First time visiting the venue, and was impressed by the set up. The pit provides a great view, but make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes to stand in for hours. Of course, these venues up charge greatly for watered down drinks. So either get a beer or pregame. I do want to visit again real soon to sit in the lawn area. This way I can update my review based off the different seating options available. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This past weekend, I came to see the show of one of my favorite artists, The Marias. This is no fault to the venue, but there was rain in the forecast. What I wasn't crazy about was the venue's mixed messaging. Online they said they host shows rain or shine and that they didn't allow umbrellas inside the venue. For the evening this concert was set on, there was a chance of thunderstorms which had a potential of cancelling the show all together. Thankfully we waited at a restaurant nearby, but I felt so bad for people waiting in line. They kept pushing entry time. Door were originally set to open at 6:30pm. Doors didn't open until around 9pm. And it was pouring. The venue has strict rules about 11pm stop time (makes sense for residents) and that they will not refund tickets. When they finally allowed us in, they didn't stop people with umbrellas. It made sense that they had to cancel the opener. Thankfully we were able to see most of The Marias' set and it didn't rain! They had to stop a little early due to thunder, but it was so close to 11pm at that point I imagine we just missed two song. This was a weather thing so made sense. The venue itself was nicely set up. With clear sections for food, merchandise, and restrooms. I imagine on a sunny evening, it's amazing here. I just didn't like the mixed messaging from the venue. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - The Marias - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Who doesn't love a good outdoor concert? This amphitheater has a beautiful view of downtown and wonderful sound quality. They bring in a great lineup of artists and the grounds are clean. Look forward to shows here every summer! read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This is a venue has an incredible sound. The Ascend Amphitheater is a prominent outdoor music venue located on the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee. This is an outdoor venue so when is a stormy weather they will close and ask you to come back and they do it to protect everyone. The food is just tasty greasy finger food and nothing but average that does the trick if you are hungry. Lost of drinks in my opinion overpriced specially water but its just me. Location: 310 1st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201. It's situated within Metro Riverfront Park. Capacity: 6,800 total, including 2,300 fixed seats and 4,500 on the lawn. Opened: July 30, 2015. Operator: Live Nation Entertainment. Features: Open-air setting with views of the Nashville skyline and the Cumberland River. Considered one of the best outdoor music venues in the country, known for its sound system and views. Emphasizes sustainability with initiatives like recycling, composting, and donations. Offers various seating options, including reserved, lawn, and VIP seating. Offers amenities like concessions, restrooms, and accessibility services. Has a strict bag policy, allowing only clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC tote bags no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" and/or small clutch bags (4.5"x 6.5"). All bags are subject to search. General parking is not provided at the amphitheater. It's recommended to arrive early due to potential traffic and parking challenges. Detailed driving directions are available from various directions. Accessible parking is available at nearby downtown parking locations. An accessible drop-off point is located at the corner of Molloy Street and 1st Avenue S read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Halsey - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Great music venue in downtown Nashville! It's very easy to get in, just have your tickets ready or pick them up at will call and make sure you don't have a large bag. I appreciated the bottle fillers inside so I could get water (it was really hot that day..) there were food and drink options for sale as well. We had seats but it looked like there were lawn seats available too. Great energy, good sound (a little loud, next time I'll bring earplugs!) it's outdoors so wear sunscreen! We ubered which was easy to do, not sure if there's any parking. I would definitely go back! read more

Beautiful small outdoor venue. Anywhere you sit is good but the best seats with a waiter, close proximity to bathrooms and special treatment is the VIP section. For a little extra money you can get the best seat in the house and well worth the price!! read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

One of my new favorite venues in Nashville! Ascend is conveniently located, and well-designed to accommodate large crowds. My husband and I recently saw Rainbow Kitten Surprise here for a Saturday night show, and would definitely return after such a positive experience! Many of the outdoor venues I've been to in other cities have been outdated and a little dingy ... Ascend is the total opposite. All of the seating, bathrooms, and concession stands are spaced out well and decently clean. The food and drink options are plentiful (albeit expensive - it is still Downtown Nashville, after all). We were lucky to have seats - but the lawn looked well-maintained, and seems to be a nice option for large groups. I also love that you can rent lawn chairs if needed. I've been told that Rainbow Kitten Surprise always puts on a great show - but I have to imagine that performing at Ascend definitely had an impact on the experience as well! The sound was incredible (you could literally feel the bass), and the lights were awesome against the Nashville skyline right behind the stage. While we do have several amazing venues across Music City, Ascend is definitely near the top for me. I can't wait to return! read more

Absolutely love this venue. Although weather can be tricky at times, having an outdoor amphitheater in the heart of Nashville is fantastic. I have seen so many great shows here over the years and even though the venue is close to a decade old it still looks brand new and is very well kept and maintained. The Live Nation staff is friendly and helpful at every show I've been to and the acoustics and sounds of the amphitheater are better than you would expect. Seats on the lawn are almost always very affordable! It's a great way to check out a band that you don't really know without committing a whole lotta dollars. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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At this point, I've easily seen more than a hundred+ concerts in Nashville but somehow I've never made it out to Ascend for a show. I recently corrected that, and I'd say this is a great venue to catch a spring-fall show. Compared to the ampitheater in Franklin and despite often competing events at Nissan increasing traffic, getting in and out of Ascend is much easier if you're willing to park a bit out of the way and walk a few blocks over. The sound is pretty great and entrance into the venue painless. The seated area offers pretty solid views from anywhere. While I didn't eat or drink while at my recent show, there were plenty of options and prices while high(ish) seemed mostly reasonable (or at least consistent with similar competitors). During pauses or quiet moments I could hear chatter from the lawn so I'm assuming if you're a fan who wants less distraction it might behoove you to pony up for an actual seat as those on the lawn seem more interested in a party atmosphere with music confined to the background of their experience. read more

Enjoyed a concert here while in Nashville. What a great venue. We had lawn seats and they were perfect. You could rent low profile lawn chairs and blankets which was a nice feature. We rented a couple chairs which made the concert more enjoyable and relaxing. There was an axing lineup of artists and the place was packed from the lawn to the seats. Plenty of restroom areas, concession stands, and security. Food and drink options were on point. Overall a great venue. The only thing I'd say is the doors/gates opened later than expected and then closed again. Eventually reopened, but seemed initially a bit unorganized. Regardless, I'd go back to see another concert there. read more

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We were in town during CMA fest and purchased tickets for the Friday night concert to see Brett Young and friends. We purchased lawn seats, but still felt like we had a great view of the stage. The lawn area was busy, but we had plenty of room to spread out. They were renting out lawn chairs, which is a brilliant idea and they were comfortable. People also brought blankets to sit on. The lines for concessions weren't bad. We each got a burger, which was pretty bland. We also ordered two cocktails from the side bars and were surprised that they told us we had to make it a double and they were $28 each. At least we only needed that one drink to last us the night because it was pretty large. Overall, we had a fun time on a beautiful night and had a great view of downtown. read more

If I could leave a 0 star review, I would. These people use TicketMaster, who sold me a VIP ticket that was completely fraudulent. Then, instead of fixing the issue, said I waited until after the event to contact them, when I was on chat for more than 2 hours before the event started. Buyer beware, TicketMaster did not sell accurate tickets or add ons, and will not guarantee what they sell. read more

Nick and I went to one night of CMA fest. The venue was great. They did confiscate my goldfish crackers at the gate, but they did allow us to bring in a bottle of water. The first thing we did was rent two lawn chairs. They are $15 each but extremely worth it. First come, first serve so don't wait! Our view was great and the big screens made seeing the acts easier. Lots of alcoholic drink areas and concession food. Everything was a little pricey, but you go to these things expecting that. We would definitely go to another concert here! read more

Food really expensive. No service for the DISABLED! Nice venue. I'm Mobility Challenged and was Made to go up to the very top back of the hill to sit at the DISABILITY AREA on the hottest evening! I sat past their misting station way back on top of the hill. I had heat stroke and had to leave the venue early before the concert was barely starting. The DISABLED ENTRANCE area was also unmanned. NOT DISABLED FRIENDLY! read more

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What a gorgeous amphitheater. Love the way it is laid out. Got to see Berlin, Howard Jones, and Culture Club here the other day! Fabulous show and great outdoor seating read more

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Great time in the cabana! We saw artic monkeys and odesza in the same week. This amp is intimate where even in the lawn you feel super close. The skyline is in the background and all the employees were so kind. I wish this amp was closer to home because i would be going to every show here! We did not get food but the drinks were reasonably priced compared to literally every other joint in nashville! read more

Very, very nice! Had the opportunity to attend my very first outdoor concert this weekend to hear the Summer Block Party with Jodeci, SWV and Dru Hill. We had VIP access so we were able to enjoy the lounge and had box seats. Never knew an outdoor concert experience could be so nice. Overall, the venue is clean and easy to access. All the staff were friendly and professional. Our server was Mya such a sweet young lady. I had to try the concessions since it was my first time there--burger and fries.The fries were super hot, crisp and nicely salted. The burger could've used a little something but wasn't bad. Certainly plan to check out more events here but perhaps when it isn't so hot. That heat was so rude. Lol. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Box seat 28 view - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

So let me get this straight, off-duty officers can carry their concealed weapons (that they're required to carry) into restaurants, schools, bars, and venues like Bridgestone arena. But they can't carry into this concert venue for which the land it sits on got partially given to the company by the city? Is this legal? Makes no sense. I wouldn't encourage anyone to patronize this place. They think they're special. Is this still Nashville, TN? read more

Maybe it was an extra smooth night paired with perfect weather, but my time at The Ascend Amphiteater was nearly perfect. The security was straight forward and moved quickly. I was impressed they allowed a gallon size bag of food and an empty water bottle [gotta have the snacks]. We took advantage of rental chairs (for cost) in the lawn section with 0 regrets. As the sun sets you'll have a great backdrop of the city scape! read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Summer nights in the lawn - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This is a pretty sweet venue to see a concert in Music City. We were here for My Morning Jacket, which would be a great show if you saw them in an alley somewhere. You're right by downtown here, with the river on one side and buildings on the other. You'll 100% want to ride-share your way here as it wouldn't be convenient at all to drive to. The overall look of this amphitheater is a bit outdated, but it's definitely well kept. The concession and restroom areas are easy to navigate, and for the show itself, it's your typical pit up by the stage, followed by seats, and capped off with lawn/GA entry. I thought the show itself sounded pretty good, with a few hiccups in the sound system here and there. It's all cashless with tickets on the phone and credit cards for the concessions. Make sure your phone is charged up before you go in because we had to show the usher our tickets each time we went to the seats. TL;DR; Fun venue, pretty good sound overall, and the crowds flow right into the action of downtown afterwards. read more

We came here for a My Morning Jacket concert. I can't speak for the parking, but it was easy to get dropped off right out front and it took us a minute to get through security. once inside finding beverages, bathrooms and merchandise was easy. the staff was super helpful in getting us to our seats. the sound was great for an outdoor venue. I loved the Nashville skyline back drop behind us too. I would love to come back here for another concert . read more

I've been wanting to try this venue forever, based on the recs of friends as a great place for a casual, low-key outdoor concert. What a let down of an experience; TLDR: exorbitant concert fees & concessions, uncomfortably loud sound system, and (most significantly) a creepy usher that made my friend and I (two young women) feel so uncomfortable, we left the concert early. You know the venue is going to be a rip off when taxes and fees are almost as much as the ticket itself... but I really wanted to see this band and try this venue, so I went with it. Based on other reviews, I opted to do a ride share to/from the venue rather than stress about parking in the area. My friend and I had a lovely sushi dinner nearby before walking to the venue and it was absolutely the right choice, as traffic is insane in this area and it made the whole thing so much less stress for us. We got to the venue right at the concert start time and breezed through security (no wait for us!) I had reviewed the bag policy ahead of time and was prepared with only a clear 12x12x6 bag for my stuff, which certainly helped make things go quickly. We were pretty full from dinner before the concert so just opted for canned water ($5 each) but be warned that concessions here are PRICEY for even something basic. $11.50 for a well drink with a single shot (double the price for a double.) Similarly expensive for beer/wine - and very few local brews. Food is standard concessions of overpriced fries ($7)/ popcorn($8)/ nachos ($8)/ pretzels ($5), so it is best to eat before the show. Our seats in section 103 were easy to find, SO comfortable, and afforded a great view for the upcoming acts. The acoustics were also pretty decent here for an outdoor venue, but performance-wise, my number one gripe was the sound system was FAR too loud. Anyone in the GA pit or the purchased seating area (sections 101, 102, 103), really should have brought ear plugs as it was discomfort-inducing it was so distortedly loud. Lawn is apparently the way to go if you want to save your ear drums. All that said, my biggest gripe about this venue came with our experience with one of the ushers, Glenn L., shortly after the main band started. The sushi we had for dinner wasn't settling well with my friend and so we walked to the bathroom together. On the way, this usher could tell my friend wasn't feeling well and asked if she needed help. I assured him we were fine and did not need his assistance but he proceeded to stare me down aggressively and follow us as we tried to get to the women's restroom. I asked him if something was wrong and he told me we were standing in an area that would create a hazard if there were a fire emergency so I immediately moved us to the side and kept walking. He kept following and staring at me and I asked again what was wrong. He said we still were still walking where we shouldn't be. Confusion at why he wouldn't just tell us where we could safely walk aside, I've never been made to feel so uncomfortable and unsafe at a concert before. It was such a bizarre experience - so little effort given to try to help us get to the bathroom quickly or give us space when asked to, just creepily staring and following us as we tried to walk to the women's restroom, even when I let him know repeatedly we didn't need his assistance and he was making me uncomfortable. I am sure he thought we were drunk (even after I showed him the canned water in my hand) but to be honest, even if we were it wasn't like he was trying to make any effort to help us - just kept staring and following, even after being repeatedly told to stop. I no longer felt safe walking to the bathroom with this creepy older man constantly following us and found the manager for the venue; she was the one redeeming aspect of the experience who took our discomfort really seriously and ended up processing a refund as the whole thing just made me want to leave the concert early. I'd love to try this place again, but no concert is ever worth it to me to be made to feel unsafe, particularly by someone who works for the venue. There are so many other excellent venues in this city where ushers actually try to make their patrons feel welcome & safe and maybe next time I will just stick to those. read more

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It was 105 degrees and we had a great time watching Blues Traveler, Jewel, and Train. We had great seats, center stage, and only a couple rows back from the pit. Considering it's downtown, I didn't think the mixed drinks were overpriced. I had these delicious vodka and strawberry drinks that came with a mixer cup and a shot glass all in one container, and the refills were only $16.00. There were 2-3 shots in the container and it was a decent size. They were so good that I actually ate at a Waffle House for the first time in decades on our way home from the concert. All three performances were phenomenal. The seats were spaced well. We definitely could have used some motorized fans but a handheld fans worked some. Staff we encountered were friendly. Great venue! I got to take home one of the balls Pat threw to the crowd. I caught three and returned two. It was a great night! read more

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Came here on a weekend for a concert! There's no parking for the venue, so we didn't even try bringing our car near downtown. That was the right call. We also figured food would be lousy and overpriced, so we ate beforehand. I also believe this was the right call, as drinks and food were at typical stupid prices (and nothing looked great anyway). However, I did appreciate that you could bring an empty bottle in for water. And though I didn't get one, I liked that there was a guy walking around selling margaritas in the lawn area. It's an amphitheater, but the slope of the whole place is super mellow. Finding an unobstructed view was a challenge. But, I was disappointed with the lawn seat protocol overall. You're not allowed to bring a blanket over 3'x5' unless you buy one (I can't find any pictures of what it looks like, but it was $30). I didn't want mine thrown away at the gate, so I didn't bring one, but, I saw that many people seemed to have real thin ones that roll down really small. Then there's the lawn chairs. These are prohibited unless you rent one (they're first come, first serve, but you could also pay in advance via Ticketmaster). They have the cheap-o low ones you can find anywhere in the summer (though it was nice both arms has cup holders) and they rent them out for $15 per concert. It sounds like you used to be able to bring your own but they changed the policy. I thought it was weird until I looked around and realized most people rented one, so they probably made $60,000 on chair rentals from this one concert alone. I opted to participate in the scheme based on other people's reviews & also since I didn't have a blanket to sit on in the grass. It was fine, but did add to the cost of what was supposed to be a lower cost ticket. And, almost everyone rented a chair, so without one you'd have to stand or probably couldn't see. Sound was good. Band was great. At least the venue is outside. Unlikely to return. read more

Worst Venue EVER!!! Most greediest people I've ever interacted with! They claim to be a rain or shine venue but delayed the concert for HOURS due to "lightning" that non-existent and claimed to prioritize their guests while allowing us to stand in the pouring rain for 3 hours. They even had the audacity to charge 5 dollars for some panchos once the rained stopped. For people who claim to care about their concert goers they let us stand in the rain while they wasted time delaying the door openings inside leaving people with 0 idea about what was coming. On top of this they keep deleting my comments on instagram asking for a possible refund and warning others of their shady antics. Another thing we had paid for was a fast past that was not honored. This whole event was a extremely unorganized as we were left in hazardous conditions. Once they opened the doors they spent another hour doing who knows what to start the actual concert. We all spent hours for this concert just for it to be cancelled mid way due to once again "lighting" that was non existent. I saw many people on the verge of passing out and throwing up while not one worker was to anywhere to be found. read more

This was our first time seeing a show at Ascend Amphitheater and we were very impressed! It's a great outdoor venue in a prime location down near the Cumberland River. There are several good food options located inside. They had many vendors and food trucks set up inside serving food and alcohol...even wine by the bottle! They do not have bottled water for sale that we saw, it was sold by the can. There were also frozen drinks like daiquiris available. They promote cashless and contactless payments. The entry gate has several lines. They were checking COVID vaccination or negative test results before you enter. It appeared they had a testing tent set up near by if you forgot to prior to arriving. They only allow clear bags or small clutch purses. They will be searched as you go through the metal detectors. The amphitheater had an awesome seating arrangement set up. There really was not a bad spot in the whole place. We had seats near the front and all the rows were large enough for people to get out without walking on top of you. There is also a grass lawn in the back you can bring blankets to sit on if that's where you get tickets. The lighted pedestrian bridge can be seen at night in the background. The stage was easily visible and quite large. There's a 11 floor parking garage right across from the venue. It's very convenient but takes forever to get out because they only have one lane open and it dumps right into a busy downtown street so beware. We will definitely be back for another show here! read more

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Absolutely loved the outdoor concert venue. I was staying two blocks away and walked here. It was so quick to pass thru security and easy to enter. Concessions and bathrooms lines were quick and easy. Lots of drink cart vendors and booths. Brothers Osborne was awesome so glad I got to experience this venue while visiting from California. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Do you enjoy the outdoors? Do you enjoy music? Do you enjoy venues that are easily accessible to downtown and there are multiple parking/transportation options? If yes then I'll see you down at Ascend since that's where I'll be listening to every music act/concert I can here! I've been to two shows here (The Lumineers and Ray LaMontagne) and I enjoyed my experience at the venue both times (although the Ray concert was super weird but that's another story about him as an artist) Other pluses to Ascend are that security lines are efficient, they allow you to bring in sealed plastic water bottle per person, they have concession stands and multiple bathrooms. If you are coming from out of town to see a show here then you can walk to Broadway after and continue the fun after the show since all the bars are close by here. The only negative thing I can think to say is that with this Tennessee weather there is always the chance that your show will get cancelled due to a thunderstorm or severe weather (of course this has nothing to do with the venue). However, on a warm summer evening Ascend is the place to be! read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Our seats - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Drove three hours on my 30th birthday, paid for upgraded tickets. The evacuated everyone as soon as I bought an overpriced beer and sat down. They didn't send an update to my phone as they said they would. So I didn't know the show would resume an hour and a half later. I'd be ok with this if they refunded me, but they did not. So thanks for wasting my $400. I will do what I can to avoid this venue in the future. Rip to me, your once loyal customer. 2 starts because I used to like this place .. read more

As a venue, the amphitheater is pretty great. Lawn seating is plentiful, the tickets themselves are generally cheap, and the sound quality is good. That being said, I have two issues. The first is the pricing of venue sundries. Tallboy beers are $20...which isn't that outrageous considering it's 10$ per 12oz, but it's still expensive -- especially for Nashville. Lawn chairs are available for rent for $10, but the kicker is that you are not allowed to bring in personal lawn chairs OR personal blankets, which I think is ridiculous. My second issue is that there are several areas in the lawn with obstructed views. You can avoid them, but they are important to be aware of. Still, all that being said, I haven't yet been disappointed by a show there (until I got home and checked my wallet, that is). If you're a drinker, I recommend pregaming somewhere to minimize your alcohol expenditure at the venue. Encouragingly, Clayton Cohn read more

I have been to Ascend a few times and I think it is a fun venue to watch a show. I think it is a bit weird how they do the porter potties because they don't have them some shows and others they do. I guess this is because of the number of people they expect at each show. Drink prices are always expensive and you're paying dearly for when you buy something from them. You used to be able to bring fold out chairs, but now they charge you $10/chair and you can only rent from them. That was a new policy that was only implemented this summer. Getting into the venue is pretty easy and straightforward. Bring a clear purse or check the dimensions of what is allowed before coming. I would strongly recommend parking at the Hilton Garden Inn for $5 to avoid price gauging when trying to find parking downtown for a concert at the Ascend. Enjoy the show! read more

When ascend you to a food place, you should go there. You'll be glad that you did. I have such great memories of this place. When I was young and reckless, I went to a Dixie Chicks concert here. I got lost in the building and ended up exploring the innards of it. I climbed up into the rafters and then I managed to ascend to the top of the building, and down into the balcony, and eventually made my way to the expensive seats plenty of which were still available and then watched the Chicks getting it on. This was actually before the days of the whole backlash against them, but I don't want to say that out loud because I don't want you guys thinking I am old. Anyway the bottom line is that this is a beautiful venue and has wonderful memories for me. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Ascend you all my love - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Fantastic venue form ACM Party for a Cause concert. Friendly staff throughout the venue, easy admission process and great views of the stage even from the side of section 101. Look forward to more concerts here. read more

I came in from Baltimore to attend night 1 of Lainey Wilson's new concert. Getting in was interesting: unlike every venue I've been to the amphitheater did a bag check *after* our tickets were scanned. We were told by someone who worked for the venue there was no issue with my friend's purse. After our tickets were scanned and we went through the bag check she was told it wasn't allowed in. (It was a clutch type that wasn't very big.) Someone had to "descan" our tickets so she place it in a locker on site. The woman who originally told us the bag would not be a problem said "Some security guards are more sensitive than others". When we returned and got our tickets scanned we went through security and the male security guard grabbed my friend and patted down her moccasin boots without explanation. It got a little heated for a moment but then we proceeded in. The venue itself is excellent and the sound was incredible. Everyone we met in the general admission area was very friendly and we had a great time. The venue should reevaluate the bag check procedure and if a woman needs a pat down it should be done by another woman, not a male security guard. read more

Why haven't I left a review for this place. I've been a handful of times. Face palm. Great outdoor venue. Cheaper than most and just as comfortable. Maybe minus the scorching heat at times. Same decent food and drinks as all the other venues. I haven't paid for seats yet. I've always sat in the lawn and brought blankets to sit on. It's worked just fine and you get to enjoy the music and your company read more

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Came to see the Nashville Symphony play Led Zeppelin for my hubby's birthday. Thanks to Tara and Ashlyn for helping to make his day more special!! You gals are awesome!! This is a great venue! :) read more

Ascend Amphitheater is always a favorite concert venue of mine. It's a lovely amphitheater, and the location (especially if you are taking a ride share) is very easy to get in and out of, not to mention the proximity of all the places you can eat/drink/hang out before or after the show is awesome. The sound isn't bad no matter where you are and even if you are on the back of the lawn you have a decent view. There are plenty of bathrooms scattered across the venue and it's easy to navigate anywhere you need to get to around the venue. There are a couple of decent sized issues though that you deserve a heads up on if you are coming here. If you want to sit on the lawn, you can no longer bring your own blanket. You have to buy one (which you can't bring back in to another show btw) or spend about $18 on a tiny lawn chair. Also, the line for food/drinks tends to be VERY long. We were very recently at a show and the line for both clocked in about 45 minutes to an hour, and that's even with getting in line way before the opener's set was done. I would take this into consideration if you don't want to miss any of the set. Overall, it really is a great place to relax and enjoy a show in the middle of downtown. Just keep your comfort and time in mind when planning your concert experience. read more

Last night we attended our first concert at the Ascend Amphitheater, The Lumineers put on a great show, perfect to showcase this venue. The BØRNS was the opening act a great accompaniment for the headliner and actually had the crowd in the palm of their hand. The stage reset was timely and the Lumineers came on exactly on time. (9:15) I must say that the Lumineers instrumentation, musicianship and stage show was as entertaining as their music. About half way through their show, the band walked from the stage, right through the fans to a makeshift stage that was set in the middle of the amphitheater, which caused a "In The Round" type show for a few songs, then while still singing, Wesley Schultz the frontman, guitarist and one of the founding members waltzed directly through the audience of enthusiastic fans to reclaim the stage and take the show home. All said, I must give kudos to Ascend for accommodating the bands show, having the secondary stage, instrumentation, sound & lighting a follow cameras to project onto the Big Screens on ether side of the stage. (I believe they could use bigger screens, for those in the rear, General Admission area of the amphitheater) I will add that we were asked to empty our pockets and were wanded with a metal detector upon entering the venue. They offer food & beverages for purchase, we saw extremely large beers, flashy lighted cups of adult beverages, smelled popcorn and other party favors that you'd expect at a concert. All in all, we had a fantastic evening and enjoyed the show. Thank You Ascend for your well prepared venue and showcasing great talent. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Hands down my favorite outdoor venue in Nashville. If you can, get a VIP or box ticket, as the experience is first rate. With VIP, you can enter through a reserved line, and just after you enter, you are steps from the food and drink lounge, which often features live music of its own. The space has 2 bathrooms, a bar, a moderate buffet, popcorn, air conditioning and beautiful leather seating. Once in the venue, there is not a bad seat in the house. With box seating, you get a designated server, food menu and bar service. You will question if you are really at an outdoor concert! Too cool. Lawn seating is just behind the box seating, and you will have access to many higher end liquor selections in a food court type setting. Even in the heat of summer, the evenings are quite pleasant here. I have been to many outdoor amphitheaters in several different states. Nashville got it right! As an added bonus, its fun to watch the city lights come up as you watch some great live music! read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I've been to outdoor venues like this in a few different cities around the country, and I enjoyed my time here. As per usual with venues like Ascend, I had lawn seats, and I was happy to find that there seemed to be a pretty good view of the stage from basically anywhere on the lawn. We chose to sit up toward the front of the lawn anyway, to avoid being blocked by the inevitable tall person who would find their way in front of us. More importantly though, the sound. The sound here was surprisingly great. I think because it's a relatively small outdoor venue, as far as they go (6,800 capacity) the sound was really, really good. The bass was punchy, and everything else was really well balanced. Food and drink prices, however, are astoundingly, out-of-this-world ridiculous. $12.50 for a Bud tallboy? You have got to be kidding me. $10 for a lemonade and a pretzel? Come on now. Why do places like this do that? I already paid $100 (2 tickets at $50 each) to sit on the lawn. What is this, a Yankees game? Thankfully, you can bring in your own snacks and beverages. One last thing, I wish that the "No Smoking" section was not just for the seated section. Extend that to the lawn as well. I don't understand the thinking behind that. Not a venue one would find themselves at all the time, but it is a very nice place for a concert. read more

Ascend Amphitheater - Phish at Ascend, 10/23/2018. - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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