Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Cinema, Music Venues [Edit]
Old Highway DEast Troy, WI 53120
(262) 642-4400
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
12 reviews for Alpine Valley Music Theatre
12 reviews in English
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Review from Pete R.
San Diego, CA
7/9/2009 2 photos
Excellent large venue!
You have to be prepared for the fact that it holds something like 50,000 people, so it's not exactly intimate. In fact, you know the local amphitheater in your hometown that you're used to seeing shows at? Alpine is likely double that size.
But given that, it's a surprisingly great place to see a show. There's a steep lawn, which does result in funny spills for many a tipsy concertgoer, but which also means good sightlines - even from waaay back. Speakers are all over the place so sound is pretty nice everywhere. Inside the pavilion, the views and sound are great as well; the roof is made of wood to create very sweet acoustics.
Alpine Valley does lose a star for its extremely remote location. While I dig a natural setting, this place is in the middle of freakin' NOWHERE. And that means:
1) Getting in and out of the lot is a hassle. It's so close to I-43, yet the access road is only two lanes, which creates a huge bottleneck for all the cars getting to/from the highway.
2) The closest hotel is 30 minutes away - and of course it's always full, which means YOUR hotel is probably 45+ minutes away. And there's no camping anywhere close either. So if you're the unlucky driver in your crew, hopefully you'll be sober enough for the long ride back home.
But once you're parked, logistics within the venue are surprisingly trouble-free. You'd think it would be hard to provide for smooth ingress, egress, drinks, and bathrooms for 50k people - but Alpine handles it quite well. And the staff is friendly and hands-off, giving no trouble to the fans, whatever their chosen buzz might be.
Alpine Valley's a great place for a summer show - even worth the trip from San Diego. Hopefully I'll be back next year. -
Review from Allison Y.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2008
Invoking all the Senses
Though it is a bit of a trek from Chicago, Alpine Valley (located in East Troy, WI) is worth the many hassles to hear one of your favorite bands. This amazing outdoor arena with some of the best acoustics seats nearly 36,000 with a huge lawn for relaxing and listening. Almost a community of its own, Alpine Valley has ample food and drink vendors, though it is on the pricey side (what concert isn't).
Now, I can't fully sugar coat the venue saying it's all sunshine and butterflies; everything about arriving and departing from this destination - for lack of a better word - blows. Because Alpine Valley is located in a small town (with basically one road leading to the venue), all of Chicago is cramming in and/or out and one time. There is not much to do to avoid it other than arriving extra, extra early or leaving late (which they most likely frown upon).
The Bottom Line: Stay calm and be patient, it's worth it to see your favorite band. -
Review from Angela C.
Washington, DC
3/3/2008
Not my favorite location to see a show, but with regards to large ampitheaters this one is great.
The experience begins as soon as you park, making sure to get there early enough so you can get as wasted as you want to be for the showand don't have to spend $8 on a beer. This is also a great time to meet people and watch people. As regarding the use of drugs...I see people do it and not get caught and I see stupid people get caught.
I've seen shows in every sort of weather and it can get uncomfortable so come prepared. The hill is a bitch to walk up on its own, but is even worse when its muddy....don't wear heals....don't go barefoot (I've seen a lot of sick shit). The crowd will without a doubt be a mess; they are in the middle of rural Wisconsin, whatelse are they going to do?
VIP tix are basically the best, theres free food and an actually bar (that serves liqour) up in the VIP area...though they do have a new stand where non-VIPs can buy liquor.
The acoustics are fantastic. You won't miss a beat.
Some great little tidbits:
The Dead played their reunion tour here...their first and only one of that year (2002). It was a great show.
Stevie Ray Vaughn died here when his helicopter flew into the ski-hill behind the theater.
Dave Mathews Band plays two shows here nearly every year
Ozzfest is here every year
Jimmy Buffet plays here nearly every year -
Review from Wayne C.
IL
8/27/2007 1 photo
I will NEVER go back to Alpine Valley again. I don't care if the dead Beatles were resurrected and were only performing one show and it was at Alpine Valley - I'd wait for the DVD.
Seriously. This place is AWFUL!
I went to the Rage Against the Machine show this past Friday. It's supposed to be a two hour drive from the city to East Troy. We left at rush hour and it poured while we were en route so it took us about 2:15 to get near the venue...then another 2 1/2 HOURS to park! I swear! Two and a half hours to move 5 miles. People were just parking their cars on the side of the road and running to the venue in order to make it in time for the performance. They had three roads merging into one lane. Terrible.
So we finally park our car in the muddiest field of all time (cars were getting stuck left and right) and make the hike to the venue (about a 20 minute walk). We had pavilion seats, meaning two tickets with actual seat numbers printed on them. We were two and a half hours late for the show so after we grab our beers, we attempt to make our way.
We didn't make it. It was PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. The lawn was packed with drunk, stoned, and completely incompetent fans. We physically could not get to our seats.
So we trek back up the muddy hill. I have two beers in my hand following this guy who's dragging his girlfriend behind him, starting a fist fight with everyone who steps in front of him. Meanwhile, I'm yelling, "Stop!! Keep walking!! Stop fighting!!" and pushing anyone out the way who gets in mine. Ugh.
We try to find someone who works there, someone who looks of sound mind to help us to our seats (side note: Rage had been playing for about 40 minutes at this point - unbeknownst to us there was about 30 minutes left...after a 5 hour trip). The only person we could find over 14 was the one woman guarding the entrance to backstage. We approach her. It's quickly understood that she is fucking baked.
"Excuse me...we have pavilion seats but we can't seem to get to them. Is there a separate entrance to get to the covered seats?"
"Uh...um...I don't know. You could, like, try that staircase," she says, peering out from her bloodshot eyes as she sways back and forth.
So we head to said staircase. Mind you, I've seen ZERO authority figures this entire evening and one employee over the age of 15. This was the kind of concert someone gets trampled to death at.
The staircase is no help. It just leads us to some private decks filled with, again, more drunks. We helped ourselves. At this point, with 20 minutes left of the show, I didn't give a shit where I was. I just didn't want to get pelted with one of the many flying plastic cups or lit cigarettes. The private decks, although risky, were the best option.
All in all, this place is horrible. 100% horrible. Horrible direction, horrible management, THE WORST employees.
Bad. Bad, bad, bad. -
Review from Daniel B.
Brooklyn, NY
9/7/2011
I've read so many bad reviews here about this place that I almost gave up of going to the Pearl Jam 20 years concert anniversary on Alpine Valley.
Thanks god I went anyway. The place is beautiful, the crowd very nice and the structure flawless. From the bathroom to security.
Rain, mud and assholes you can find in any big outdoor venue. And about the hassle from get in and out I had ANY. No car lines, nothing. Maybe I got luck in that one.
Anyway, I was cruising during the whole concert day, mixing it up with the crowd and all. When Pearl Jam started (thelast band of the day) I was in somebodies seat and other people were in mine, and I couldn't care less. I'm saying that because I guess people can be too spoiled sometimes. Go to a 45.000+ outdoor rock concert is not like going to a theater. And for more obvious that my remark may seen some people just don't get that. -
Review from Taylor P.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2006
Consistently listed as some band's favorite venue. The Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews Band routinely and openly say how much they love playing here.
For me, my first show was Aerosmith here, as a worker. I spent a season during my high school summer working security. I got a red shirt cleverly labeled with the words, "Security" on the back and thus, I was able to wantonly patrol the crowd. One show, I was placed on duty -- my post was the top of the grassy hill where I would be a lookout for illicit activities such as sex and guys and girls who would head to the fence to urinate. I once saw a crowd of people in a circle chanting "go, go, go" and when I got there, it was a couple not cheering wildly for the show, but having wild, animal sex. Since at that point in my life, a stiff breeze would blow me over, I decided not to disgruntle the meth-addled freak of natures that were staring on at the sexual acts taking place. I just sorta pretended I didn't see anything and walked down the hill.
Also at OzzFest, I was down near the stage and embroiled in a Battle of epic proportions. The drug-crazed crowd fueled by liquor and anything else they had ingested that day was basically starting to riot. Most of the crowd at the top of the hill started to scrounge the grass for garbage, bottles, blankets, small children and then placed their findings into two large piles near the large orange barriers that hold up sound equipment. They actually tried to light them on fire. While that was happening, us "security guards" formed a human chain and watched as the sky above us turned from a light blue to one completely filled with garbage and bottles being tossed into the air. Much of the refuse was being hurtled downhill and I recall dodging plastic bottles filled with earth and grass and other byproducts like I was some battle-tested soldier holding a strategic point.
Even if you are on the lawn, most experiences will be calm and fun. The acoustics here are great and the scenery around the venue is very beautiful. -
Review from Christy H.
Venice, CA
6/25/2008
Just saw Jack Johnson there and I have to say this was a great outdoor Amphitheater. Again- being from the Bay area there was 3 quite close to the city. I had to get used to the 1.5 hr drive form Chicago- but it was well worth the drive!!!!!
I would suggest reserved seating- as the lawn is one big drunken scene. If you are truly there for the music- I would suggest spending the extra $$$$ for the better scene!!! -
Review from Kevin M.
Phoenix, AZ
9/9/2008
hello, Alpine... Im Kevin, and i love you.
This enormous outdoor summer concert shed is located in south eastern-ish Wisconsin. most of the cookie cutter sheds you see thoughout the country hold about 20k, 5k in the pavilion and about 15k in the somewhat inclined lawn area.... well not Alpine.
Alpine holds 35 to 40k about 3/4 of this is the gigantic lawn area which is fucking steep. If you are in the lawn for a show, get in early and get a good spot. The sound can get "lost" in this vast area. i have been to shows where you can literally carry on a conversation at a normal tone, which really kind of sucks. Also, getting down in the lawn can be tough and will give you a great workout seeing as it is so steep.
What makes this venue so great is not the sound but rather the uniqueness of it. It is one of the last outdoor sheds that hasnt sold out to a corporate sponsor. It is also a ski hill so looking out from the lawn, past the stage offers a great view of the sun setting just as the show is starting. Awesome things that have happened while the sun is setting at Alpine include: The Rainbow while Robert Hunter was playing Brokedown Palace, the sun melting while Phish explodes into Divided Sky, faces melting and the sky turning colors while Phish takes the stage.... The list goes on and on and on and on. I have to admit i shed a tear walking out of the last Phish show at Alpine in 2004 -
Review from Robert L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/9/2005
I have seen a number of Rock concerts here. If it's good weather and you get here early enough and your ready to hang out and have a picnic your experience will probably be much better. If you get here close to show time, like I have on one occasion it can be awful. The property is huge, acres of land, giant lawn area and a big hill for gen. admission which can be a big mess. Try to get reserved seats under the awning, then you'll actually see the band and have a much better experience all the way around. I have many stories to tell about this place and the people and bands I have met here. Stay at the lodge next door if you can and make a weekend out of it.
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Review from Lane M.
Madison, WI
9/8/2010
Extremely poor in all aspects. I will never attend another event here due to the fact that they discriminate against pregnant women. Please see this Facebook group for more details:
http://www.facebook.co... -
Review from gfiddy f.
Chicago, IL
2/21/2009
I love rolling, wooded hills and the sunny afternoons, colorful dusks and warm evenings of summertime concerts. Also beer, smokes and all the lovely faces and half-nude bodies.
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Review from Josh C.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2009 1 photo
This music venues is one of my favorite. A huge lawn and a fun parking lot with laid back security. People relax and have a good time at some of the largest shows they will ever attend. This summer we did have some trouble in the parking lot but nothing to serious. Oh -- and plan on drinking in the parking lot, beer is ridiculously expensive inside the venue. Still, all in all, a great place.
