Frost Amphitheater Information

Frost Amphitheater (Amp) is an incredible outdoor venue located at Stanford University. And Stanford University, officially known as Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in California. It’s one of the largest universities in the country occupying a space of 8,180 acres with an average enrollment around 17,000 students. Many university analysts and educators consider Stanford to be one of the most prestigious universities in the world and that makes graduation from the university one of the biggest badges of honor for their students.

So it’s no surprise that its amenities and facilities are considered some of the best in the world. And that includes Frost Amp (officially known as The Laurence Frost Amp).

Frost Amphitheater History

The original Frost Amp was opened to the public in 1937. The original Amp was built as a gift of Mr and Mrs. Howard Frost in memory of their son, John Laurence Frost, who graduated from the university in 1935 and died of polio later that same year. The venue is a tree-lined grassy, tiered 20-acre bowl designed by landscape architect Leslie Kiler. The venue would later see renovations and updates, with the most recent being in the 2010s.

At the time of its founding, Frost Amp was best known as being the site of commencement ceremonies for the university. This lasted from 1938-1984. But during this time, the space was used for a variety of other events as well, as evidenced by photographs of major performers including Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young attending the venue. But one of the most famous historical incidents was when the venue was the site of a speech by then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1992.

As A Music Venue

Over the years, Frost Amp has played host to a variety of star-studded events. This includes several concerts by some of the world’s biggest bands, performers, and musicians. This isn’t a surprise to anyone until you realize how often these entertainers come back.

For example, The Grateful Dead played 14 shows at the Amp in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989. This may have helped spur on the Stanford Concert Network (SCN). The SCN is a student run organization that has hosted an annual Frost Music and Arts Festival at the Amp each May. The event featured headliners Modest Mouse, MGMT, Dispatch, Flume, and Fetty Wap, as well as Eyes Lips Eyes, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Delorean, Kuroma, Paper Void, Yeasayer, Kaytranada, AlunaGeorge, and Sage the Gemini. For many students and attendees, the performers featured at the festival become their new favorite performers in a variety of genres.

Perhaps most famously of all, the venue hosts a jazz or classical concert and fireworks display every 3rd of July.

The Reviews Are In

When you look up reviews of Frost Amp, you’ll find high-ratings and frequent praise. One of the most common sources of praise can be attributed towards the majestic and simple beauty of the venue especially with how the stage is surrounded by trees. Fans will also comment on the diverse and welcoming crowd that seems accepting of a variety of age groups and backgrounds. 

The acoustics are also frequently praised for being perfectly balanced so music is clear without being too loud so you can hear the person next to you, even during the loudest or most wild concert events.

For more information on the Frost Amphitheater see the pages below:

Frost Amphitheater Parking:
Read parking information and directions for the Frost Amphitheater.

Ticket Policies:
Read ticket policies, ticket verification and refund policies.

Frost Amphitheater Seating Chart:
View the Frost Amphitheater seating map and read related seating information.