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Music Rocks! Especially in Denver.

It's home to Red Rocks, “the only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world.”

red rock ampitheatre
(David Kidd)
No matter what is happening onstage at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the 9,500-seat, open-air venue itself is always the star attraction.

Billed as “the only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world,” Red Rocks has been hosting performances for more than 100 years. Situated 10 miles west of Denver on the eastern slope of the Rockies, Red Rocks gets its name from the towering sandstone formations found throughout the 640-acre, city-and-county-owned park.

Three immense, 300-foot outcroppings define the amphitheater, and every seat offers an unobstructed view of the stage, downtown Denver and the Colorado plains.

Once a haven for folk music, Red Rocks was forever changed in 1964 when the Beatles brought in a new era of rock ’n’ roll. Since then, the venue has been booked solid -- even the biggest acts have to schedule weekend dates years in advance. 

David Kidd is a photojournalist and storyteller for Governing. He can be reached at dkidd@governing.com.
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