| Address | 2200 Encore Parkway |
|---|---|
| Location | Alpharetta, Georgia |
| Type | Outdoor amphitheatre |
| Opened | May 2008 |
| Seating type | reserved, lawn |
| Capacity | 12,000 |
The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park is an amphitheatre located in the northern Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta. The amphitheatre is meant to hold a variety of entertainment. Mainly concerts by popular acts and themed symphony concerts by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
It opened on May 10, 2008 by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra followed by the Eagles who were extended to a four night stand there due to demand. It hosted many high profile acts during its inaugural season including Foreigner, moe., The Black Crowes and Rush. As well as a double headlined concert between Steve Miller and Joe Cocker in May 2008. Stone Temple Pilots, Tom Petty, John Mayer and comedian Jeff Foxworthy have also graced the stage in the opening 2008 season.
In April 2009 the Dave Matthews Band played two back-to-back shows here to open the 2009 season. June 2009 marked two different double headlined concerts. First with Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire. Then Sytx and REO Speedwagon with special guests 38 Special. Other 2009 season highlights include Stevie Wonder, Kenny Chesney, Incubus, Judas Priest and Big & Rich. The Bob Dylan Show with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson marked another multi-billed show. Various ASO specialty concerts at Verizon where scheduled in between these popular acts. September brought Journey and their top grossing Revelation Tour to the amphitheater as the last major act to close the 2009 season.
The 2010 season carried on in the same vain as the previous 2009 season swapping between popular acts and ASO specialty shows. Highlights included Alan Jackson, Van Morrison, Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Scorpions. Double and multi-billed concerts were once again featured with the likes of Steve Miller and Peter Frampton, Corey Smith with Colt Ford & Will Hoge, Sugarland with Little Big Town & Danny Gokey and Green Day with AFI. For the first time, the 2010 season scheduled multiple back-to-back two night stands for popular acts. The first scheduled was Phish on the 4th of July weekend. Other solo and multi-billed acts to round out the season featured Sheryl Crow, The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue featuring Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs, Maroon 5, Rush and another back-to-back two night stand for Widespread Panic. The 2010 season closed out on October 3 with a Project 9-6-1 Family Reunion 2010 concert featuring Needeep, Taddy Porter, Sevendust, Bullet For My Valentine, Buckcherry and Shinedown. Stone Temple Pilots were originally scheduled to be the headlining act for the Project 9-6-1 Family Reunion concert.
Like the previous 2009 and 2010 seasons, the 2011 season carried on with solo, double and multi-billed concerts by popular acts and ASO specialty shows. Highlights included Project 9-6-1 Cinco Party concert with Avenged Sevenfold with Seether & Alterbridge. Back-to-back two night stands by Zac Brown Band and Phish. There was also Miranda Lambert with Josh Kelley & Ashton Shepherd and Styx & Yes with Shane Alexander. Yes was originally scheduled to play at the amphitheater in the opening 2008 season as part of a planned 40th anniversary tour but it was canceled due to now former lead singer Jon Anderson’s illness at the time. Other highlights included Furthur featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, Dolly Parton, a Star 94 Atlanta StarFest concert featuring Goo Goo Dolls with Michelle Branch & Parachute, Death Cab For Cutie with Frightened Rabbit, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, My Morning Jacket with Neko Case, Train & Maroon 5 with Matt Nathanson, Roger Daltrey (solo) performing The Who’s Tommy, Incubus with a special guest, Blondie and Widespread Panic. The 2011 season closes out with a two night stand featuring Pretty Lights & Bassnectar with Big Gigantic, Beats Antique, Bonobo DJ Set & SuperDre on October 14 and 15.