We may have the Yankees, but Massachusetts has Tanglewood

It’s been a few years since I found myself on the lawn at Lennox’s beautiful Tanglewood, a reality that I state with great regret. My visit there Labor Day weekend was a tremendous reminder of how superior Tanglewood is to any other large outdoor venue within an hour’s drive of Albany.

Yeah, I said it.

Tanglewood is absolutely beautiful, but that isn’t what makes it, in my opinion, a more desirable location to take in a performance. I mean, SPAC is also lovely with its tall pine trees, often star filled sky and gurgling waters.

What I believe makes Tanglewood a first choice is the way concert goers are treated – like adults.

This courtesy begins with the parking experience, a welcome complete with clear guidance as to where to park and pleasant employees leading drivers to spaces in a neatly mowed field. The walk to the venue is easy and takes minutes, even if attendees are towing coolers in their wake.

At the gate, personal items are quickly scanned, along with tickets, in a process that took us only moments with lanes clearly identified to indicate which one to take depending upon what guests were bringing in. Simple and well marked.

While the lawn at Tanglewood is flat, unlike the slope one encounters at SPAC, the large projection screens ensure a decent enough view from most of the lawn. We set up our relatively basic spot (sans candelabra!) with chairs, blanket and food and drink to the right of the stage giving us a sightline that was unobstructed.

Aisles and lanes of passage on the lawn are well marked and provide an easy flow for concert goers to reach vending, views and restrooms which featured an impressive number of stalls. Also present were large, commercial dumpsters for folks to deposit their trash, as opposed to the small, round trash bins at SPAC which are reliably overflowing before the headliner even steps foot on the stage. There are also bins for recycling available.

And the flowers! Saratoga State Park has gorgeous gardens at the entrance to the park, but the interior gardens at Tanglewood are stunning.

Guests seem to respond to this access to refuse disposal judging from my observation that there wasn’t a single piece of trash left behind in the area where we were seating. Like the late in the season grass, it was pristine.

As for the show itself, Mavis Staples with her still powerful voice and continues timely message, was thrilling to witness. As always, Brittany Howard and the Alabama Shakes rocked the house. I’ve been lucky enough to see them perform in 3 very different venues and they never fail to put on a dynamic show.

I will never be a Red Sox fan, but will happily give it up to Tanglewood. I’ll be looking at their performance schedule for next season as my first choice for live music in the area. I recommend you consider doing the same.