Somerset Amphitheater facts for kids

The Somerset Amphitheater is a huge outdoor concert and camping spot. It's the biggest of its kind in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. This amazing place covers 200 acres of land. It sits right across the St. Croix River.

You can find the amphitheater in Somerset, Wisconsin, right next to the Apple River. For many years, it has been a popular place for music fans. People also love to go tubing and camping here. The concert season usually runs from May to October. During this time, you can enjoy many music shows and other fun events. The venue can hold between 20,000 and 40,000 people. This depends on how the stage and seating are set up.

What Makes Somerset Amphitheater Special?

Frank Bello of Anthrax performs at Northern Invasion, May 2015

This place has been a concert spot since 1981. It got its current name, Somerset Amphitheater, in 2011. This happened when Matt Mithun became the new owner. Since then, many cool updates have been made. The amphitheater now has more removable seats. There's also a Saloon building with a bar. This Saloon is a cozy spot that can hold about 1,000 people.

In 2013, a new stage called The Grove was added. It's in a valley between the main stage and the North Campground. The Grove can hold around 10,000 people. There are three camping areas on site. The North and South Campgrounds are for general camping. The VIP Campground has electric and water hookups for RVs. It also has permanent bathrooms and showers.

Exciting Events and Festivals

The first concert under the new ownership was in 2011. It was called the Soundtown Music and Camping Festival. Over thirty bands played on three stages. The famous band The Flaming Lips was a main performer. This festival showed how much fun future events would be.

Since 2011, the amphitheater has hosted many big concerts. Bands like My Morning Jacket and Trampled by Turtles have played here. It also hosted the first Knotfest with Slipknot. Other popular festivals include Summer Set Music and Camping Festival and Northern Invasion.

Besides music, the venue has hosted other events. One was Tough Mudder, a challenging obstacle course. Another was the Border Battle Beer Festival. This event featured a fun competition between breweries from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

A Look Back: History of the Venue

Before 2011, the venue hosted many different types of music. You could hear Blues, Country, Folk, Indie, Classic Rock, and Heavy Metal. Some annual festivals included Apple River Country Splash and Ozzfest. The 93X Fest (also known as Edgefest) was also a big event.

Many famous bands have played here over the years. These include Bob Dylan in 2003 and Soul Asylum in 1993. Violent Femmes played in 1994, and Garbage in 1996. REO Speedwagon performed in 1993, and Chevelle in 2016. The very first concert at the amphitheater was in 1981. The artist who performed was Charlie Daniels.

Past Concerts and Events