I think the sound is good from my experiences, the stage isn't huge but seems ok for the types of acts they get here. It's cool to look at the downtown buildings and shimmer wall during the concert. As others mentioned the lawn area is pitifully small and this isn't really an amphitheater as they need a covered part and sloped seating similar to Walnut Creek. Prices for alcohol and food are ridiculous. I hope they can take some of the money they rake in from $11 beers and make improvements to the place in the future. read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Led Zeppelin 2 - August 2015 - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Awesome outdoor venue right smack in downtown raleigh. You'd think parking/traffic would be a nightmare but it was quite effortless. There are plenty of lots nearby and everything is in walking distance. I love that the amphitheater itself isn't super large, so getting in/out is relatively quick, and watching the performers even from the lawn in the back still makes for an enjoyable experience where you don't have to squint to see. There are restrooms on both sides of the stage to the right and left in these trailer looking structures and the waits weren't too long. Food and drink stalls line the outer edges and are easy to access as well. My one gripe would be that the merchandise booth line snaked around the back and was poorly managed..Maybe they need to open a second merchandise booth on the opposite side..or have corrals that controlled the line better.. Other than that, I look forward to the next time an artist I like plays at red hat! read more

I'd heard about the new amphitheater, but didn't know too much about it until a friend invited me to join her for Maroon 5 on August 17th. She'd gotten a great price on tickets off of Live Nation. I walked up to the venue and had no problem walking right in for the 2nd opening act: Kris Allen and then we heard all but the last song of Maroon 5. The sound system is amazing. We had seats in the back, but almost anywhere you are gives you a great view because we even got up and walked around to see how it would be. I've heard of friends who got rained out so it's not good that it doesn't have covered seating -- anywhere -- but if the weather's good it's perfect. We could see the stars and take in the surrounding skylines of Raleigh. It's just astounding and quite neat if you look at the building across the street and it has the pixel art all over it. I'm not sure what it's actually called, but it's amazing it is. It was such an amazing experience. I also appreciate that even though it's all outside, there is a specific smoking section. For a totally natural amphitheater in downtown Raleigh I don't think it could get too much better. Rock on for an astounding amphitheater experience in the heart of downtown Raleigh friends! :) read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Maroon 5 on 8/17/10 @ the Raleigh Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Worst venue in town hands down. I have been going to many shows in and around the triangle for about 16 years now so that's saying a lot. The over all layout is poorly designed. The lawn section is all but non existent. The sound boards are smack in the middle of the seats and have been tented in plastic. Which creates an obstruction of the view for the section behind it. Think going through TSA is bad, redhat gives them a run for their money. Oh and don't think you can stand still anywhere other than the sliver of lawn or the smoking section for a fraction of a second. Security will be quick to make you keep it moving. I'm pretty sure the security and staff out number the concert goers about 10 to 1. Hope you like to call it an early night as well, concerts stop abruptly at 11, take that encore. I wish they would shut down like Kmart, so good bands would play the far superior venues that exist in the area. read more

Terrible management and communication. Waiting nearly 3 hours for a concert then was told it was canceled. Red Hat never communicated with ticket holders until the last minute. I do not recommend coming to this venue. read more

It's weird how this venue has made itself successful in the heart of downtown Raleigh, though not as weird as the minor league baseball stadium in the middle of Charlotte. The lawn seating is slim, but the grass is still nice and cozy. The venue has plenty of food and beer options (expensive, but not unexpectedly so), and it is always clean. I've found the staff to be friendly and helpful. It's great for an outdoor show when the weather is nice--you can make it an evening downtown, with dinner beforehand and a drink after the show's over. The venue has attracted killer acts. I've seen several shows here--the quality was different for each, but that's not unusual. If you don't mind an occasional passing train interrupting the show with a loud CHOO CHOOOOOO, then it's worth seeing a band you like at this venue. read more

This is a great place to catch a concert and even better when the concerts are part of a downtown festival like Wide Open Bluegrass. Stop by the ATM before you go as the beer prices are very high inside. But come and enjoy the music with a backdrop of downtown Raleigh and the Cree shimmer wall. Restrooms are convenient and clean. Decent but average snack options. Good lighting. Good seating--not a bad seat in the place. read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This is not a well run venue! We attend shows all over the country in all size venues! Last night we had fast lane tickets and were 3rd in line. We had been there for about 2 hours when the storm came up and they had to delay gates opening. We were highly encouraged to seek shelter and they assured us there would be lots of communication about when to line up again. They said we would still get in first and no one would be let in until the lines were orderly etc. Most of us put on rain ponchos and stood in the rain to make sure we kept our spots etc. The communication was very poor. They kept updating the same post so there was no new time stamp so we had no idea when the last update was and if you didn't scroll down you never saw it. Then 1 minute after they told everyone to make their way back to the venue, they opened the gates for everyone. So the Fast Lane we paid extra money for had no benefit! We will be contacting the venue for a refund for the fast lane fee and encourage others to do the same. Once we got in, the usher monitoring the pit was extremely rude and petty. We didn't have beers but she made us wait while people were pouring their beers in cups because they had walked up first. She was waiting to check anyone's ticket they were done. Also, the bathroom lines are ridiculous so if you have to go you will miss some of the show. read more

We drove 3 hours to go to a concert here. It started to storm so the concert got delayed. Then they sent a message out saying the gates were opening, come back to the gates. We all rushed back up there and then waited in line for 2.5 more hours before they had the police tell us it was cancelled. No communication, no apologies, no offering us refunds. They handled this incredibly poorly and I will never be returning to this venue. read more

Go somewhere else! We purchased chairs specifically to adhere to Red Hat Amphitheater's lawn seat requirements that are available on their website... upon arrival last night to the Arctic Monkeys show we were told that chairs were now not allowed into the amphitheater, a decision made the same day as the show. They didn't attempt to send emails out or post this last minute change to their website or on social media. There were no blankets or other options available for those that brought chairs leaving many disgruntled fans sitting in the grass! Poor planning and poor communication. I would not have bought tickets if I had known this in advance. Definitely won't be back! read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The only reason it gets two stars is the skyline view. I went to see Paramore on 6/15, also known as the middle of summer. Every pit I've ever been in, there has been water passed out at the front for anyone who needs it, but not here. Pit crew was telling people (even in the front row) that they'd have to leave the pit and get water. It was 90+ degrees. That's ridiculous. Also, they only used one gate at the beginning. This means that countless people were standing in the sun for at least an hour. They apparently open the second gate around when the show is gonna start (???). Definitely not returning. Not even for MCR. read more

On 5/16/22, I took my sons to see Rex Orange County at this amphitheater. As a woman who has been to countless different concerts and events throughout my life, I can compare prior venues to this one, and here is my multi-aspect review of the venue: ENTRY/SECURITY: Pretty quick and easy. They were able to check in hundreds of people in about 10 minutes. 10/10 SEATING: An absolute nightmare. There was not a single employee around to show us to our section or seats, and the place was not very well marked. It took us at least 5 minutes to finally find our proper section and seats. Aside from that, since there were no security guards or ushers to help guide people to their seats, people quickly realized they could sit just about anywhere. When the performance started, people were climbing over seats trying to get a better view. There also is zero separation between the lawn area and the seating area, so people with lawn tickets were able to squeeze into seating rows whenever the performance started. It was very uncomfortable and frustrating, since we paid a lot of money for our tickets. 1/10 STAFF: We had very little interaction with staff. Our staff interaction was with the security and concessionaires, both of which they were nice. This venue desperately needs ushers, or more security to ensure no one is seat surfing. 2/10 SOUND: Everything sounded great. 10/10 VIEW: We sat in section 1, row u. We had a decent view, although my sons wished it wasn't so right turned. 6/10 LOCATION: We loved the location. Ample parking nearby, good food to grab on your way into the concert, and most important, safe. On just the location aspect, this was one of the best venues I have ever been to. 10/10 OVERALL: I was less than impressed with Red Hat. Unless there is an artist I really want to see performing here, I likely will never return to this venue. There are better venues in the RDU area, as well as around NC that make for a much better experience. read more

Amazing venue right underneath the iconic shimmer wall. Truly an amazing place to experience a concert!

It may be small, and not quite an amphitheater, but for what it was, I enjoyed the venue. Here are some things I learned from the 90s Summerland Tour: How to Survive a Night at the Raleigh Amphitheater: 1. Buy lawn tickets. You get full reign of the space and can walk anywhere you'd like once you're inside, so why buy pricer tickets? If you really like the band, you probably won't be sitting anyways. Also, don't try to actually dance on the lawn. It's on a super steep hill and you may end up falling in to the people in front of you. Especially if you're a hot mess like me. 2. Don't bring your lawn chair. Say (hypothetically of course) that you and your boyfriend hiked all the way from the Busy Bee with your awesome new backpack chairs only to get turned away right after you waited in a super long line and were almost in the venue. That's right, they don't allow that much awesome to enter. However, it was for the benefit of DTR, which got to see our amazing backpacks for the second time as we walked all the way back to deposit these purely hypothetical chairs back in the Moore Square Parking Garage. DTR, you're welcome. 3. Don't bring your umbrella. Yes, even if it might rain. They will take it. Even if you hiked all the way over with it from the Busy Bee for the second time. Luckily, they kept it for us, so we could pick it back up where we left it. And the staff were really nice about it. 4. Don't be shocked by the fact that a 22oz of domestic crappy beer is $10. Just be awesome and bring your Yelp coozie so your hand doesn't freeze off and your beer stays cold. All of your friends will be jealous. 5. Do be shocked by the fact that dinner is catered by The Pit and is actually reasonably priced (BBQ & Chicken Sandwiches for only $8!) 6. Rejoice if you have a severe portapotty phobia (like me!) They have real bathrooms here that were kept incredibly clean by ever-present restroom attendants. Would you judge me if I said this was my favorite thing about the venue? 7. Turn around and check out the awesome LED mural of the giant tree. I'm not gonna lie--I'm a little obsessed with it. read more

As music venues go, this one is pretty weak. I like the idea of having a venue downtown but to call this an 'amphitheater' is stretching it. It's more like a parking lot with a fence and some chairs. On the plus side: - lots of close parking in the garages - reasonable beer prices - close access to bars and restaurants What it's missing: - Covered Seating - Any sort of consideration towards acoustics in the design - A reason to buy a ticket By the last one I mean, you're just as well off grabbing a lawn chair and sitting on the outside of the fence as you are playing $40 to go in. Or better yet, scope out a parking spot in the garage on the outside wall and tailgate. The acoustics are so bad it really doesn't matter. read more

I hate to do this to this place because I feel it has such great potential. Given my experience last night I highly doubt I will ever be back. Let me start off with the good...The bathrooms have AC and the beer is reasonably priced for a music venue-9.00 for 24oz craft beer. We got out of there with 4 24oz Lonerider Shotgun Betty's for 36.00. They also had a couple Big Boss, and some Sweetwater 420 at the craft stand. Ok the bad-(I will be writing Live Nation a scathing e-mail, and more than likely call customer service to discuss the following). Brit and I left having dinner at Sitti and had a nice stroll through downtown. First lets address entering. The saying goes, you never have a second chance to make a first impression. Let me describe to you my first impression-the main entrance (and the one we chose) was at the corner of Cabarrus and South McDowell streets. The line was from that entrance, down Cabarrus and around the corner on South Dawson. Slow moving and in the heat it was agonizing. Surely there has to be better crowd and line control than that. Once we got to the front they refused us in with our umbrella. The weather channel said chance of thunderstorms. I checked the Live Nation site and it stated the following -"Items NOT allowed : Weapons of any kind, wallet chains, pocket knives, chairs, food and beverage." I don't see anywhere in there that states umbrellas. My 45.00 umbrella was slated to sit in the pile where "we can't guarantee it being here when you get back." So now they're sitting on two strikes from us. When purchasing tickets I examined the seating chart-The tickets proposed to me were in Section 6-center stage one section back seats 6 and 7 of row C. The seating chart shows the audio booth being dead center behind section 1 and in front of section 6. The row is 35 seats wide so my assumption was that seats 15-25 would be limited view seating. Lo and behold the seating chart is quite wrong and seats 1-10 of rows A through O are limited view, and nowhere is that mentioned. Sitting down I couldn't even see the performers on stage due to the audio equipment. That makes strike 3. They actually managed to get a strike 4...yes folks 4 strikes. The staff is so strict that you are not allowed to stand in the aisles, all aisles are to be kept clear. So you're restricted to standing in one of their insane lines to get merch, or food/drink or relegated to your seats. The venue is too sterile and too regulated for me to really ever be back. I'll give my money to the Lincoln Theater, Pour House, Cats Cradle (for the smaller venue) and Time Warner and Koka Booth, RBC Center for larger venues. Bring back Moore Square music! We actually left prior to Paramore taking the stage we were that annoyed. The sound seemed good, and the stage when you could see it was visible from almost all areas. Tegan and Sara put on a great show, I'm glad we were able to see them. However, if given the opportunity in the future, I will have to just skip their show if it's back at the Raleigh Amphitheater. read more

Red Hat Amphitheater - Row C Seats 6 and 7 view. Lucky me! Ok maybe not. - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Please, avoid this venue. I say that, because if it storms, you'll be out of luck and your money. I was at the Fleet Foxes concert recently and it began pouring rain, lightening all around and the show didn't stop until the PA system shorted. They venue's policy is "rain or shine," so no money back if it rains. It also means no money back if there is a severe thunderstorm with a great deal of lightening and flood advisories for the area. It also means no money back if the PA system fails and you can't hear the show. So, when you buy your ticket a month in advance and you have no way to know what will happen the night of your concert, remember that if it rains, your be SOL. If it's lightening... if the sound system fails... you've just lost your money - your $60 - $100 investment. I honestly felt like somebody could have easily been killed or seriously injured that night. If the venue would just put customers first, rather than last, they could offer a refund. Even without the lightening and flood watches, they should allow umbrellas in. If it's raining as hard as it did that night, who cares if people put umbrellas up? Those with umbrellas can just move to the side or back. Refund? No. In that case, maybe the venue should take their ill-gotten profits and invest in a temporary, emergency cover for the seats should violent storms like this happen again - which they will - because it's in the south, outdoors, and storms can get very dangerous and very annoying very fast in the warm, concert-going weather. Tell Raleigh Amphitheater that they need to make changes to their policies. read more

If somebody told you, "there's this vacant lot, right downtown Raleigh only they brought in a sound stage and set up some trailers, and big acts come and play", you'd say, hey that's pretty cool. If they called it an "Amphitheater", you might say that's stretching it a bit. read more

I STILL love this venue for an outdoor concert! Hubs and I ventured to Red Hat Amphitheater last night for the Smashing Pumpkins concert (amazing, by the way). It had been a year since I was last at RHA, and I was excited to get back since the weather wasn't too hot just yet. We feared rain since it was predicted and took our ponchos, but luckily, we did not need them. We had seats in Section 3 which were great! There really isn't a bad seat since this venue is much more small and intimate than Walnut Creek (or whatever it is called these days). The only bad place in my opinion is the lawn. It just isn't elevated enough, and not large enough. I have never had seats on the lawn, but a friend was curious about going to see a future show and asked me to test it out and give feedback. When I went to buy one of my extremely overpriced beers ($10 each), I walked to the lawn and took sat for a few minutes before SP came on stage. I couldn't see the stage while I was sitting, and standing, I had to stand on my tip toes. From the top of the lawn, you can see, but the lawn is not deep enough so the crowd were all on top of each other. Eeeks.... so note, I advise seats, not lawn. I enjoy the sound and the scenic view of the venue. It definitely isn't as loud as other shows but I didn't really notice until Billy Corgan made a comment about how they couldn't play as loud as they wanted because of restrictions from the City. It did not put a damper on the show, in fact the melodic tunes seemed to be better than other venues I have seen them in. There is just something so spectacular about seeing your favorite band in an outdoor venue, with a sparkly, shimmer-wall reflecting the lights from the stage on all of the fans. A fave of mine, for sure!!! read more

Oh this is a terrible place to hold a concert. The acoustics! Egad! I couldn't hear the guitar. It's completely outdoors, so if it rains, you're SOL. Plus, the seating is completely flat, so if you're sitting in the back good luck on actually seeing the artist you paid for. It would take someone truly legendary for me to visit this place again, and even then...I wonder about their choice in music venues. read more

My first outdoor concert in downtown Raleigh and I had a fun experience. We came around 7 pm and had uneventful experience going through security and the ticket line. Since we were hungry, we went to check out the concessions. Jon O. got a hot dog and nachos and I got a Mango Orange smoothie, which hit the spot for being such a hot day. The lines weren't too bad. I wasn't in the mood for any alcohol, but I overheard you had to pay $10 for a tall boy. Eek! Mental note drink alcohol and eat dinner before going here for any event. Our seats were in section 7 row E and I thought it was decent. Although you do get a view of the foot traffic going through the middle. I did notice that Section 6 wasn't a great place to sit because the sound/visual effects tents were in the way. I was somewhat surprised how small the lawn section was. If you want a good seat, definitely come early. Small venue compared to other places I have been to, but lots of great acts performing (e.g. John Legend, Ray LaMontagne). read more

I don't think North Carolina has nice enough weather for an outdoor music venue. In the summer it's too hot, in the winter it's too cold, and in the spring and fall the temperatures shift 30 degrees from the daytime to the nighttime so by 10pm you'll find yourself shivering in the same clothes you were sweating in before. I was lucky enough that it didn't rain while I was there, and it only dropped down to about 58 degrees by the time the concert was done, but I would be hesitant about buying advance tickets to this venue. I bought my ticket less than a week in before so I was able to check the weather first. The parking situation isn't terrible. I got there about 30 minutes before the opener started and there were still a lot of open spots in the closest parking garage. The way out was difficult though, because everyone leaves at once and there was more than one idiot trying to go the wrong way down the one-way streets. The seating was simple narrow plastic chairs linked together. I don't think an obese person would be able to fit in these chairs without having to buy 2 seats. There were no armrests in between and no cup holders, so you got to sit uncomfortably close to strangers with very little protecting your 24 oz. plastic cup of beer. The concrete ground was just slanted enough to make setting your drink down perilous, but not slanted enough so that you could actually see over the person in front of you. The beers were $9 a piece, and the only nice thing I can say about them is they did offer some very nice local beers. Despite being an outdoor venue, the bathrooms were indoors with real flushing toilets and clean running water in the sink. There were lines much of the time, but if you don't mind not watching the band for a few minutes you can go to the bathroom during the show and still hear the music perfectly fine from the toilet. A couple stalls ran out of toilet paper but always check before you sit! One of the other big problems with this venue is that it's right next to some often-used railroad tracks. The train was so loud you could actually hear it over the music. I don't think this venue was planned out very well. The seating situation is cramped and crowded, the lawn is the tiniest I've ever seen, there's really no good seats besides the front row because there's no decent angle to the ground, it's too close to some loud train tracks, and NC weather is too crappy for an outdoor venue. The only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is because the music quality was actually good, and the bathrooms were quite nice considering. But I think in the future I'd prefer to see shows at some of the other venues in the area. read more