Phish Summer Tour 2013 – The Dates and The Venues

From the minute Phish walked off the stage at Madison Square Garden early in the morning on the first day of 2013, fans have been clamoring for information on where the band would play next. Today, after nearly two and a half months of speculation, the HT faves have finally revealed their plan for Summer Tour 2013.

Phish will embark on a month-long tour that kicks off with a rare outdoor show in Maine at the Bangor Waterfront Pavilion and ends on August 5th at the Hollywood Bowl. Along the way the quartet will mostly visit venues they’ve played before with a handful of new spots thrown in for good measure. In addition to the tour, Phish will also return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado for what’s turned into a Labor Day Weekend tradition.

Here’s a look at the full list of Phish Summer Tour Dates…

July 3 @ Bangor Waterfront Pavilion – Bangor, Maine
July 5 – 7 @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, New York
July 9 @ Molson Amphitheatre – Toronto, Ontario
July 10 @ PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, New Jersey
July 12 @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, New York
July 13 – 14 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, Maryland
July 16 – 17 @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, Georgia
July 19 – 21 @ Northerly Island – Chicago, Illinois
July 26 – 27 @ Gorge Amphitheatre – George, Washington
July 30 – 31 @ Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys – Stateline, Nevada
August 2 – 4 @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, California
August 5 @ Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, California
August 30 – September 1 @ Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, Colorado

A lottery for tickets is currently underway through Music Today. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning March 30th. Speaking of traditions, once again we’ve assembled lots of info about every venue Phish will play this summer…

Bangor Waterfront Pavilion

[Photo via WaterfrontConcerts.com]

Capacity: Approx. 16,000

Previously at Bangor Waterfront Pavilion: Phish will make their Bangor Waterfront Pavilion debut in July.

Seating Chart:

Skinny: Promoter Alex Gray started throwing shows at what’s turned into Maine’s premier outdoor venue during the Summer of 2010. In its first three years of operation, the Bangor venue has reportedly pumped $30 million into the local economy. Gray has big plans for this summer with the Pavilion offering its most diverse lineup yet and planning a “more pleasant” concert experience. Phish played Bangor on November 2nd, 1994 and delivered a 30+ minute Tweezer that was released on their first live album – A Live One.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

[CC-BY-SA-3.0/Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia]

Capacity: 25,100

Previously at SPAC: 11 Shows – 07/27/1992, 07/10/1994, 06/26/1995, 06/19/2004, 06/20/2004, 08/16/2009, 06/19/2010, 06/20/2010, 07/06/2012, 07/07/2012, 07/08/2012

Seating Chart:

The Skinny: Opened in 1966, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, aka SPAC, sits in the middle of Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, New York. Phish made their first visit to SPAC as an opening act for Santana on July 27, 1992. They came back for a headlining gig on July 10, 1994 and then another show the following summer (June 26, 1995). Nearly nine years later Phish finally returned to SPAC for an epic two-night stand on June 19 and 20, 2004. The quartet has played this venue in 2009 and 2010, not in 2011 when they visited Bethel Woods, and came back in 2012 and now in 2013.

Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

[CC-BY-SA-3.0/Mikerussell at Wikipedia]

Capacity: 16,000

Previously at Molson Amphitheatre: 2 Shows – 7/20/1999 and 07/06/2000

Seating Chart:

[via MolsonAmphitheatre.net]

Skinny: Canadian fans have been chomping at the bit for Phish to finally make their return to Canada. It only took 13 years, but Phish is coming back to the Great White North at the only Canadian venue they’ve played this century. Phish last performed at the Molson Amphitheatre on July 6th, 2000 which is also their last show in Canada. The 2000 show was the band’s second in two summers, as they made their Molson Amphitheatre debut on July 20th, 1999. This venue features three levels (100s, 200s and 300s = 5,500 seats) of covered reserved seating, an additional level of uncovered reserved seating (400s = 3,500 seats) and a general admission lawn (7,000 capacity).

PNC Bank Arts Center

[Photo via Live Nation]

Capacity: 17,500

Previously at PNC Bank Arts Center: 9 Shows – 07/11/1992, 07/19/1992, 07/02/1994, 07/15/1999, 07/16/1999, 06/28/2000, 06/29/2000, 05/31/2011, 06/01/2011

Seating Chart:

[via Ticketmaster]

Skinny: One of the first amphitheaters Phish ever played back in 1992, the band returned in 1994 and then again for two-night stands in 1999, 2000 and 2011. Located approximately 45 minutes from New York City, at the top of the Jersey Shore, the shed is located right next to State Police barracks, so be careful in the lots. The 100, 200 and 300 section of the venue is covered, while the 400s are reserved but uncovered.

Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

[CC-BY-SA-3.0/R. Sullivan at Wikipedia]

Capacity: 15,000

Previously at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater: 13 Shows – 07/12/1992, 07/24/1992, 07/23/1993, 07/15/1994, 06/28/1995, 06/29/1995, 06/02/2009, 06/04/2009, 06/05/2009, 08/17/2010, 08/18/2010, 07/03/2012, 07/04/2012

Seating Chart:

Skinny: From a set at H.O.R.D.E. on July 12, 1992 through a two-night stand to mark the Fourth of July in 2012, Phish has played a total of 13 shows at Jones Beach. Located approximately 35 miles from Times Square, Jones Beach went Phish-less from a two-night stand in 1995 through a three-night run at the start of Summer Tour 2009. Though the group returned the next summer for the Summer Tour 2010 closers, at which a fan leaped from the venue’s balcony, they did not play Jones Beach in 2011. Phish came back last summer for the aforementioned two-night July 4th run. Bear in mind this venue is located in a State Park and patroled vigorously by rangers. Back in October the venue was ravaged by SuperStorm Sandy, but venue officials are planning to have the theater back in tip-top shape by the start of the summer concert season.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

[Photo via Merriweather Post Pavilion FB Page]

Capacity: 19,316

Previously at Merriweather Post Pavilion: 9 Shows – 7/17/1992, 08/08/1998, 07/09/1999, 09/17/2000, 8/15/2009, 06/26/2010, 06/27/2010, 06/11/2011, 06/12/2011

Seating Chart:

[Photo via Merriweather Post Pavilion Unofficial Site]

Synopsis: This Frank Gehry-designed venue, located approximately half way between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., opened in 1967. While the pavilion offers nice views and good sound, the lawn is notorious for poor sound and sight lines. In recent years, event promoters have beefed up the lawn sound system but you still want to be inside. Phish first performed at MPP on July 17, 1992 as the opening act for Santana and have returned each summer since reforming in 2009 with the exception of 2012.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park

[Photo by Chris Lee]

Capacity: 12,000

Previously at Alpharetta: 4 Shows – 7/3/20107/4/20106/14/2011, 6/15/2011

Seating Chart:

Skinny: This venue opened in 2008 and won raves from concert attendees immediately. Phish first played this shed in the summer of 2010 and the fans loved the neighborhood and GA floor. The band returned the next summer for a two-night stand, but surprisingly moved the 2012 ATL summer tour stop to the more urban environs of Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood. VZW at Encore Park holds a total of 12,000 fans, split into 7,000 under the roof and 5,000 on the lawn.

Northerly Island

[CC-BY-SA-2.0/Zol87 at Wikipedia/Flickr]

Capacity: 30,600

Previously at Northerly Island: Phish will make their Northerly Island debut in 2013

Seating Chart:

To Be Determined

Skinny: Phish will return to the City of Chicago this summer for a three-night stand on Northerly Island. There’s much which isn’t currently known about the site as it is undergoing major renovations and supposedly the capacity will increase as part of a new configuration. [UPDATE: Here’s some details on what to expect.]

The Gorge

[CC-BY-GEN-2.0/YDHSU at Flickr]

Capacity: 23,000

Previously at The Gorge: 12 Shows – 08/02/1997, 08/03/1997, 07/16/1998, 07/17/1998, 09/10/1999, 09/11/1999, 07/12/2003, 07/13/2003, 08/07/2009, 08/08/2009, 08/05/2011, 08/06/2011

Seating Chart:

Skinny: One of the nation’s most gorgeous places to see a concert, The Gorge sits on the banks of the Columbia River. Phish first visited the George, Washington venue during their 1997 Summer Tour for a two-night stand and returned the next summer for another two-show run. The band returned early in their 1999 Fall Tour for another pair of shows. After skipping The Gorge in 2000, they made sure to visit during their first post-hiatus summer tour in 2003. Now, Phish seems to be on an “every other year” plan as they’ve performed two shows at the venue in 2009, 2011 and are set to play The Gorge in 2013.

Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s

[via APE Concerts]

Capacity: 7,000 – 7,200

Previously at Harvey’s: 2 Shows – 08/09/2011 and 08/10/2011

Seating Chart:

Skinny: During the second leg of Phish’s 2011 Summer Tour, the band made their first visit to scenic Lake Tahoe. The venue they played at was a glorified parking lot adjacent to the Harvey’s Hotel/Casino and the lake itself. Those with rooms on the right side of Harvey’s could even watch the show from their balconies. Tickets sold out quickly in 2011 and are expected to do so again this time around.

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

 [CC-BY-SA-3.0/J. Ash Bowie at Wikipedia]

Capacity: Up To 8,500

Previously at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium: 3 Shows – 08/17/2012, 08/18/2012, 08/19/2012

Seating Chart:

[All Seating Charts via Ticketmaster.com Except Where Mentioned]

Skinny: A rare set of indoor summer shows, this marks Phish’s second summer playing a three-night stand at the venue named after famed impresario Bill Graham in a row. This venue was built in 1916 and has been used by West Coast promoters Another Planet Entertainment for concerts such as Phish’s three-night stand. Only two blocks away from a BART station, mass transit is a much wiser option than trying to find parking.

Hollywood Bowl

[CC-2.5/Matt Field at Wikipedia]

Capacity: 17,376

Previously at Hollywood Bowl: 1 Show – 08/08/2011

Seating Chart:

Skinny: Another iconic venue, the Hollywood Bowl opened on July 11, 1922 and has hosted a who’s who of musical acts from all genres over the last 91 years. Located in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Hollywood Bowl holds the distinction of the largest natural amphitheater in the United States. Phish made their Hollywood Bowl debut on August 8th, 2011 for a show that’s just as notable for LD Chris Kuroda’s jaw-dropping usage of the venue’s signature bandshell as for the music the band played.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

Previously at Dick’s:  6 Shows – 08/31/2012, 09/01/2012, 09/02/2012, 09/02/2011, 09/03/2011, 09/04/2011

Seating Chart:

[via Venue Website]

Skinny: Apparently the band felt the same way about the past two years’ Labor Day Weekend run of shows at Dick’s as the fans did since Phish will return to the soccer stadium for their third three-day run in a row. Last year’s three-night stand was among the best of the era and featured one highlight after another, while the 2011 Dick’s run wasn’t too shabby either. Home to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park opened in 2007.

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17 Responses

    1. looks like Northerly island will be the largest actually.. already says over 30K and are gonna make it bigger…

  1. Would have liked Bakewood Amp over the soulless Verizon. The place is an hour away from the “city” and it employs your high school guidance counselor to run the concessions and security. Cabs are non existent and/or expensive and the lot scene is second best.

    Lakewood was EN FUEGO last year.

  2. The picture of Tahoe is hilarious. The only view like that is from on top of Harvey’s. It looks, from the ground, like a parking lot in Reno. If you want this view get a penthouse suite and invite 250 of your friends.

  3. The gorge amp. In Washington is so beautiful , great place for a couple to elope awesome if the band announced the engagement,my son is now 35 and has been following Phish since their show, all the tours across the USA and has made great friends along the way. If anyone has an “IN” @ this concert for that Saturday…could you ask if they could make a small announcement ,,it would be so romantic and awesome.. Last names Beamis and Carpenter for Milton, Nh. Beamis is my son,, I hope they elope there…Hopefully someone can help me with…They are a great couple and I love that They are so into Phish….
    Thanks and you all have great time..
    Love from the mom/ Vicki

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