Best Moments & Events From the 2015 Outside Lands Festival

Outside Lands is one of the hottest celebrations of music, wine, beer, food, comedy, and art. The festival takes place at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Last year, this impressive festival offered concert-goers great music, good food, and wonderful guest comics. 

Although the music line-up for Outside Lands hasn’t been released for 2016, the festival brings some of the biggest acts in the world to San Francisco. In 2015, Kendrick Lamar and Elton John were among the stars that performed. 

If you are thinking about going to this event this year, check out some of the best moments from last year’s festivities to get an idea of what you might be in store for at this year’s event. 

Kendrick Lamar's Fan Dedication

The hip-hop artist performed one of his songs to a fan that was crowd-surfing in a wheelchair. He asked the audience to carry the fan to the front so that he could dedicate a performance of his hit song "Alright" to the fan.

The GastoMagic Stage

The GastroMagic stage was not a music stage, but rather a food stage. This stage featured world-famous chefs, dancers, musicians, and comedians for live cooking demonstrations. The stage showcased the great food offerings available in San Francisco. It also offered some of the most interesting performances at the festival. French Soul Food restaurateurs rewarded audience members who twerked with beignets. Local butchers performed their duties among break dancers. A discussion about mezcal was paired with mambo dancers. 

Billy Idol Rocking Out

Rock and roll icon Billy Idol delivered a high-energy performance that delighted fans at last year’s festival. He performed a number of his signature punk-rock hits, including “Dancing With Myself”. Billy Idol and his band rocked tight leather and cool hairstyles. 

Elton John’s Performance

Elton John closed out the festival in style last year. Fans were delightfully shocked to see Elton John perform his biggest hits. He performed "Tiny Dancer" among other hits. 

For 2016, Outside Lands will run from August 5th through August 7th. Last year, the festival sold out in less than one hour, so you will need to act very quickly if you want tickets for Outside Lands for this year. 

Which Seats Are Actually the Best Seats in the House?

Front row center has the reputation of being the best place to sit at any event in a theater, but it isn’t always that simple. Some people avoid the front row, especially at movies, and would rather be a few rows back. Figuring out which seats are the best for you depends on your personal preference, the type of even you’re attending, and the theater itself. If you’re planning to attend an event at a venue you’ve never been to before, doing a little research before you buy tickets can help you to find seats that won’t disappoint.

You can often find seating charts for venues online at either the venue’s own website or a ticket seller’s website. The seating chart will give you an idea of how large the theater is, and how close the first row is to the stage. If shows have seats available in the pit, that means that the first row is farther back. Seats in the pit are usually the most expensive and as close as you can get to the action on stage. 

Balcony seats are usually the cheapest seats, and for good reason. If the theater has a mezzanine and a balcony, the balcony is even higher and farther from the stage than the mezzanine. Sometimes balcony seats are similarly priced to mezzanine seats, and the lower mezzanine may be a better deal. If the theater doesn’t have both, even if it calls its upper level the mezzanine, remember that this is basically a balcony.

One of the best ways to find out where the good seats are in an unfamiliar theater is to go to the website of the theater and read reviews or message board comments. You can also find reviews and comments about specific theaters on event or entertainment ratings sites. If there is a message board for the specific theater, you can simply ask questions like, “What are the best seats here?” or, “What seats should be avoided?” You may be surprised at the helpful replies you receive from people who are familiar with the theater, and this kind of direct information can help you figure out where you want to sit at a certain show.

Which Seats Are Actually the Best Seats in the House?

 
Front row center has the reputation of being the best place to sit at any event in a theater, but it isn’t always that simple. Some people avoid the front row, especially at movies, and would rather be a few rows back. Figuring out which seats are the best for you depends on your personal preference, the type of even you’re attending, and the theater itself. If you’re planning to attend an event at a venue you’ve never been to before, doing a little research before you buy tickets can help you to find seats that won’t disappoint.

You can often find seating charts for venues online at either the venue’s own website or a ticket seller’s website. The seating chart will give you an idea of how large the theater is, and how close the first row is to the stage. If shows have seats available in the pit, that means that the first row is farther back. Seats in the pit are usually the most expensive and as close as you can get to the action on stage. 

Balcony seats are usually the cheapest seats, and for good reason. If the theater has a mezzanine and a balcony, the balcony is even higher and farther from the stage than the mezzanine. Sometimes balcony seats are similarly priced to mezzanine seats, and the lower mezzanine may be a better deal. If the theater doesn’t have both, even if it calls its upper level the mezzanine, remember that this is basically a balcony.

One of the best ways to find out where the good seats are in an unfamiliar theater is to go to the website of the theater and read reviews or message board comments. You can also find reviews and comments about specific theaters on event or entertainment ratings sites. If there is a message board for the specific theater, you can simply ask questions like, “What are the best seats here?” or, “What seats should be avoided?” You may be surprised at the helpful replies you receive from people who are familiar with the theater, and this kind of direct information can help you figure out where you want to sit at a certain show.

The Legend of Zelda Symphony: An 80s Video Game Becomes High Art

The Legend of Zelda, an adventure game centered on a pixie-like boy named Link who is tasked with rescuing a princess from a well-guarded castle, first appeared in the United States in 1987 on the original Nintendo gaming system. Since then it has become one of Nintendo’s most popular game series, spawning numerous game sequels across all of Nintendo’s gaming systems. In addition to complex adventure game play, the Zelda series has spawned some very good instrumental music, featuring orchestral arrangements, complex classical guitar solos and ocarina pieces that players can play along with by using the buttons on their game controllers. Now, the music from the Legend of Zelda series is being performed as a symphony concert that is touring North America, South America and Europe throughout 2016.

The Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses is a four movement symphony that is believed to be the first ever video game music concert of a classical nature. This is no pop concert. The concert's music was composed by Koji Kondo, who has also composed music for Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. game series. Titles featured in the Zelda concert program will be familiar to players of the game, and they include:

• Gerudo Valley
• The Great Fairy’s Fountain
• Boss Battle Medley
• The Ocarina of Time
• The Wind Waker
• Suite from Majora’s Mask

The music is taken from several Zelda games and sequels, but those who are not familiar with the games need not worry: The excellent compositions and professionalism of the musicians should delight any fan of symphony orchestra. 

The 2016 tour began in Nashville and will move to several major U.S. cities including Boston, Miami, San Antonio, San Francisco and Chicago. Canadian cities that will host the symphony concert include Montreal, Edmonton and Toronto, and the concert will play in the European cities of London, Paris and Vienna, among others. Dates in Mexico and Chile are also on the 2016 schedule.

The History of Red Rocks Amphitheatre

If you want to listen to a concert, singer or speaker at an interesting venue, then the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the perfect place to visit. Located in Morrison, Colo., this open-air amphitheater is only 10 miles from Denver. Over 9,000 individuals are able to sit in this rock structure that is located in Red Rocks Park. This venue is owned and operated by both the city and county of Denver and opened in the early 1900s after John Brisben Walker noticed how perfect the acoustics were in the location. The actual foundation of the stage was created during the 1930s and 1940s by workers from the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps that were part of two federal programs. 

Who Has Performed at This Natural Formation Venue? 

Mary Garden made this venue known worldwide with her operatic performance in 1906. Since then, several musical artists and groups have help performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, including:

• Liberace - 1954
• The Beatles – 1964
• Jimi Hendrix - 1968
• Jethro Tull – 1971
• Stevie Nicks – 1987
• Ringo Starr – 2000
• John Denver 
• Sonny & Cher 
• The Carpenters 
• Pat Boone 
• Seals & Croft 
• Carole King 
• U2 – 1983
• The Moody Blues – 1992

There are Year-Round Performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Not only have many performers and musical groups had live shows at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, but also, they have recorded live performances because the location has perfect natural acoustics. The beauty of this natural venue has also led to it being a film and television location. In addition, the Colorado Music Hall of Fame opened at the Trading Post located near the venue. Despite being an outdoor venue, there are activities at Red Rock Amphitheatre year-round, including speakers, concerts and book signings.

Traveling to the Venue for Performances 

Visitors wanting to see a concert or speaker at Red Rocks Amphitheatre can drive along a highway to the entrance to park in a security-controlled parking lot. Parking outside the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is limited and regulated, and many visitors choose to travel with taxicabs, limousines or buses instead.