(UPDATED JULY 2022) You’ll find the state of Mississippi’s premier music venue in Brandon, MS, a charming suburb of Jackson with around 25,000 residents. Brandon, one of the most desirable places to live in the state, and the Brandon Amphitheater draw a great crowd offering a stellar concert line-up year-round. People come from neighboring states for the musical attractions, including Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Brandon is also where one-half of Wherever I May Blog resides. As an avid concertgoer, she loves being in the town to host these incredible acts and has learned some tips and tricks to make your visit the best. Here is all you need to know about the Brandon Amphitheater.
About The Brandon Amphitheater
The Brandon Amphitheater is a family-friendly music venue owned by the City of Brandon. The state-of-the-art attraction holds around 8,000 people and is located between two interchanges (Exit 54 and 56) along I-20 near downtown Brandon.
The amphitheater is the gorgeous focal centerpiece of “The Quarry,” a 250-acre park that will eventually hold a dog park, baseball facility, and plenty of outdoor trails for hiking, biking, and experiencing the great outdoors.
Fun Fact: The Brandon Amphitheater is 237 miles from Memphis, 197 from NOLA, and 226 from Birmingham.
Tickets, Schedule, and Seating
There are truly no bad seats at the Brandon Amphitheater. You can see really well from all of them, and TV screens are on both sides of the stage for closer views. You can choose from lower and upper-level seats and designated box seats. Lower-level seats are more expensive and are fold-out chairs. I find the upper-level seats much more comfortable. Since there are 28 to 47 seats in each row, I would try to buy aisle seats, so you don’t have to climb over people to go to the bathroom or concession stand.
Pro Tip: The general admission area is directly in front of the lower level, or “the pit.” So, if you score or pay for a front row seat (lower level), it will be a front row to the back of the standing pit area.
You can purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com or at the Box Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. You can browse the Brandon Amphitheater’s upcoming shows at this link. Upcoming 2022 shows include Encanto Live, Brooks & Dunn, Maxwell, Whiskey Myers, Brantley Gilbert, and Chicago.
Fun Fact: The Brandon Amphitheater is modeled after the 7,500-seat Tuscaloosa, Alabama, amphitheater, built in 2010.
Brandon Amphitheater Hints and Tips
The smoking section is beside section 201. Since you are outdoors, the smoke can waft into your area. If this is an issue, choose another section.
If you like a big fan of one of the performing artists, sign up for the Fan Club, allowing you to purchase concert tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
Prices sometimes fluctuate based on demand. I once scored $25 upper-level seats to Chicago on the day of the concert by buying my ticket at the gate. This also allowed me to skip the additional expensive Ticketmaster fees.
The Brandon Amphitheater has a clear bag policy. For more information, click here. Blankets are permitted but are subject be search.
Concerts happen rain or shine, unless lightning is involved.
Brandon Amphitheater Parking
There are parking lots on both sides of the Brandon Amphitheater, either from Exit 54 or 56. The lot outside the Amphitheater (Box Office Lot) is open to ADA parking. You will need a state-issued handicap tag, or ADA hang tag.
Parking in the Box Office Lot lot is first come, first serve. Once it’s full, you will have to park elsewhere.
Food And Drinks
The Brandon Amphitheater has concession stands on both sides of the stage. The menu is pretty basic, with hot dogs, French fries, chicken tenders, burgers, Pepsi-brand sodas, and typical arena snacks. You may want to consider eating at one of downtown Brandon’s local restaurants before your show. We have plenty of suggestions in this post.
The Amphitheater also serves plenty of alcoholic beverages—ice cold beer, frozen drinks, wine, specialty drinks, and cocktails. Beer selections include Miller Lite, Coors Light, Blue Moon, and Modelo.
Pro Tip: A bottle of water will run you $4. Mississippi is incredibly hot during the summer months, so be sure to budget accordingly.
Where To Stay For a Show
There are a few chain hotels and motels near the Brandon Amphitheater, including Red Roof Inn, Americas Best Value Inn, and La Quinta Inn. If you are looking for more upscale accommodations, I recommend staying in Flowood, Pearl, or Ridgeland.
Are you making a weekend out of your trip? Check out our recommendations for things to do and places to eat in the area!
Best Places To Eat In Flowood
Your Guide To Visiting Ridgeland
Best Places To Eat In Jackson
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BB
Tuesday 4th of February 2020
I’ve been to concerts all over the country from theaters to coliseums to amphitheaters to stadiums. I swore off outdoor shows when tornado warnings threatened a stadium show in New Jersey. I’ve been miserable at outdoor shows in temperate areas and more miserable at outdoor shows in the South. Is this amphitheater really worth the risk of Mississippi’s nearly year long volatile weather patterns and extreme heat and humidity? How miserable have you been?
Taylor Hardy
Friday 7th of February 2020
BB, yes--some shows I've been to here are incredibly hot and humid. Plus, you're sitting pretty much on top of the people next to you. So it just depends if seeing someone live is worth it to you. I know that there have been weather issues in the past, too, so it's definitely something to consider.
We don't go to many concerts here anymore because the venue itself is nothing special--it's just convenient for us because we live ten minutes away.
Jon
Sunday 1st of December 2019
I really enjoyed your read. It gave a lot of detail and cleared up a lot of things for us. I want to first advise everyone that is wondering about the seating... Ticketmaster is not fully aware of the setup of the area. We purchased "front row" seats to see Kane Brown in Apr 2020. My understanding of the stadium is that the entire thing is staggered (like a stadium). I just realized reading your site that our "front row" seats are actual floor (or ground level) seats with a pit in front of us. We purchased these tickets mainly as a surprise for our kids (ages 8, 10, 19, 21). Im sure the two oldest will have no problems seeing, but the two little ones are probably not going to be able to see anything.
Taylor Hardy
Monday 2nd of December 2019
Jon, thanks for reading our post! Yes, it's very misleading. Since the stage is elevated, your little ones might be able to see, but if not I would definitely talk to the box office. It's a little annoying that after two years, the maps haven't been updated to reflect the large pit area at the venue. That concert lineup is great and I hope y'all have a fantastic time!
Sonja
Sunday 25th of August 2019
I have ticket pit /row /B seat /16 How close to center is it and where are the isles What about standing at stage or staying in your seat
Taylor Hardy
Sunday 25th of August 2019
Sonja, you will have to look up the seat map on Ticketmaster. There is a separate "pit" standing area that requires a ticket so you will have to sit in your seat.
Donna
Monday 19th of August 2019
I know mosquitos are an issue in Mississippi so this is probably a given, but are they normally bad during the concerts?
Taylor Hardy
Tuesday 20th of August 2019
Donna, I've never really noticed them to be honest.
Lisa
Wednesday 26th of June 2019
Hi Taylor,
I enjoyed your write up on the Brandon Amphitheater.
I am thinking of taking my 24 year old special needs daughter to the Luke Bryan concert. Though she does not require a wheel chair, long treks are semi alright but she is definitely not a fan of stairs. How easy was getting up to 2nd level? And, also, how early would you recommend us arriving for handicap parking?
Also, I would appreciate any other info you might pertain to us. I tried to see if we could get upper seats but afford for her to meet Luke but did not see that option. Do you have ideas on this?
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you,
Lisa
Taylor Hardy
Thursday 27th of June 2019
Hi Lisa! Overall, the venue is rather small and completely wheelchair accessible--so you could avoid stairs and walk up/down the ramps. The entrance is on the second level, but you will have to go down to the first level to use the restroom or get concessions.
I would call the Brandon Amphitheater directly to ask about parking. They also have special handicapped seating areas and I would recommend asking about those, too. They would give you more room as opposed to being crammed into a long row of people and might be closer to the restrooms!
Also, I'm not sure how Luke Bryan meet and greets work so I would check his website. Some artists require you to be in their fan club for meet and greet opportunities and often do a lottery for those tickets, so it's worth looking into!
I hope you have a blast if you end up going! Luke Bryan is quite the entertainer!