Trip Ideas & Blog

The Rhythm Section Amphitheater | Outdoor live music in northwest Illinois

August 7, 2023

The stage offers optimal sound with the best secluded outdoor scenery

With most concert venues having to reschedule their shows and keep their doors shut due to COVID restrictions, there’s one concert venue in northwest Illinois that has remained open while ensuring the safety of live music lovers. The Rhythm Section Amphitheater in Mount Carroll is an all-outdoor venue featuring optimal sound and some of the best secluded outdoor scenery in the area. 

Tiered seating | 3 bars | food trucks

The Rhythm Section Amphitheater is a part of McMotopark, a Motocross track that Reid Law has owned and operated for almost 20 years. Law started construction on the amphitheater in 2016, with intentions for an additional area to hold events such as weddings and private parties.

In 2019, a full season of music was planned. Within that year, the venue went from having a stage and tiered amphitheater seating, to being a full-blown concert venue. It now has three bars, multiple viewing decks, two silos, food trucks on-site for each show, and a fast-growing reputation for being the go-to concert venue in the region.  

Beyond the music…

The creatively designed venue is full of inspiration. Reid has designed every piece of the venue with recycled materials such as galvanized tin, harvester silos trailered in from local farms, antiques and oddities from his family, and so much more. Newly constructed this year is the Heritage Bar. It is full of unusual antiques that have been in the Law family for generations. The two-story bar allows for plenty of space to grab a drink and head upstairs for a panoramic view of the stage and venue. 

Open seasonally

The Rhythm Section Amphitheater is open seasonally from May – October and has two or three shows a month–always on Saturday. Each show offers a different genre of music to suit everyone’s musical taste ranging from country and rock to folk and Americana.

Oktoberfest is a new annual event

On October 9-10, the Amphitheater is hosting its first annual Rockin’ the Blues, Brews, & BBQs Oktoberfest. This event includes breweries with beer tasting, BBQ vendors, and live music on Friday and Saturday. Reid states that he is just getting started and has BIG plans for national acts in 2021.

To see a schedule of upcoming concerts check out their Facebook page or website — links to their social media accounts are below.

Contact info

The Rhythm Section Amphitheater
13137 IL Route 78 
Mount Carroll, IL 61053
(815) 238-1614 | Website

Social Media

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

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