Alpine Valley Music Theater

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  I have been a devout DMB fan for almost 20 years.  I have seen them 12 times at Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville, IN.  The hubs and I noticed the Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were opening for Dave this year, but not in IN.  The only way to see GPN was to trek to Alpine.  No biggie as I've heard a show here is a definite bucket list kind of deal.  I bought lawn tix because I was too cheap for pavilion.  Shouldn't have been an issue.  We've done lawn many times before.  
  =-Fast forward to show date-=
  We arrived early at 3:00 when parking opened.  Didn't have to wait in line too long.  We tailgated in the parking lot and met some nice guys that parked next to us.  We wanted to get in to see Grace, so we left and had no problem finding our seats (err, places- NO ONE sits).  I was amazed at how few people were interested in catching this phenomenal opening band!!  Come to find out everyone was too busy getting shitfaced in the parking lot.  Dave began and the floodgates of drunken douchebaggery opened upon the lawn of Alpine.  Where did these people come from and HOW in God's name did they even find their way to the gates????  As mentioned in earlier posts, this is a very steep hill.  Add drunken idiots and it's a sight to behold.  My hubs and I were smashed into, crawled over, pushed, shoved, stepped on too many times to count.  YOU ARE IN LAWN!  No matter how hard you try, you will not get to the front freaking row of the show!  If you enjoy music over drinking, if you value your clothing and shoes- I would definitely recommend buying pavilion seats.   If you want to go get completely wasted, then try lawn.  We will NEVER be back to Alpine.  We left early and never looked back.

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  Posted on 07.09.13 Colie Z.

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  I saw two shows here ten years apart and it was an even bigger pit the second time. As has been mentioned, if it rains, stay home. It's not worth the frustration. Drunken idiots come hurdling down the hill into the backs of your legs, as if it isn't hard enough to stand as it is in those conditions. They should really consider paving the parking lot so people can actually leave in cars on rainy days. A bunch of us had to push the car to the hill. All in all, this place costs you way more money than ticket prices after you have to replace clothing ruined in insane amounts of mud.
  
  The sound, I have no complaints about. But the transportation and conditions in the venue make every experience crappier than it otherwise would be. I went to see Rage Against The Machine but couldn't get in in time to see Queens Of The Stone Age because getting in was beyond a hassle. Coming from Illinois made it an even bigger turdbox.

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  Posted on 06.14.12 David M.

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  Disclaimer : I worked here during my summer vacations in high school.
  
  So, the good part of working there in high school was getting to see some pretty cool shows (for '95) : =Van Halen=, Jimmy Buffet, Motorhead and Sabbath.  The latter gave me permanent hearing damage and that was WITH earplugs.
  
  Still, it gave me confidence to navigate my way through AV.  A few thoughts :
  
  1. I'm not a crowd person by any means, but I'd recommend the seats if you can get them.  Easier said than done, I know.  The lawn seating, while a nice experience for some people (or people who just want to smoke up the entire time) might be fun at first - but check in with me the next day to see how your ankles are feeling due to the slope of the hill.  Yeah, thought so. Also, as we learned - make sure the seats you are sitting in are actually UNDER the roof.  Yes, there are a few lucky last rows that are, in fact, NOT covered by the roof, which is good to know.  Bring a poncho!
  
  2. You are at an outdoor venue.  You are in Wisconsin.  This means, pack for the weather. Pack for anything, including a potential landslide. (Meaning - pack your hiking boots and crappy jeans, and bring a change of clothes to leave in the car).  I laugh when I hear people complain about the weather. Seriously?
  
  3. AV serves Budweiser.  Why, I don't know... since it's WI you'd think Miller would step up to get that contract.  If you are familiar with the SE WI area, $13.50 for a beer is a crime. Some people think this is a deal.  All a matter of perspective I suppose.
  
  4. If you are complaining about the "one road" that leads in and out - there are other routes that will get you out of the venue.  Same goes for the route in.  Check your maps people... Highway D will get you there faster than I-43 will!
  
  5. One tip - if you bring bottled water, they now make you remove the cap.  Make sure to take the cap and put it in your pocket before you get through the gates.  Also, if you get stuck sitting in lawn seats, they will let you in with cushions.  It will make things easier.
  
  All in all the staff we encountered were OK during the weekend.  Some rude employees, some nice.  The bathrooms, although gross (hey, I had to lower my standards a few times) are sorely in need of updating.  However, the nice bathroom worker kept things flowing (pun intended) and the line moving to make an easier 'go' of it.  (ha!)
  
  It could use a few updates, but AV is a decent place to see a show if you're willing to put up with it.

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  Posted on 12.06.11 Emily M.

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  Went to Alpine Valley for the big PJ 20 show a few weeks ago. Coming from Colorado where Red Rocks is king, it's hard to get excited over another grassy amphitheater. But I'll give it my best shot.
  
  Alpine's definitely not awful - actually the staff and vendors there are really nice. Lots of beer/food options, but the good stuff runs out quickly. Luckily I'm not a beer snob so Miller Lite, Corona and Heineken were good enough for me. $13 for a double can - not too bad and they go down smoothly.
  
  The place could use some more port-o-potties and that hill leading down to the covered seating area is KILLER! Especially if rainy and one has consumed too many of the aforementioned brewskies. They could use a few more ATMs around.
  
  Getting IN is no problem, getting OUT takes FOREVER!!! Bring snacks and drinks for the way home - you'll need it as it takes a good 30 - 60 minutes to even get out of this place!
  
  As far as the show goes, it was killer. The venue, meh, it's just "all right."

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  Posted on 09.21.11 Amy D.

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  Saw Pearl Jam here for their 20th birthday.
  
  That lawn is a nightmare - especially in the rain.  
  
  Also they need to double the number of bathrooms that they have.  And while they're at it, get the portapotty's with the shelves.  I like a place to put my beer since I usually bring a couple for the wait in line.
  
  $13 for a 24oz can of beer.  Not awful but not great.
  
  The signage inside the venue is atrocious.  Especially if you're entering after dark.  Luckily I studied the seating chart and knew where I needed to be.  But getting there was another adventure.  You enter at the top of the lawn and there are no easy/signed ways to the seats.  I tried going down the walkways but they both clogged up before getting to the seats so I had to walk back up the mountain, I mean lawn and then try a new approach.  Eventually I got there but it wasn't easy.
  
  And what's with the numbering of the rows?  after row M is row MN?  and before row A is row A3?  Why not just start at A and go to Z?  
  
  The traffic leaving was atrocious but I just tailgated some more post show and waited for it to die down.
  
  The only positive thing I can say about the place is the music coming out of the speakers sounded wonderful.  Thanks PJ for a special weekend.

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  Posted on 09.09.11 Louie B.

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  3 words. Frat boys and beer.
  
  = awful.
  
  If it rains, you are have a world of hurt awaiting you. Not only are you wet and uncomfortable, but good luck climbing that hill to either get back to your lawn seat or out of the venue. We almost fell about 20 times and many of our inebriated fellow fans actually fell more than that.
  
  We had a back road way to get there, thank goodness, or we would have had to sit in traffic on that horrible 2 lane road up to the gates.

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  Posted on 09.08.11 Dana J.

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  Alpine Valley was a mixed bag for me
  
  Positives were: the sound in the seating area was very good, the people are friendly who work the merch and food and the scenery is absolutely beautiful.
  
  The big negatives are: the one lane road that leads to the parking takes forever, same thing going out. The mud is unbearable when it rains and the hill is so steep it's actually dangerous to walk to your seat.
  
  The lawn area behind the seating is massive and can hold tens of thousands of people. Food is basic and plentiful and a 24 oz can of Bud Light was $13 bucks.
  
  Another negative is the seating obstructions - the people at the venue said they never saw a stage setup like they had for the Pearl Jam 20th anniversary shows September 3rd and 4th 2011 but i can only go off my two days here.
  
  Sections 101, 201, 103 and 203 do not have good views at all from the extreme sides. As a matter of fact the extreme side of 103 and 203 was an obstruted-to-no-view area for this show. The 101 and 201 side was far away from ther stage and a limited view (the stage was not centered prpoperly and left a big black production obstruction in the 101/201 side.
  
  Alpine Valley is a good place to see a show if you are in the right section, but i would not travel so far to see a show here unless it was a necessity.

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  Posted on 09.04.11 Louis P.

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  Saw Phish here last weekend. My first time in this venue, and overall, not too bad. Luckily, I had pavilion seats both nights. The lawn was at a pretty steep pitch, but that would make for better line viewing. Also, it was surrounded by trees, which is always a plus.
  
  The sound was loud in the pavilion, but on Sunday night, during the encore, I headed out to the back of the venue to beat the rush, it was noticeably quieter. That's all fine and good, but if I was trying to enjoy the show, it could have used some more sound.

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  Posted on 08.20.10 Brian P.

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  I just went to Alpine this past weekend and had a fantastic time seeing Phish for the first time in a long time. Thanks to all the fellow fans and the band for a great Saturday night! I saw alot of shows there back in my high school and college days, and would have given it four or five stars back then, but things have changed on the security front and the SWAT team style county sherrifs clash with the style of the happy concert goers.
  
  On the positive side:
  - Lovely location, beautiful rolling tree covered hills, pretty sunsets
  - Big parking lots allow for lots of room to hang out before the show
  - Relative to many other venues, the staff gets people out of the lot quickly, though it might take a while to get in
  - Decent sound
  - Wisconsin weather makes for lovely summer evenings
  - Steep lawn allows for a good view
  - Can bring in sealed bottles of water and blankets, door security wasn't too strict, so it's easy to get into the venue (no line at the door)
  - Free parking and no security or ticket check to get into the lot
  
  On the negative side:
  - Cameras throughout the parking lot are kinda creepy
  - Insane security in the lot- they actually have a tower that they can pull the ladder up into. Why not just build a medieval castle at that point?
  - Looooooong slooooooow line to get Will Call tickets
  - No vending!!!!!! What?!?!? I guess a few years ago they started to fine vendors $1,000. What kind of crazy is that? We fully expected to be able to buy a burrito or some noodles before the show, but there were zero vendors in the lot. Lamesauce.
  - Inside the show- $13 for a CAN of crappy beer, $3.50 for a bottle of water. Yeah right. Stick to your own bottle of water.
  - Nasty port-a-potties, but in my experience this is standard across the board at concert venues. Yuk. The things we do for fun...
  - No camping or nearby hotels makes for lots of intoxicated drivers leaving the lot after the show. Definitely problematic.
  
  All in all, Alpine beats out alot of the corporate suburban ampitheatres that are dropped down into the middle of a paved lot. The expanses of grass and the rural location are idyllic. I wish I could return to the four star Alpine of pre-9/11, but I guess we live in a lock down style world, so come prepared with your own food and drink, use the port-a-potty early and make sure to have a designated driver. Good times!

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  Posted on 08.18.10 Alison M.

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  In a nutshell: the venue itself was pretty good, but the crowd was totally obnoxious and security was nonexistent.
  
  We were way back on the lawn, but the sound was decent, or at least it was after we moved out of the weird dead spot - at first we figured there was something wrong with the speakers, but it turned out to just be a quirk of physics.  We were able to see the stage and the giant screens just fine, since the lawn has such a steep slope (wear shoes with good treads if you don't want to slip!).
  
  The beer was outrageously expensive, but we weren't planning on drinking during the show anyway.  I can't comment on the bathrooms in the venue itself other than to say that there were no obvious signs for them (find out where they are before it gets dark if you think you'll need to use them), but there were a good amount of port-o-potties in the parking lot.
  
  Speaking of the parking lot: it's huge.  Staggeringly huge.  Think of the biggest stadium lot you've ever seen and multiply it by 5 or 10.  Definitely find a landmark before you walk to the venue, and make sure somebody is sober enough to find their way back in the dark.
  
  Overall, the main problem is that they make absolutely no effort to control the crowd, or to prevent people from getting embarrassingly drunk before the show even starts.  I witnessed people puking, peeing, falling, fighting, screaming, crying, flicking lit cigarette butts into the crowd, pushing and shoving without so much as an "excuse me", shouting random obscenities, shining a laser pointer at the screens, and generally making fools of themselves, all right on the lawn, with no regard for the other people trying to watch the show.
  
  Maybe a concert at Alpine Valley is something that every music lover needs to experience at least once, but for me, I think once was enough.

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  Posted on 08.03.10 Dave S.

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  When comparing outdoor concert venues, Alpine Valley is a good option in the Midwest.  I saw Dave Mathews Band, and I liked my experience.  The positives are the views and the sheer spanse of space.  Many people enjoy tailgating here; people bring canopies, grills, coolers with food and drink, and games.  The parking lot has a picnic feel, it looks like you are watching lots of people camping. The negatives, while substantial, are manageable.  
  
  The biggest competitive disadvantage this venue has is its lavatories.  It is strongly encouraged that you use one early on, or don't use them at all.  First Midwest Amphitheater, in comparison, has good ones and has a lower capacity.  (So, in theory, they wont make as much revenue on their concerts, yet they could still afford real lavatories) Frankly, Alpine Valley has held outdoor concerts for years, so there is no excuse for the lack of lavatory facilities.  The lawn has a capacity of 35,000 (and it looked like it to me), LiveNation charges about 33% per ticket.  That is roughly $400K per concert, if half that amount goes to the venue per concert, there should be plenty of money to install real plumbing after 18 concerts per year.  Lavatories are the reason this place should never score above a 3.  The price of drinks inside the venue is high ($13.50 for a large can of beer), but competitive to other outdoor venues.  My recommendation:  drink alcohol from your cooler in the parking lot, but only bring unopened water inside the venue.  You wont need to buy as much beer inside that way.
  
  For concerts, this is fun place to people watch, sit on a blanket, and enjoy yourself.  Check with the venue website about what you can bring inside.  Some reviews mentioned the stupid people.  I have to say, there does seem to be a higher amount of idiots that will trample your blanket, projectile vomit, and spill beer all over the place, than at other outdoor venues.  It didn't affect my experience that much.  If you accept that there will be jerks at every concert, you should be fine. My positive crowd experience may have been due to the type of concert we went to, though.  I imagine Phish will bring a different energy to the crowd.  (I personally think DMB got the crowds that the Grateful Dead left behind after Jerry passed.)
  
  Arrive at least an hour early.  Parking is about as problematic as every other outdoor concert venue, though traffic management toward the venue is better than other places. (We were not charged an additional fee for parking.)  If you don't want to wait an hour to leave the lot after the concert, you have two options: leave before the encore or wait an hour after the concert ends before attempting to leave the lot.  If it's raining... I wouldn't go.  It would be like one big mudslide in the amphitheater, the parking lot will be muddy, your car could get stuck, etc.  The bf didn't agree, the idea of watching people bodysurf down a hill of mud, appeals to him.  He is a guy, though.  Throw bikini-clad girls down the mudslide, and he would call it the best show on earth.

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  Posted on 07.05.10 Flo C.

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  Beautiful Scenery, great sound. Big Big Big Venue. One of my favorites in the country in terms of beauty.
  If you are stuck out in the lawn, which chances are you
  probably will be, there are projector screens letting you
  know whats going on onstage in bright detail.
  
  I appreciate the Wide variety of food and beer, vendors
  accessible everywhere so you don't wait forever in line and
  miss what you really came to see. Beer is a bit on the
  expensive side, but what can you expect? At least they offer GOOD beer for your money.
  
  ...and after downing all that good beer, watch your footing on the grassy hill. SOoooooo many folks slipping and falling, like a carpet is being pulled out from beneath them. It's funny to watch,
  but I'm sure its not fun if if happens to you!
  
  Bathrooms, Port-a-Potties, and grounds are kept very clean. The security staff is reasonable, The Cops working there are not.
  
  Huge drawback: The parking lot. People are not allowed to vend in the parking lot. For some concerts that is half the fun. And when I say people are not allowed to vend, I really mean it. I ve seen peoples heads bashed into windshields by local authorities for trying to sell some veggie burritos.
  
  Not cool.
  
  Another sore spot is that there is no camping on site or within walking distance nearby so almost everyone (40,000+ people) are drunk driving after a show to get home or to the nearest campsite. Some drivers DO sober up because it can take up to 3 hours to get out of that nightmarish parking lot. Others use the opportunity to party harder. I can't blame them, but it is an unsafe
  situation.

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  Posted on 05.18.10 LISA S.

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