2023 Year in review! Gorge Amphitheatre 2023 highlights!
The Gorge Amphitheatre has had an amazing year so far. In fact, 2023 has been a very fulfilling period as major festivals and headlining concerts conquered the gorgeous concert grounds. There is no doubt that the venue, dubbed one of the most beautiful concert destinations in the world, is a highly sought-after concert destination. Its vast concert grounds, providing ample space for massive productions, spectators, and campers, have turned it into the go-to destination for music lovers, and the free-spirited! So here we are, reviewing the entire plethora of shows Gorge Amphitheatre has excellently hosted for the year 2023! The venue attracted all sorts of performers, from rockers to DJs, award-winning solo artists, bands, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, and many more! As a nine-time award winner of Pollstar’s Best Outdoor Music Venue, there is no mystery why Gorge Amphitheatre was the place to be this 2023 and will still be the hottest concert destination this 2024!
During spring and summer, the Gorge Amphitheatre becomes a very active concert destination. It hosts a wide range of music festivals and headlining shows by bands and solo artists. The venue, which can host up to 27,500 attendees, is lauded for its ample space. Fans from all over the world flock to this area not just for great music but for its breathtaking view.
Firstly, the venue opened the spring season with an outstanding two-night run featuring world-renowned DJ Illenium. From May 27 to 28th, the DJ, music producer, and songwriter delivered a legendary rager of sorts with incredible beats, epic drops, and sensational remixes. The Billboard charting performer is known for his great music, and his remarkable light shows that match the energy and thrill of his unique take on future bass and dubstep. Illenium’s versatility as a musician is evident in his various music styles, from dubstep to progressive house, pop punk, and electronic rock. Thus, he attracts tens of thousands of ravers for each show he performs, which makes the Gorge Amphitheatre the perfect venue for this remarkable event.
Brandi Carlile
Speaking of opening a season with a bang, Gorge Amphitheatre greeted the summer season with Brandi Carlile’s annual festival, Echoes Through the Canyon. From June 9th to June 10th, Carlile brought in some of the biggest names in music. It’s a yearly tradition that brings together various types of performers to celebrate great music, nights of togetherness, and more. But 2023’s Echoes Through the Canyon stands out from her other festivals in the past. This year, the Joni Jam is enough to call Carlile’s festival iconic. On June 10th, the legendary Joni Mitchell returned to the stage. Glorified as one of the best singer-songwriters in American history, Mitchell, with the accompaniment of Carlile, belted out hits like “Night Right Home,” “Carey,” “If,” and many more. The duo also performed numerous covers from The Clovers, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, and Johnny Richards. Echoes Through the Canyon was initially slated for a June 9th and June 10th performance only, but both dates have sold out. Hence, Carlile and her team made the decision to add another night, which was headlined by the Highwomen with special guest Tanya Tucker. All in all, the weekend was a thrilling festival of gigantic proportions. Aside from the headliners, fans were treated to performances by Marcus Mumford, Allison Russel, Sarah McLachlan, Taylor Goldsmith, and many more. We don’t know how Carlile can top this year’s Echoes Through the Canyon, but we’re sure that 2024’s edition will be just as exhilarating.
Summer concerts
In July, the Gorge Amphitheatre welcomes the highly-coveted two-night show of jam band Dead & Company. A spin-off of the legendary Grateful Dead, Dead & Company features original members from the band with Grammy Award-winning singer and guitarist John Mayer. To say that Dead & Company is a monster touring machine is an understatement. The band, with its massive production, attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees for their final tour in 2023. For their show at the Gorge, Dead & Company ran through a very expansive setlist, which includes hits like “Friend of the Devil,” “Here Comes Sunshine,” “St. Stephen,” ‘Stella Blue,” and more. Aside from Grateful Dead hits, Dead & Company also covered songs from Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, and Junior Parker. Dead & Company’s two-night concert was more than just an epic final show at the Gorge. The band made sure that they delivered the very thing that fans have been waiting for: extended jams infused with a multitude of genres, outstanding solos, and otherworldly beats and rhythms. Ultimately, the shows were filled with incredible energy from both the band and the fans.
Dave Matthews Band
Starting August 31, the Gorge hosted a massive residency by legendary rock band Dave Matthews Band. From September 1st to 3rd, Dave Matthews Band made the concert grounds its home. This epic run of shows didn’t come as a surprise because the band has expressed their love for the venue. Every year, Dave Matthew Band comes to deliver multiple night runs at the Gorge. As of 2023, the band has been recorded to have performed a total of 73 shows at the venue. In 2014, the band also set an attendance record at the Gorge Amphitheater, selling over 60,000 tickets.
Summer is pretty eventful at the Gorge as a myriad of performers come to make the venue its home. The amphitheater also hosted a slew of shows by Boygenius, Molly Tuttle, Bert Kreischer’s Fully Loaded Comedy Festival, The Lumineers, and James Bay. The venue also hosted a two-night run of Eric Church’s Outsiders Revival Tour, which featured a number of big names, including Jelly Roll and Hailey Whitters. The first night on September 9th sold out, and the next night, September 10th, was fully packed.
Festivals
The venue also hosted mega festivals, such as the Watershed Festival and the EDM festival Group Therapy Weekender featuring Blink 182, Above & Beyond, Mat Xo, Andrew Bayer, and more.
With its excellent location in Central Washington, Gorge Amphitheatre is situated right next to the breathtaking Columbia River. The venue can host up to 27,500 people. Concert attendees from far and wide come to enjoy Gorge’s outstanding features, such as a great camping site, premium seating, the Oasis Tent (glamping) accommodation, and more. During events, the concert grounds also become a shopping and dining hub as the venue can accommodate hundreds of vendors.
You, too, can catch the most exciting and exhilarating concerts at the Gorge Amphitheatre! The venue’s 2024 summer shows have been announced, and it’s guaranteed to be an impressive list of line-ups! If you’re keen on seeing your favorite bands and artists at the Gorge Amphitheater this 2024, you can click on the Upcoming Events Tab! Hurry and secure tickets to shows at the George Amphitheatre now! We promise you’ll get not only great music but also a breathtaking view of the Washington landscape.