Somerset Amphitheater is the largest outdoor amphitheater and camping venue in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) and Western Wisconsin area. Located across in Somerset, Wisconsin next to the St. Croix River, the venue consists of 200 acres of land, and has been a Midwest destination for many decades for music fans, along with tubing and camping enthusiasts alike.
A typical season runs from May through October with music performances and other events. The layout is flexible, but typically there is seating on the floor and general admission (lawn) that surrounds the stage in a bowl-like fashion. The total capacity ranges from 20,000 to 40,000, depending on the layout.
About the venue
A concert site since 1981, the venue changed its name to Somerset Amphitheater in 2011 when new owner Matt Mithun (of the Mithun family) took over. Since then many upgrades and improvements have been made to the amphitheater and onsite campgrounds. The amphitheater expanded the removable reserved seating area and built an enclosed Saloon with a bar for a more intimate setting with an approximate capacity of 1,000. In 2013 the Grove stage was added in the valley between the main amphitheater and the North Campground. The Grove has a capacity of approximately 10,000. There are three campgrounds onsite; the North and South Campgrounds, which are both general camping, and the VIP Campground which has electric and water hookups for RVs and permanent bathrooms and showers.
The first concert under new ownership took place at Somerset Amphitheater in 2011 with the Soundtown Music and Camping Festival. Over 30 bands performed across three stages, headlined by the Flaming Lips.
Since its reopening, the amphitheater has hosted many concerts and events, including the touring acts of My Morning Jacket, the first annual Knotfest featuring Slipknot, Summer Set Music and Camping Festival, Northern Invasion, Trampled by Turtles and The Avett Brothers. Besides musical performances, the venue hosted Tough Mudder, a British military style obstacle course and the Border Battle Beer Festival, a friendly rivalry of Minnesota and Wisconsin breweries battling each other for the most favored among taste testers.
History Before 2011, the venue had music acts varying from the Blues, Country, Bluegrass/Folk, Indie, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Alternative genres perform on the stages. Annual concert festivals included Apple River Country Splash, Ozzfest, and 93X Fest (previously Edgefest). Other music tours featured acts of the Family Values Tour 2007, Projekt Revolution the Vans Warped Tour, Bob Dylan in '03, Soul Asylum in '93, Violent Femmes (from Milwaukee) in '94 and Garbage (from Madison) in '96 (at 93X EdgeFest). It hosted Illinois' REO Speedwagon in '93, and Disturbed and Chevelle in 2016 (at the Northern Invasion festival). The first concert held at the amphitheater was in 1981 with Charlie Daniels.
Events List of events held at the Amphitheater Artist Event Date Opening Act(s)Apple River Country SplashJune 19, 2008June 20, 2008June 21, 2008June 18, 2009June 19, 2009June 20, 2009June 17, 2010June 18, 2010June 19, 2010The Avett BrothersThe Carpenter TourJune 29, 2013Brandi Carlile, Dr. Dog & Wheeler BrothersThe Black Crowes2006 TourAugust 6, 2006Drive-By Truckers & Robert Randolph and the Family BandBob Dylan2003 Never Ending TourAugust 3, 2003The Dead & Robert HunterFamily Values TourJuly 21, 2007Independence ColorFestJuly 4, 2014July 5, 2014KXXR 93X93X FestivalMay 26, 2000May 25, 2001May 24, 2002May 23, 2003May 28, 200493X ClamBakeJuly 28, 2000EdgeFestJuly 24, 1994May 28, 1995May 25, 1996May 24, 1997May 23, 1998May 30, 1999Kid RockCocky TourMay 26, 2002The KinksPhobia TourAugust 22, 1993KansasKISSRock the Nation TourJune 26, 2004Poison & ZO2KnotfestAugust 18, 2012Lynyrd SkynyrdEdge of Forever TourJune 15, 20022014 TourSeptember 20, 2014Hitchville & White Iron BandMy Morning JacketCircuital TourAugust 10, 2012Band of Horses & Trampled by TurtlesNorthern InvasionMay 9, 2015Slipknot, Anthrax, Five Finger Death Punch, Live & othersOzzfestJuly 18, 1998July 1, 1999August 12, 2000June 16, 2001August 17, 2002July 19, 2003August 7, 2005July 14, 2006PanteraFar Beyond Driven TourAugust 13, 1994Sepultura & ProngProjekt RevolutionAugust 28, 2004REO Speedwagon1993 TourJune 20, 1993.38 Special, Blue Öyster Cult & FoghatSoundtown Music FestivalAugust 19, 2011Summer Set Music FestivalAugust 24, 2012August 25, 2012August 26, 2012August 9, 2013August 10, 2013August 11, 2013August 15, 2014August 16, 2014August 17, 2014August 14, 2015August 15, 2015August 16, 2015August 11, 2016August 12, 2016August 13, 2016Warped TourJuly 18, 1998July 16, 2001June 28, 2003Widespread Panic2014 TourJune 21, 2014Galactic, Jerry Joseph and The Jackmormons & Pert Near SandstoneZZ TopBeer Drinkers and Hell Raisers TourSeptember 13, 2003Ted Nugent
See also List of contemporary amphitheatres
References
External links Somerset Amphitheater Official Website