The annual opening of The Gorge Amphitheatre on Memorial Day Weekend signifies many things to music fans throughout the Northwest. It not only marks the unofficial beginning of the summer concert season, but a break in our long, dark, damp Northwest winters. “Cabin Fever” comes to an end with the start of longer, brighter days and warmer temperatures. Everyone is ready for some fun in the sun!





The tradition began in 1987, when The Gorge played host to a then-living legend: the grandfather of rock and roll and FIRST inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Mr. Chuck Berry. The legacy carried on with many epic Gorge events in the years to follow featuring future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The 1989 weekend welcomed Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Robert Cray Band, and John Hiatt. 1990, a two-day special event with Fleetwood Mac. In 1995, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. 1997, the great Tina Turner. Other featured artists on this weekend throughout the ‘90s included Santana, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queensrÿche, and, in 1998, what many consider the greatest two-day bill to ever play The Gorge: Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Joni Mitchell.





In 2002, a new Memorial Day Weekend tradition was introduced to Gorge audiences: Sasquatch! Music Festival. An institution was born, and over the course of its magical 17-year run, the festival welcomed hundreds of artists including Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Mumford and Sons, Outkast, and REM. The Sasquatch! run came to an end in 2018; however, The Gorge’s LONG tradition of Memorial Day Weekend concerts continues in 2019 and beyond. Details will follow in the weeks to come, but put it in your calendars: May 24-25-26, 2019 will see a new generation of contemporary artists carry on the tradition at this iconic Northwest intuition. A tradition born in 1987 and embraced by music fans for decades happily moves forward to welcome new audiences and artists to this magical venue where moments and memories will continue to be created and shared for years to come.





CAn't Miss Upcoming Summer Shows At the Gorge