Rockin’ the world

Billy Corgan, left, of US alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins performs during a concert at the Gurten music open air festival 2013 in Bern.

Billy Corgan, left, of US alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins performs during a concert at the Gurten music open air festival 2013 in Bern.

Published Jul 25, 2013

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Now that summer is in full swing in the northern hemisphere, the lingering daylight and sultry evenings are prime time for outdoor concerts.

In an effort to get you swaying in the breeze, online travel advisers Cheapflights.com (www.cheapflights.com) have put together this list of the top 10 places to enjoy outdoor summer music.

 

 

Red Rocks, Morrison, Colorado, US

More than a kilometre high and forged by over 160 million years of shifting sands and sandstone, Red Rocks is an amphitheatre like no other. The natural acoustics, surrounding landscape and big-sky vistas combine to make an amazing concert setting.

And, if the star power coming from the sky isn’t enough of a draw, the glittering stage line-up will lure you. Imagine shows from Sting, Darius Rucker, Big Head Todd, Widespread Panic, Robert Plant, the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, BB King and Peter Frampton and George Thorogood in an intimate setting (fewer than 10 000 people and seats as close as 3m from the stage).

That’s just a sampling of what’s on tap at Red Rocks in 2013.

 

Slane Castle, County Meath, Ireland

Along the shores of the River Boyne, 30 minutes north of Dublin, lies Slane Castle, the ancestral home of the Conyngham family.

For over 300 years, that family has called the castle home, but for the last 30-plus years, so has rock and roll.

Starting with Thin Lizzy in 1981, concerts in a natural amphitheatre in the shadow of the castle have been a summer tradition at Slane. Now crowds of 80 000 people flock to the 607ha estate for majestic shows from classic bands like the Rolling Stones (2007) to more modern favourites like Oasis (2009) and Kings of Leon (2011).

This summer Eminem will grace the grounds, giving audiences a mix of classic rock and regal living.

U2 is best able to attest to life at the castle, having performed there three times and even lived and recorded there.

 

Théâtre Antique d’Orange, Orange, France

This classic Roman amphitheatre showcases the setting and acoustics of the ancients.

A Unesco World Heritage site, Théâtre Antique features an incredibly preserved stage wall that bore witness to the shows of Roman times. Now the 100m-long, 37m-high wall serves as the backdrop to an annual opera festival, the Chorégies d’Orange, and a diverse and international music line-up ranging from The Cure in 1986 to DJ Laurent Wolf’s 2009 Wash My World Festival to upcoming shows by Chinese pianist Lang Lang and Italian opera duo Patrizia Ciofi and Leo Nucci.

 

 

The Gorge Amphitheater, George, Washington, US

The Columbia River Canyon, the Cascade Mountains and The Who. That’s what you get sitting on the lawn at the Gorge Amphitheatre.

The simple stage and hillside seating make it clear the scenery, a sweeping vista down the Columbia River with a backdrop of the Cascade Mountains, and the music are the draws. The Who is just one of many big names to perform backed up by the gorgeous view.

The Gorge has hosted everyone from David Bowie to the Dave Matthews Band and been the site of numerous festivals. Look for John Mayer, Phish and Black Sabbath, among others, this summer.

 

Dalhalla, Rättvik, Sweden

It seems fitting that Earth, Wind and Fire is one of the acts coming to Dalhalla this summer. This limestone quarry turned music venue is another great example of the elements delivering a natural stage.

Thanks to a meteorite strike that left the region rich in limestone and 50 years of excavation, a perfectly shaped acoustic bowl emerged. Now crowds descend into the 55m-deep, 400m-long hole for the ultimate in surround sound experiences.

The dramatic layers of rock that rise above just add to the visual effect. Patti Smith adds her music to the mix this summer as well.

 

Kootenay Lake, Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada

Here’s a venue you won’t find every day. In fact, it only exists for a three-day music festival held each August.

The stage for the Kaslo Jazz Festival floats just off the beach on a serene lakefront, with deep blue water, bobbing boats and even some distant hilltops as a backdrop. With attendees lounging in beach chairs or swimming around the stage, the whole event has a casual summertime feel. However, when the musicians take to the floating stage, the energy spikes and the crowd dives into the music as well.

With performances from the likes of Tiempo Libre and Dave Brubeck, the festival offers a great combination of setting and sound.

 

Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia

This outdoor museum is a living exhibition of the many tribes and cultures of Malaysia.

Visitors can explore the homes and lifestyles of various native populations in this ethnically diverse region and are treated to daily dance and music performances.

 

 

Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens, Greece

Initially built between 160 and 174 AD by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, this amphitheatre on the southern slope of the Acropolis is a storied as well as scenic venue.

Extensively restored in the middle of the 20th century, the Herodeon is a centrepiece of the annual Athens Festival, a summer-long programme of arts and entertainment dating back to 1955.

In addition to classical, jazz and folk performers for the Athens Festival including, this year, the Greek National Opera as well as Haris Alexiou, the reborn ruin has been centre stage for a number of historic music moments.

Elton John, Sting, Yanni and Andrea Boccelli have all performed major events here.

 

Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, NY, US

A landmark for Long Island and the greater New York area, this waterfront amphitheatre once had a true standout stage.

It was on an island, with a moat separating the audience from the performers. A boat had to deliver the stars of the show to perform. The moat has since been filled in, but the feeling of seeing a show with the waves lapping at your feet remains.

Expect to take in Maroon 5, Bob Dylan, The Black Crows and Lil’ Wayne along with the view this summer.

 

Ushuaïa Beach Hotel, Ibiza

A renowned party spot, Ibiza is a mix of blue waters, stunning sunsets, big rock faces, large yachts and scantily clad tourists.

In the midst of this scene lies Ushuaïa Beach Hotel.

Steps from the beach, the hotel features a stage that, from early afternoon, pulses with electronic music.

A mix of local artists and DJs keeps the party going all summer and the hi-tech light show often keeps going until the rising sun takes over. – Reuters

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