Here's a good article on the popularity of the amphitheater downtown...
Riverwalk Amphitheatre aims to become Montgomery's hot spot for concertgoers
By Darryn Simmons
Montgomery Advertiser
Fans watch last week's Riverwalk Jazz and Blues Festival at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre.
-- Advertiser
Upcoming Events
Here is a schedule of events upcoming at the Riverfront Amphitheatre:
Thursday — Blues on the River with John Mooney and Bluesiana and Oteil and the Peacemakers
May 26-28 — Jubilee CityFest with artists like the Neville Brothers, Billy Currington and Sara Evans
June 8 — Summer Film Festival Series
June 22 — Summer Film Festival Series
June 24 — Kinsfolk Records Jazz concert
July 6 — Summer Film Festival
July 20 — Summer Film Festival
July 22 — Pure Prarie League and Poco
July 31 — Stars on the Riverfront
Aug. 19 — The Commodores
With the closing of the Carmichael Center and the Civic Center -- at least for the forseeable future -- music lovers in Montgomery have been left craving a popular concert venue. The replacement may just be the Riverwalk Amphitheatre, thanks to some improvements and some good-sized events on the way.
In the amphitheater's favor: The recent success of the WBAM 98.9 Birthday Bash; the announcement of several older acts (but still big draws) like the Commodores coming this summer; and the return to the river of Jubilee CityFest.
"It's 150 percent better than it was a year ago," said Lance Houston, program director at WBAM. "The addition of the restrooms and more concrete has really helped."
Branch Kloess, director of facilities for the downtown riverfront, called this the first really big year for the venue.
"We've worked on the bathrooms, the concrete, repaired and repainted the stage," he said. "It's an improvement not just aesthetically but for safety as well."
Restrooms being added to the venue, which opened in 2003, is probably the biggest improvement, but the additional concrete has also played a role because it gives options after a rain, Houston said.
"It's not guaranteed to be a mudbath whenever it rains," he said.
Local concert promoter Royce Richardson, who is putting together the Commodores and other shows, said that the amphitheater has great potential to be the concert spot in Montgomery.
"It's in a good location and hopefully it'll be good weather throughout the summer," he said. "All it needs is Montgomery to come out and support the shows there."
Richardson announced a five-concert series that begins with a July 22 show that will feature Poco ("Crazy Love" and "Nothing To Hide") and Pure Prairie League ("Amie," and "Let Me Love You Tonight").
On Aug. 19, the Commodores come to town.
Richardson isn't the only one looking to bring acts to the amphitheater. According to Michael Long, program director at WZHT Hot 105, there are plans for a show featuring soulful crooner Anthony Hamilton at the amphitheater next month.
Long is not involved with the show. Kloess said he's still negotiating for that show and others as well.
"We get calls practically every other day from agents, promoters and the artists themselves," he said. "People know it's a great venue."
Kloess made it clear he's not just looking at one genre of music. He hopes to make the amphitheater all-inclusive, with music of every kind.
"It's going to take money, but the goal is to make it happen," he said.
Marianne McLeod, executive director of Jubilee CityFest, said that there are a lot of advantages at the amphitheater location. Jubilee returns to the riverfront this Memorial Day weekend with popular artists like the Neville Brothers, Billy Currington and Sara Evans performing at the amphitheater.
"The bathrooms are definitely a big part," she said. "The close proximity to the Biscuits (Riverwalk) stadium helps too, as there are more opportunities for shade there when it gets too hot."
McLeod said the shade would definitely play a part of Jubilee this year, since KidsFest will be at the stadium on Saturday during the festival.
But local concertgoers aren't the only ones who benefit from the amphitheater's success. Area businesses are hoping to reap the benefits as well.
"With places like us, the Brew Pub and Sous La Terre, hopefully people will realize they don't have to leave the downtown area after the show is over," said Chris Rambo, owner of Off the Wagon at 62 Dexter Ave.
Rambo said he hasn't yet noticed any difference in his business with the amphitheater, but that he wouldn't rule out that changing in the coming months.
"It seems like they have more shows planned this summer than they did last year," he said. "That's going to being more people downtown."
George Traywick, owner of Sous La Terre and La Salle Bleu, said he was also looking forward to drawing more people downtown.
"Over the years, Jubilee has been pretty good for business and so has the Biscuits," he said. "Hopefully more shows at the amphitheater will have the same effect."
If there is any complaint about the amphitheater, it's that, while the view is great, the air isn't always so pleasant.
Walker Jones of Montgomery, who attended the WBAM show, said that there was a lot of smoking going on and it took away from his enjoyment of the show.
"The city regulates the place, (so) it should be non-smoking or at least have a spot designated across the train tracks for it," he said.
The Riverfront Amphitheatre is a city-owned facility and city facilities are non-smoking. Kloess said he's looking at options right now.
"We don't know exactly what we're going to do now," he said.
Once the smoking situation is determined, all indications are that the amphitheater will be a pretty popular spot in Montgomery for years to come.
"It's pretty much the only decent concert spot in Montgomery," Jones said. "They've got bathrooms now; hopefully they'll add some more shaded areas next."