The Gorge Amphitheatre — George, Washington

The Gorge Amphitheatre, perched on a cliff above the Columbia River Gorge in central Washington state, is widely regarded as the most beautiful concert venue in the world. The natural amphitheatre offers a panoramic view across the dramatic basalt canyon, with the river 900 feet below and the Cascade Range on the horizon. Dave Matthews Band has famously played multi-night runs here almost every Labour Day weekend since the mid-1990s, and Pearl Jam, Phish, and Radiohead have all cited it as a favourite venue.

Opened in 1986 as a 20,000-capacity outdoor venue, the Gorge was built by a local vintner who recognised the natural acoustic potential of the site. The venue hosts the annual Sasquatch! Music Festival (on hiatus) and Watershed country festival, as well as standalone concerts throughout the summer season. Its remote location — about 150 miles east of Seattle near the tiny town of George (population ~500) — means that attending a show is an expedition, with most fans camping on-site.

The venue operates from May through September, with camping available on the surrounding grounds. The drive from Seattle takes about 2.5 hours through increasingly dramatic high-desert scenery. Sunset shows at the Gorge are legendary — the stage faces west, so the sky behind the audience erupts in colour as the sun drops behind the Cascades.