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New Red Hat Amp rising—and bringing a serious upgrade with it.
Raleigh’s favorite boutique amp is making major headway in front of its 2027 opening act.
Marking a major milestone this summer with the topping out of its highest vertical steel, construction is now in full swing on the ~$40M Red Hat Amphitheater move across Lenoir Street.
The new DTR digs promise an upgraded concertgoing experience from top to bottom, including improved sightlines, high-tech concessions, backstage spaces and—cue the applause—permanent bathrooms. Because after 16 summers of Porta Potties, some amenities deserve a standing O.
“We want everyone to look forward [to] what a great thing this is going to be for concertgoers, shops, restaurants, hotels—and everyone Red Hat Amp has a positive economic impact on,” says Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex Executive Director Kerry Painter.
As beloved as the McDowell Street space has been during its 16-season run, it was never built to last. Originally conceived as a temporary placeholder on land earmarked for now-incoming convention center expansion, the scrappy amp became a DTR institution in its own right.
And for those who have sweated and swayed at the OG site, the memories will live on—literally. Last month, the venue curated a time capsule packed with stage-side scrim banners, news clippings, merch, artist riders and more, which will be cracked back open in 2076.
Meanwhile, its successor is already booking shows for 2027. Consider this an encore—not an ending.
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