Birmingham has an all-new spot for entertainment, and it’s already drawing some of the biggest names in country music. The new Coca-Cola Amphitheater, located near the city’s bustling Uptown district, opened in June with 9,300 seats. In just a few months, the venue has hosted Luke Bryan, Riley Green, Ella Langley, Dierks Bentley, and Zach Top, with more top-name artists from country music and beyond on the horizon. Here’s what you need to know about the new spot.
Vinyl Room VIP Experience
Season ticket holders get a slate of benefits, including premium seating and VIP parking, but the biggest perk is access to the Vinyl Room. Members get access to the air-conditioned club, which features an elevated menu, craft cocktails, and access to the private bathroom (a serious perk!). The space offers indoor and outdoor seating, a perfect spot to hang out before the show starts.
Chef Ryan DeRieux and Jared Valentine walked me through the unexpected menu of chili crunch wings and fried gyoza. The team sources meat and produce locally when possible, as showcased in the Wagyu beef burger made with Georgia beef and locally grown tomatoes. The mixologist showed off some of the hits on the menu, including Smoke on the Water, the impressive Golden Daiquiri, and (my favorite) the B’Ham Tea with vodka, mango, black tea, and lemon—the ideal drink for a summer concert.
Access to the Vinyl Room is currently reserved for premium members, but the venue plans to offer it as an add-on for single event tickets at a later date.
A Night Under the Stars
The amphitheater offers plenty of food and drink options even if you’re not heading to the Vinyl Room. In the spacious courtyard, you’ll find everything from crispy pizza from Ziggy’s Magic Pizza Shop and smashburgers from Mosh Burger, plus traditional concession stand fare like popcorn and soft-serve ice cream. My personal favorite? The chicken snack wrap from Rebel Hen Crispy Chicken and a side of fries. You’ll find plenty of thirst-quenching options too, from cocktails and beer to non-alcoholic Riffreshers.
Make a night of it and arrive early to enjoy the open area with Adirondack chairs and cornhole boards before you head to your seat. And there’s not a bad seat in the house, from the high-energy pit to the back of the venue. The size of the arena attracts bigger names but still feels intimate and accessible. It’s in the flight path for the Birmingham airport, which offers a fun element without being noisy.
We had the opportunity to see two shows with some of the biggest names in country music, including Riley Green and Ella Langley for the first sold-out concert at the venue, then Zach Top and Dierks Bentley. Dierks told the crowd that he brought some friends from Nashville and everyone was impressed with the venue and backstage area and noted that there will be no trouble attracting major artists in the future.
Know Before You Go
The upcoming lineup includes Thomas Rhett, Jessie Murph, Jason Aldean, Hardy, Phish, and Nelly. One of my biggest concerns about any event is parking, and the amphitheater has two nearby garages plus several lots that were easy to get in and out of. Before you head out, be sure to pre-pay for parking and double-check the bag policy for your event. A nice perk: You can bring in an empty clear water bottle and fill it up at the hydration station.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.countryliving.com ’
