The 20 Best Ohio Concert Venues of all Time. Ohio has some of the finest outdoor concert venues in the nation. With its warm weather and lively music scene, it’s no surprise that outdoor concerts have become so popular in Ohio. Whether you’re a fan of live music or just want to enjoy a night out with some friends, here are some of the best outdoor concert venues in Ohio.
Ohio Concert Venues
1. Fraze Pavilion
Contact: +1 937-296-3300
The Frame Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater located in downtown Kettering, Ohio. It opened in 1991 and is named for Dermal Frame. Frame was a resident of Kettering who was the inventor of the popular beverage can. The theater has hosted many well-known American and international music acts. Sheryl Crow performed two sold-out concerts at the Frame Amphitheater 1991 and filmed her DVD, “C’mon America.”
The Frame is located just outside the Lincoln Park Civic Commons. The area is home to a variety of local music festivals and events, such as the Swamp Romp Cajun-zydeco festival, the Blues Fest, the Festival of the Vine wine and jazz festival, the Pass Yacht an Austrian festival in honor of the Sister City of Kettering, Steyr in Austria, and the buried art festival Art on the Commons. – Ohio Concert Venues
2. Newport Music Hall
Contact: +1 614-461-5483
The Newport Music Hall is an indoor and outdoor music venue in Columbus, Ohio. It is “America’s longest continuously running rock club”. It is located on High Street near the Ohio Union campus. Tickets can be purchased at the box office. Newport Music Hall was the last venue in America to host the last American performance of Jan. Lee Hooker before his untimely death.
The building currently houses Newport was sold to Promo West and reopened as Newport Music Hall, preserving the historic ballroom architecture as well as the legacy of past and current performers. The venue hosts over 1,000 guests a year. – Ohio Concert Venues
3. Blossom Music Center
Contact: +1 330-920-8040
The Blossom Amphitheater, also known as the Blossom Music Center or simply “Blossom,” is a large outdoor amphitheater located in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. It is home to The Cleveland Orchestra’s annual Blossom Festival and houses a full summer season of popular music and symphony performances. The Blossom Amphitheater was named in honor of two of Cleveland’s most prominent families: the Blossom Sr. and the Blossom Jr. families, who both served as presidents of the Music Arts Association.
After the death of the Blossom Jr. in 1961, the Music Arts Association continued to provide financial support to the Blossom family, with the President of the Board of Directors feeling that the family deserved the honor more than any other family in the city. The amphitheater’s natural parabolic roof, sloping slabs, and wooded surroundings set it apart from other modern amphitheater venues. The pavilion is made of slate and tube steel and can set up to 6051 people, with a general admission lawn section behind the pavilion. – Ohio Concert Venues
4. KEMBA Live!
Contact: +1 614-461-5483
The Arena District in Columbus, Ohio, is home to KEM BA Live!, a year-round concert venue with both indoor and outdoor venues. The indoor venue is the “Indoor Music Hall” and the outdoor venue is the “Outdoor Amphitheater”. Promo West Productions acquired the venues from AEG, an American entertainment presenter, and the two venues were later opened as a sister venue, Megacorp Pavilion.
Megacorp Pavilions is based out of Newport, Kentucky. The House of Blues on steroids was reimagined as Megacorp Pavilion in Columbus. The venue features state-of-the-art lighting and, an acoustic and reversible stage. Megacorp Pavilion was nominated for “Best new major concert venue” at the 2015 Poll Star Awards. Stage AE is a sister venue to Megacorp Pavilion that opened in December, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. – Ohio Concert Venues
5. Stambaugh Auditorium
Contact: +1 330-747-5175
Tombaugh Auditorium, Tombaugh, is a performing arts hall located in the heart of Youngstown, Ohio. Established with the support of Henry H. “Pop” Tombaugh, the auditorium is a non-profit public facility. It is home to the beloved Concert Hall, which is known for its almost perfect acoustics. Tombaugh also offers exceptional wedding spaces, such as Christman Hall, Tyler Grand Ballroom, Formal Gardens, and Lobbies, which can accommodate up to 200 guests for your dream wedding.
Fill out our wedding inquiry form and get a quick response from our event coordinators, who will provide you with all the information you need for your special day. These versatile spaces are also perfect for business meetings or other special events. – Ohio Concert Venues
6. Jacobs Pavilion
Contact: +1 440-775-2190
Jacobs Pavilion is an outdoor concert and event venue that is partially covered. It is located on the banks of the mighty Cuyahoga River on the western bank of the Flats in the downtown Cleveland, Ohio area. All concerts and events at Jacobs Pavilion are held rain or shine. In the event of unsafe conditions, shows may be postponed or canceled.
You will be notified by email to the email address that you used to purchase your tickets. All guests entering the venue go through a security screening. A list of prohibited items can be found on the website. The Jacobs Pavilion Box Office is only open on event days. The box office opens 2 hours before doors open. – Ohio Concert Venues
7. Ohio Stadium
Contact: +1 800-462-8257
Ohio Stadium, also known as the “Horseshoe” or “Shoe” and the “House That Harley Built”, is an American college football stadium located on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus. It serves primarily as the home stadium for the Buckeye football team, as well as being the site of the university’s Spring commencement ceremony each May. Before Columbus Crew Stadium opened, Ohio Stadium was also the home stadium for Ohio State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as the Ohio State women’s and men’s track and field programs.
In addition to athletic events, Ohio Stadium has been a concert venue for many notable acts, including U2, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, Pink Floyd, and Metallica. Another renovation to include more luxury suites was begun and will eventually result in a decrease in seats. Ohio Stadium is the largest single-purpose football stadium in Ohio and is the third largest single-purpose on-campus stadium in the U.S. – Ohio Concert Venues
8. Rose Music Center at The Heights
Contact: +1 937-610-0288
The Stuart & Mimi Rose Music Center, at The Heights, is a fully enclosed outdoor amphitheater that opened in May. It is located on an acre of land adjacent to Interstate 75 north of Dayton, Ohio. The amphitheater is owned and operated by the music and event management of Cincinnati and is part of the city’s “The Heights” residential/retail development. The project was approved by the Huber Heights City Council in March of, with an $18 million budget. The final stated cost was $1 million.
Construction on the amphitheater began in January and was completed just in time for the concert season. The venue was named after the late singer-songwriter Stuart Rose and was given its current name by the city council in January when they entered into a lifetime naming right agreement with the family foundation of the singer-songwriter’s son, Stuart Rose. Rose is the CEO and co-founder of the Dayton-based ethanol producer, REX American Resources. The venue opened its doors to the public with a concert featuring Christian rock band “NeedtOBreathe”. – Ohio Concert Venues
9. Cincinnati Music Hall
Contact: +1 513-744-3344
Cincinnati Music Hall is a full-scale classical music performance hall located in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. It is home to the Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Cincinnati Opera, the May Festival Chorus, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, among others. The Music Hall was completed and was declared a National Historical Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior.
Built over a poor man’s cemetery, Music Hall has earned a reputation as one of America’s most haunted places. The building was designed with two purposes – to host musical performances in the central auditorium and to host industrial exhibitions in the side wings. Music Hall is located on Elm Street, across the street from historic Washington Park, in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, minutes from downtown. After being closed for more than a year for a $1 million renovation project, Music Hall reopened. – Ohio Concert Venues
10. Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Contact: +1 216-383-1124
Beach Land Ballroom & Tavern was founded by Cindy Barber & Mark Teddy. They transformed the historic Croatian Liberty Hall, in Cleveland, into a unique live music venue. They kept the vintage feel of the building while preserving a piece of Cleveland’s history. The venue features two stages: the small Tavern stage and the large Ballroom stage.
This allows Beach Land to host two separate concerts on most nights. In addition to its packed music schedule, Beach Land has a full kitchen, a wide selection of beers, and even a vintage shop called This Way Out! – Ohio Concert Venues
11. Legend Valley
Contact: +1 740-323-4236
Legend Valley has been resurrected from the ashes of the past and will continue to play music for years to come. Back in the early ‘90s, Clifford Jinks and his wife Helen Jinks began hosting small get-togethers on the farm where friends and family gathered to jam. Cliff’s passion for music led to the creation of a true “grassroots” music venue. Cliff and Helen signed a lease agreement with local partners George Biddle & Gary Ketch who wanted to bring in more talent and big-name acts to the venue.
Biddle & Ketch named it “Legend Valley”. In August of that year, Legend Valley welcomed Alabama, and later that year, in August of the following year, the mighty Willie Nelson, the mighty Marshall Tucker Band, and Leon Russell, and in the fall of that year, the mighty Rick Springfield, and in the spring of 2020, the mighty The Wright Brothers. One of the things that set Legend Valley apart from the rest of the venues was that coolers & picnic baskets were allowed and encouraged to be brought into the venue. – Ohio Concert Venues
12. Agora Theater & Ballroom
Contact: +1 216-881-2221
The Agora is a live music venue in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1913 by Henry “Hank” LoConti, Sr. The name “Agora” was used for two other venues in Cleveland over the years, the last of which was destroyed in a fire. The first “Agora in Cleveland” was opened in July, as “Agora Alpha.” The venue was located on Cornell Road, in Little Italy, near Case Western Reserve College. The venue was originally called “Nine’s Pizza.”
The first bands to play at the Agora were Ted Nugent and Measles. The following bands played at the Agora in addition to Measles and the James Gang. The band Freeport, also known as “The Freeport”, was one of the first bands to play the Agora. The club was a huge success. They sold Memberships right away. The college kids in the residential neighborhood of “Little Italy” didn’t like the loud noises coming out of the club late at night. – Ohio Concert Venues
13. Cleveland Browns Stadium
Contact: +1 440-891-5001
The Cleveland Browns Stadium is a National Football League stadium located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It is primarily used for American football and serves as the home field for the Cleveland Browns. The stadium also hosts other events such as high school, college, and junior college football games, soccer games, hockey games, concerts, and other sporting events. The stadium opened in under the name FirstEnergy Stadium and had a seating capacity of 73,200.
The capacity was reduced to 73,200 after the stadium underwent its first phase renovation project over two years. The stadium is located on 31 acres on Lake Erie’s North Coast Harbor in the vicinity of downtown Cleveland. Cleveland’s stadium is one of five NFL venues that have not yet hosted a single home playoff game. The other four are the Atlanta Falcons; the Las Vegas Raiders; the Los Angeles Chargers; the New York Jets; and the Cleveland Browns. – Ohio Concert Venues
14. Riverbend Music Center
Contact: +1 513-232-5882
River Bend Amphitheater is an outdoor concert venue in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. It was built for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to host concerts in an outdoor setting during the summer. The amphitheater is located on the banks of The Ohio River, just steps away from Coney Island, and is right next door to Becerra Park. The building was designed by Michael Graves, a renowned architect and recipient of the prestigious Drainage Prize. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra owns and operates the amphitheater, which is booked and managed by Music and Event Management Incorporated and is also a partner of Live Nation. – Ohio Concert Venues
15. Bogart’s
Contact: +1 513-872-8801
Bogart’s is a live music venue located in Perryville, Ohio, close to the University of Cincinnati. It is located across Vine Street from Sudsy Malone’s Rock ‘n Roll laundry & Bar, and opened a themed-party night. The venue hosted a wide range of comedians, including Billy Crystal, Church Marin, and Tommy Chong, as well as national recording artists, and bands that gained notoriety through their performances at Bogart’s, including Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Pepper, and more.
In its early days, the venue was the home of many emerging metal bands, and the intimate setting allowed the crowd to get up close to the stage with acts like Testament, Slayer, death, dark angel, overkill, w.a.s.p. and others each week. The venue is currently managed by Live Nation, and has two levels, including a pit and a balcony that is available for larger events. – Ohio Concert Venues
16. Ludlow Garage
Contact: +1 513-861-7625
The original Ludlow Garage was an automobile shop that opened in later became a live music venue in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was owned and operated by Jim Tarbell, a former City Council member and current Vice Mayor of Cincinnati. From September to January of the following year, concerts were held at the venue. Several recordings have been released, including the Allman Brothers Band’s live album “Ludlow Garage” and NRBQ’s Live at Ludlow Garage.
A compilation, “Still Truck in,” was released on CD and DVD, featuring performances from the original venue. The basement level of the venue was named “The Ludlow Garage” after the historic site. Scott and Maria Crawford opened the venue in October of this year, and it now hosts live music a few nights a week. It seats 500 for reserved seating shows and includes a bar and restaurant. Dave and Claudia Taylor now own and operate the venue. – Ohio Concert Venues
17. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Contact: +1 216-420-2200
The Rocket Mortgage Field House is an arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It is home to the National Basketball Association Cleveland Cavaliers and the American Hockey League Cleveland Monsters. It also serves as the secondary arena for the Cleveland State Vikings men’s and women’s basketball teams. The arena opened in October of the same year as the Gateway Sports & Entertainment Complex, which opened alongside neighboring Progressive Field in April of the same year. It replaced Rich field Coliseum, the region’s primary entertainment facility and home of the Cavaliers.
It also replaced the former Cleveland State University as the primary concert venue and athletic venue for downtown Cleveland. From October 1994 to August of the following year, the arena was known as the Guns Arena, named after Cavaliers owner Gordon Guns after he paid for naming rights. In August of the same year, Dan Gilbert purchased the naming rights for the building and renamed it Quicken Loans Arena, naming it after Gilbert’s mortgage lending company, Quicken Loans. The building was renovated and expanded in April of the following year. – Ohio Concert Venues
18. Stuart’s Opera House
Contact: +1 740-753-1924
Stuart’s Opera House is a National Register-listed historic building located in the town of Nelsonville, Ohio. It is a performing arts center and live music venue that was continues to serve the community of Nelsonville. George Stuart began his career as a showboat owner and operator, traveling through the canals of Ohio with a troupe of professional minstrels. His showboat sank, and soon after, construction began on his new opera house.
This building marked the beginning of Nelsonville’s boom period, which was brought about by the development of the growing rail system that transported coal from the region to the industrial north. The presence of the Opera House signified that Nelsonville had firmly established itself. It quickly became a cultural center, not only as an entertainment venue but also as a meeting place for community events. From benefits for local organizations to high school graduations to Sunday school classes that were too large for the local church, the Opera House hosted some of the most popular acts of the time. – Ohio Concert Venues
19. Taft Theatre
Contact: +1 513-232-6220
The Taft Theatre, also known as the Taft Theatre, is a theater in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was built in the Art Deco style, and all seats have unobstructed views of the stage. The Taft Theatre is part of the historic Masonic Temple Building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Sycamore Street. The Children Theatre of Cincinnati is the home of the Taft Theatre. The theater is owned and operated by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra subsidiary Music & Event Management, Inc., which also owns Riverbed Music center and PNC pavilion.
The Taft Theatre underwent $3 million in upgrades and renovations, including air conditioning, seating, and restroom improvements. The theater hosts Broadway shows, concerts and comedy as well as special events. In October of this year, the theater hosted the politically motivated vote for change Tour, featuring performances by Key’ Mo, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne. – Ohio Concert Venues
20. The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Contact: +1 513-232-5882
The Music Center at The Banks is a year-round music venue located in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio. Located on the banks of the Ohio River, the center opened in July. It features an outdoor festival stage in the park next door. In November, the Cincinnati City Council and Hamilton County Commissioners finalized plans to build a music center at The Banks near Paul Brown Stadium.
The venue will be built and managed by Music and Events Management, Inc., the non-profit concert arm of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In July, Key opened the indoor venue for the first time, with the Foo Fighters opening as the headlining act on the festival’s outdoor stage. – Ohio Concert Venues
