POCATELLO – The Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre turned the lights down and the volume up during its premiere concert Monday.

The Beach Boys and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band were the first bands to perform at the new venue. Both groups have musical careers spanning five decades, and more than 5,000 people turned out to see them.

Portneuf Health Trust president and CEO Shaun Menchaca said the amphitheater is the result of five years of planning and cooperation between PHT and Bannock County, and the event Monday was the first of many planned in the future.

Menchaca said the $15 million facility has a seating a seating capacity of 11,000, making it the largest amphitheater in the state.

PHCF partnered with United Concert Inc. and Bannock County to bring the Beach Boys and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to Pocatello.

“Who doesn’t like the Beach Boys?” Menchaca said. “Ticket sales were just about exactly what we hoped for, and when people see the quality of the show and the amphitheater, they’ll be back.”

Menchaca said the Portneuf Trust Amphitheatre is a multi-purpose facility and a community resource.

The Wellness Complex and the amphitheater were funded through the PHT and Legacy Hospital Partnership, which jointly own Portneuf Medical Center.

PHT and Legacy built the complex, and Bannock County will own and maintain the new venue.

The complex will boast paved walking and running paths, a 7-acre lake for fishing and swimming, four volleyball courts, seven multi-use fields, basketball courts, an innovative CrossFit Playground and a world-class mountain bike park designed by Canada-based Gravity Logic.

Menchaca said the group partnered with Gateway Health to design a center that would be accessible to everyone.

“We wanted it to be available to all ages, all abilities and all economic situations. Most of the activities at the complex are free,” Menchaca said.

The venue can be utilized by local churches and community groups, and with high desert views of the mountains and the new lake, the venue is being shopped by wedding planners as well.

“The economic value to the area will be great,” Menchaca said. “We’ve contracted with the best producers and concert promoters to bring the best shows here.”

Menchaca said the facility was built using local contractors wherever possible, and the shows provide about 60 temporary jobs. United Concerts actually trained crews to staff events at the amphitheater.

On Sept. 8, the Australian Pink Floyd Show and Led Zeppelin 2 are set to perform at the Portneuf Trust Amphitheatre.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show has been celebrating the famous English rockers since 1988. The tribute band has sold more than 4 million tickets and performed in 35 countries.

The New Yorker magazine called the opening act, Led Zeppelin 2 “a tribute band devoted to replicating the live shows of the legendary hard-rock dinosaurs.”

Tickets are $10 to $40. The doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Time for Three is set to take the stage at the amphitheater on Sept. 12.

The classically trained trio refers to themselves as a classical garage band and their musical renderings range from jazz to rock.

The show is free, and the doors open at 6 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m.

On Sept. 27, Chicago rockers Styx and California-based Tesla are set to appear.

Styx is best known for hit songs “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” “The Best of Times,” “Too Much Time on My Hands” and “Mr. Roboto.”

Tesla gained fame in the 1980s with its blues metal style.

Tickets are $26 to $41. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

To buy tickets for upcoming events, go to portneufamphitheatre.com.