Alice in Chains, Ringo Starr, Aretha Franklin among upcoming acts at St. Aug Amphitheatre
It past decades it was home to the circus, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival and the annual Cross and Sword pageant, but thanks to a multi-million dollar renovation, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre has evolved into an entertainment epicenter for all of North Florida.
From one end of the music spectrum to the other, the amphitheater is putting together a impressive upcoming schedule including: Aretha Franklin (March 19th), Alice in Chains (April 25th), My Morning Jacket (April 27th), The Flaming Lips (May 14th), REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar (July 2nd) and Ringo Starr (July 17th).
If you haven’t been to the amphitheater since the remodel, you are sure to be impressed when you pass through the gates and head up the steps to the new venue. For most concerts, patrons have access to a full bar near the entrance to the seating area as well as separate stations for frozen adult beverages and beer. Food is also available (and recommended if you’re going to make multiple stops at the aforementioned bars) near the merchandise area under the upper tier of seats.
Once you pass through one of the corridors into the seating pit you’ll look around and ask yourself, “Am I still in St. Augustine?” The impressive 4,000+ seat (and I mean actual stadium seats, not bleachers) venue spreads out on a gentle slope to a full stage, all of which is shaded beneath a massive white canopy. If you’re worried about the Florida summer heat, keep in mind that the amphitheater is just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic, which usually extends a refreshing summer breeze over the crowd.
But the best benefit of the new amphitheater for St. Augustine residents is the short drive home when the night is done! No more treks down I-95 from Jacksonville or up I-4 from Orlando. If the concert gets out at 10:00 you’ll be in bed by 10:30 (or possibly downtown enjoying a post-concert nightcap).
If you’re interested in tickets for one of the upcoming shows, visit the St. Augustine Amphitheatre’s website for more information. Once you start taking in shows there you’ll never go back to Jacksonville again!
- OldCity.com
