Meadow Brook Amphitheatre Information
The Meadow Brook Amphitheatre is a popular outdoor venue, located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. With a country side backdrop, it gives a perfect setting for music festivals and all kinds of music events. It’s no wonder that artists travel far and wide to give fans a special show that they will never forget!
The Meadow Brook Amphitheatre operates from May until September, making it the ideal spot to enjoy music in warm weather. Although it’s over 60 years old, the amphitheater has continued to undergo improvements and renovations, so this classic location is just as cool as it was when it was born in the swinging sixties.
With seating for up to 7,700 attendees, the amphitheater isn’t small, but it still offers an intimate feeling. You can choose to sit up close to the performers underneath the cover of a pavilion or sit farther back under the sunshine or the stars. There are 2,819 pavilion seats and 4,882 lawn seats, so there’s plenty of choice either way.
The amphitheater’s setting on the Oakland University campus grounds adds to its atmosphere, meaning it’s set apart from the hustle and bustle of a city. Yet it’s not far from all the activity of Detroit, so it’s a great spot to visit as part of a long weekend when you want relaxation and sightseeing.
This amphitheater provides high class entertainment and a sentimental concert experience as it is dedicated to bringing nothing but incredible talent to the stage. It’s clear and powerful speaker system means that fans can hear every beat of the performance, without disruption. The covered pavilion area, unlike many venues, is designed to give an open feel so no matter where you are viewing from, you won’t miss a moment!
Venue history
The Meadow Brook Amphitheatre was built in 1964 with the purpose of hosting the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the summertime. The pavilion portion of the venue was named the Howard C. Baldwin Memorial Pavilion after a man involved with the charity, the Kresge Foundation, that funded its construction.
However, the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre was not called an amphitheater at the time. The physical venue was referred to as the Meadow Brook Music Festival, which understandably created some misunderstandings over the years. It was only in 2021 that the confusion was cleared up by giving the location its current title of Amphitheatre – which we’ll continue to use for clarity’s sake.
Early on, the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre was a hit, hosting well-attended performances by the Symphony Orchestra each summer. However, by the early 1970s, it became clear that classical music would not be enough to keep the amphitheater going. Organizers began to bring in modern music and even dance performances – a decision which proved successful.
Since then, the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre has continued to host a variety of performance types as well as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It’s now a classic part of the Oakland University campus and a part of history as well as a great venue that’s still highly popular today.
Make sure you keep an eye out for line-up announcements as the Meadow Brook Music Festival is full of surprises and each year it gets better than the last!