The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview empowered music lovers in Syracuse, New York, with countless entertainment this 2023! The vast concert grounds have made it one of the most popular destinations for massive concerts and music festivals! Outdoor concerts have long been a tradition among residents from New York and beyond. The amphitheater at Lakeview can accommodate up to 17,500, making it one of the largest venues in town! That’s why the 2023 summer season was packed with the biggest names in music! Fans from far and wide gathered together at the Lakeview and enjoyed the open space, ample parking, and numerous food and drink concessionaires! A visit to the Lakeview Amphitheater certainly made the perfect day out! So here’s a review of the most exciting concerts and festivals that came to St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview!
The summer season was absolutely bustling with excitement as some of the hottest tours in North America made their way to Lakeview. One of the most stand-out country music shows included Chris Stapleton’s All American Road Show Tour. This remarkable spectacle also brought special guests, The War and Treaty and Charley Crockett. That night on Sunday, 11th June, Stapleton performed to a fully packed crowd and delivered his massive hits, such as “Outlaw State of Mind,” “Traveller,” “Whiskey and You,” and many more. The muti-award-winning singer-songwriter performed over 20 songs, and fans were ecstatic!
Speaking of great country music, Luke Bryan brought his Country On Tour into town on Thursday, 15th June, with Chayce Beckham and Tyler Braden. The platinum-selling singer-songwriter donned his signature cap, t-shirt, and jeans and rocked the night away with his outstanding hits. It was all about the music on this one, and Bryan demonstrated great vocals, excellent guitar-playing skills, and top-tier on-stage charisma!
Blues rock legends Counting Crows made their way to Lakeview on Saturday, the 1st July, to perform iconic hits with their special guest, Dashboard Confessional. The show, titled Banshee Season, showcased the ‘90s sensations career-spanning staples, including “Time and Time Again,” “Mr. Jones,” and “Butterfly in Reverse.” The band also performed several incredible covers from Joni Mitchell, Jackson C. Frank, Taylor Swift, and The Mamas & the Papas. The finale ended with two songs performed with Dashboard Confessional and a cover of “California Dreamin’.”
For the month of July, Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview had a plethora of massive artists and bands. For instance, Shania Twain conquered Saturday, 8th July, with her Woman in Me Tour. You can just imagine the excitement as the queen of country pop music filled the Syracuse air with her incredible hits. On Sunday, 16th July, the kids also had a chance to experience a great pop music concert! The popular traveling kid’s concert, Kidz Bop Kids was in town to deliver the biggest pop hits from Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and more. Kidz Bop Kids’ songs are rewritten to take out any suggestive lyrics or bad words. The end result was a great concert, perfect for the whole family!
Finally, the most highly-awaited concert of the month featuring Phish happened on Sunday, 23rd July. The legendary jam band attracted tens of thousands of attendees. Ultimately, it was a great night of extended jams, clever segues, great solos, and onstage improvs. Phish did what they did best, and that was to perform a brilliant concert and showcase their outrageously brilliant musicianship.
August was packed with out-of-this-world shows featuring the world’s most remarkable rock bands. Some of the best headbang-worthy concerts featured Mudvayne with Coal Chamber, Gwar, Nonpoint, and Butcher Babies. Godsmack and Staind also led a co-headlining show on Thursday, 3rd August. A few days later, Pantera came in with their special guest, Lamb of God and Child Bite. The show was history in the making because it was one of the Pantera’s phenomenal returns to the stage. The iconic reunion included the surviving members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown, with Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde filling in for the late Vinnie Pual and Dimebag Darrell.
During mid-August, more rock bands like Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, Jinjer, The Goo Goo Dolls, Yellowcard, Mayday Parade, and more made their way to the Amphitheater at Lakeview. Atlanta-based country music sensation Zac Brown Band also came in on Friday, 11th August, as part of their From the Fire Tour. Lastly, Swedish metal bands Ghost and Amon Amarth came to show a headbang-worthy concert on Friday, 18th August. The event brought in thousands of fans clad in corpse paint and costumes. The show was also packed with massive moshpits thanks to Amon Amorth’s kick-ass melodic riffs and high-powered breakdowns.
The month of September was a powerhouse in itself, with performances from Noah Kahan, Foreigner, Loverboy, Falling In Reverse, Shinedown, Papa Roach, and more.
It was definitely a great summer for music fans in Syracuse as the most exciting tours dropped by the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview. The entertainment scene was alive and well thanks to the concert ground’s ample space. The venue also provided fans with excellent service with priority parking and streamlining the entry and exit process. The season had tens of thousands of happy music fans who all left the venue with great memories to cherish. “We saw Falling in Reverse in September 2023. It was an amazing show! Parking was quick and organized coming in. The sound was clear and not too loud. We were in section 204 on the aisle and had a great view,” said Zoe in her review. Another reviewer expressed her delight in the several concessionaires present at the venue. “Great outdoor venue with many concession stands/food trucks!” The reviewer also raved about the facilities, “Although there are only two bathroom facilities, there are more than enough porta johns—the three o used were surprisingly clean and offered hand sanitizer.”
The year 2023 was definitely a great year to be a music fan in Syracuse, thanks to St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview. The venue definitely provided fans with excellent access to great music and countless top-tier performers. More importantly, the venue boasts complete facilities, highly-trained staff, and top-notch customer service.
If you want to experience Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview for yourself, you better hurry and score some tickets now! The venue has already confirmed a myriad of great performers for the year 2024! Buy your tickets now and see your favorite artists and bands at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview!