Final touches being added to Nashville's new amphitheater

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Finishing touches are being added to Nashville's new riverfront amphitheater, scheduled to open later this month.

The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/1K6DU5j) reports that the city's new Ascend Amphitheater, located inside downtown's Riverfront Park, will open with back-to-back acoustic shows July 30 and July 31.

Until then, crews are finalizing the last steps at the venue and the park, which include adding more than 17,000 shrubs and flowers.

On Tuesday, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean hosted the first all-access media tour of the site.

The new state-of-the-art amphitheater will hold 6,800 people and serve as the summer home for the Nashville Symphony starting in 2016.

Officials hope that it will be Music City's premiere outdoor destination for live music.

Construction began on the city-funded amphitheater in March 2014 with a budget of $52 million.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com