What's So Cool About Red Rocks Amphitheater Outside of Denver, Colorado?

When we get down to the nitty gritty and really examine it, all Red Rocks Amphitheater consists of is a couple hunks of ginormous rock and a lot of open sky. So what is really so cool about it? So many things, we have to give you a list.

Take a look at previous acts that have played there:Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Nicks, John Tesh,Rush, Nine Inch Nails, Dierks Bentley, Chicago, REO Speedwagon and more. We're talkin' everyone to rock and classic rock, country and beyond. It draws a wide range of musical stylings.

The amphitheater has released three of its own albums in a "Carved In Stone" collection. The albums feature live work from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jack Johnson, Ani DiFranco, The Roots, Tori Amos, Ben Harper, and more.

The views are absolutely stunning.And when dusk or dawn hits, you can catch a hazy, reddish pink glow in the sky. Can't argue that Mother Nature knows what she's doing here.

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Nearly everyone has heard of U2's legendary concert held here in 1983. Heavy rains had threatened concert-goers the majority of the day, teasing a possible cancellation. U2 decided to keep going, and "perform[ed] in an otherworldly red mist generated by the heavy fog and stage lights." This particular concert was featured in U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky. Pretty sure just seeing the effects of the natural elements put this venue on the map with music lovers everywhere.

Dinosaurs touched the walls, folks. Dinosaurs! Fossil fragments are tucked in between the layers of rock, sometimes exposing themselves when the rock shifts. "A giant 40-foot sea serpent, Plesiosaur, the marine reptile Mosasaurus, and flying reptiles captivate students and geologists alike."

It's got royal, trumpet-like names that pretty much blow all other venues out of the water. Back in the 1800s, it was referred to as the Garden of the Angels, then in the early 1900s it was the Garden of the Titans. The rock formations that make up "Red Rocks" are even named--Creation Rock, Stage Rock, and Ship Rock.

It was once listed as a Wonder of the World.

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They've got a really fantastic marketing team, who come up with slogans as memorable as the venue--"There's no better place to see the stars."Get it? Stars? In the sky? And stars? The performers? Alright, we're allowing you an eye-roll. But it's still cool.

Zac Brown Band filmed the music video for "Keep Me In Mind" here.

It's simply the best outdoor venue for music. Period. If you don't believe us, then you might believe Pollstar, a publication that gave Red Rocks the award for Best Small Outdoor Venue for 11 years in a row. But the 12th year, they finally renamed the award the "Red Rock Award," which makes Red Rocks Amphitheatre, quite literally, the outdoor venue against which all others are measured.

And the unofficial 11th? (Because why stop at just 10)--Florida Georgia Line will be performing there on September 17, 2014 and we're giving one lucky winner and a guest two tickets to the show, a two-night hotel stay AND a meet-and-greet after the show.

Sounds pretty cool right? Head over to our VIP site to enter! Good luck!

Enter for a chance to win here

Filed Under: Colorado