Ironstone Amphitheatre

Great for concert

Went to see Steve Miller and Buddy Guy last night Aug 1 2015. Steve and Buddy were very good but unfortunately the sound was very bad. It’s wasn’t very clear and defiantly not loud enough. We were seated on the lawn center left of the stage and mid way between the stage and the back of the venue. People were yelling to turn it up and they finally increased the volume but still not loud enough. That muddied the sound and it was not very clear. There were times that we couldn’t even hear what Steve was saying. Could barley hear his guitar most of the time. The venue might be under a sound limit but if that’s the case they have a duty to disclose it. Interesting that there is a sign at the entrance that warns us of high sound levels.
I’d like to add that I have been here many times and have always had a good experience, like the ZZ Top concert. This review is for last nights concert. Overall I give Ironstone three and a half stars.

Went to the REO Speedwagon and Boston concert this weekend and it was awesome. Both bands were super and the venue was good too, Feelin’ Satisfied. I see a lot of comments on here about the venue, but I didn’t seem to have the same experience or expectations as others. Just a couple thoughts when going to Ironstone when a big name comes in …
1) We had never been to Ironstone before. Preweekend, we talked to people and they said don’t be in a hurry you will be there a Long Time, just Cool The Engines. It is a small town. I think it is just great that bands would come to a smaller place like this. Totally different atmosphere than a big city concert. We just hung around a little and didn’t rush getting out and it didn’t seem any worse than something at SleepTrain/​ACRO/​whatever you want to call it. I recommend just Riding The Storm Out.
2) When I saw you could buy lawn seats, I knew that was recipe for trouble. We got seats in the seat section and it was perfect. Could see and hear everything great it was like something In My Dreams.
3) The wine I thought was ok for the price. You go to SleepTrain/​ACRO/​whatever and you would have had to have a loan to get anything to drink.
4) I didn’t have to wait for more that 5 minutes for a toilet and they had actual guys cleaning the toilets… where do you ever see that. No where. The lines looked long, but that was because people just bunched up at the first few toilets. Go to the toilets in the back there were like 1 or 2 people there. In this case Don’t Look Back would be bad advice. Look in the back.
Not saying every experience there will be like mine, but I will be trying it again for sure.
Time for me to fly.

Well, well, not surprised to see the poor ratings.
My first time there was last weekend and even though the Doobie Bros. were great, and the lawn seating was adequate… the staff SUCKED!
I have never been treated so rudely by security at a concert before. I simply asked if I could go dance up front where I saw others and I was told no. When asking why was told, «because I said so!» Well how rude! Then the other security decided to tell me why and when I thanked her and put my hand on her shoulder she barks, «Do not touch me!» Geez! Get off your high horse.
Certainly makes me not want to go back there because it left a bad taste in my mouth.
On a better note, I thought the wine was decent and a fair price, and they were letting people dance at this concert. Also, parking was easy in and out and for no cost. But I still don’t want to go back to be treated like that.

Awesome venue
Easy in and out parking
Sound system was great
Video screens were awesome
WE DANCED ALL NIGHT !!!
Can’t wait to go back for Steve Miller and Buddy Guy on August 1!

This place is alright, nothing to rave about and nothing to go out of your way to recommend.
I had a great time ONLY because I was with awesome people, I saw a killer concert, got drunk, danced my ass off (despite security’s willingness to let me) and acted a damn fool.
I had two huge problems with this concert: their overzealous security and lack of traffic control.
They have way too much «security». Everywhere I turned one of those yellow-​shirted punks was there telling me not to do something and telling me not to dance was one of those things. No dancing at a concert? That’s reason enough never to come back in my opinion. That’s way too uptight for a outdoor, summer concert for my tastes.
Leaving this place at the end of the concert is insane. They should have some kind of traffic control. The fact they don’t makes a statement that they could care less how safely or quickly we get out. They’re too busy counting their money I guess
This isn’t a good venue and I won’t be back.
P. S. IRONSTONE YOUR WINE IS JUNK.

Once was enough for us. In fact it was one too many. Dreadful, ridiculously priced wine, in a place with delusions of grandeur, or as my grandmother used to say «just too big for its britches». Dancers, forget about it. Also, too many groups that are past their sell-​by date (ZZTOP, AGAIN?)
Save your money, as they’re definitely going to want quite a bit of it and it’s what we used to call «a rip-​off». If you’re hankering for music in the scenic foothills, with wine that you can actually drink, Helwig in the Shenandoah Valley has a wonderful amphitheater with incredible views, good music, and you won’t be persecuted for dancing (we weren’t anyway) and the security was as nice as pie.

I’ve been to several concerts here, and while they manage to attract surprisingly great acts, the venue itself is lacking.
1^st– As other people have mentioned, their security is kind of out of control… It’s a concert yet apparently no dancing is allowed. If you try to stay in your place the people around you complain and security asks you to sit down. If you move to the (very wide) aisles, security asks you to move. You can’t go up front because that is for VIPs. The only place to dance is apparently in the back by the smokers where you can’t see the stage.
2^nd– They put handcuffs on a friend because she unknowingly brought the wrong kind of camera (detachable lens, although not a particularly powerful one) in. Security in the front let her in with it. Although when they «caught» her inside she apologized and offered to take the camera back to her car, they still put her in handcuffs and threatened to arrest her. In a fit of tears and begging she managed to convince them to let her go, but how ridiculous!
3^rd– The parking situation is a beast, or at least getting in and out of the parking situation. I have been to a couple events where it was not too bad, but for the most part it’s a nightmare!
4^th– The wine is bad.
Here’s hoping they take all these complaints to heart and make some changes. It’s a cool outdoor space and fun could be had there.