All About Alcatraz Milan

January 04, 2023
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people-partying-at-alcatraz-milan
© @alcatrazmilano / Facebook

Milan, Italy

Club / Indoor / M – 2k-5k

City

Pop, Rock, Hip-Hop

$$

Casual, Live Music

Casual

Every week, Alcatraz transforms from an enchanting concert venue to a vibrant disco that will transport you into another realm.

Alcatraz, the beating heart of Milan nightlife, opened its doors in 1998 within a former shipping company’s building. Located just steps away from the fashionable Porta Nuova – Isola area in northern Milan, this vast venue is truly spectacular with an industrial interior and massive stage.

Attention-grabbing pop hits and innovative mash-ups enthuse the trendsetting, younger crowd. Alcatraz always features renowned Italian artists and musical groups that make it a must attend event for music lovers of all ages.

With its massive size and banging playlists, Alcatraz is the ultimate hotspot in Milan’s nightlife scene.

Here is everything you need to know about Alcatraz Milan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAoT__Lm1E0
Capodanno 2016 – Alcatraz Gran Galà | © Alcatraz / YouTube

Alcatraz club Milan was originally a car workshop

Before it became the massive music setting we’re familiar with, Alcatraz club Milan had a very different purpose.

Alcatraz hadn’t always been the jaw-dropping venue we know today. Back in 1946, the building that now fosters this Milan megaclub was a car workshop. Later on, it was converted into a delivery and sorting warehouse.

the-stage-at-alcatraz-milan
© @alcatrazmilano / Facebook

The music hub’s story begins in the late 1990s, when the club was extensively renovated with one goal in mind – to create one of the largest Milan partying destinations. As time passed by, Alcatraz club Milan swiftly morphed into the go-to spot for students, clubbers and tourists alike. 

Alcatraz’s founder is a famous Italian rockstar

vasco-rossi-at-alcatraz-milan
© @vascorossi / Instagram

It’s no surprise rock is one of the main genres blasting through Alcatraz’s speakers.

Italian rockstar Vasco Rossi founded the nightclub at the turn of the 1998. The singer-songwriter was the first Italian artist to tour the stadiums at the end of the roaring 80s.

Rossi’s career has been spanning over four decades, which makes the rockstar an icon for romantic power ballads and hard-hitting lyricism.

Big industry names like Justin Beiber, Nicki Minaj, Adele and Red Hot Chilli Peppers performed at Alcatraz

World-famous artists rocked Alcatraz’s stage over the years. Some of the biggest industry heroes, such as Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Adele and Red Hot Chilli Peppers brought their sounds inside Alcatraz’s brick walls.

© @redhotchilipeppersfansite / Facebook

Throughout the week, the venue welcomes both international and local acts from a plethora of musical backgrounds. By striking a good balance between major league headliners and up-and-coming artists, Alcatraz has become synonymous with Milan’s music landscape.

You don’t have to dress up to party at Alcatraz club Milan

Imagine having to roam around a mini-festival wearing a risque dress and an uber-uncomfortable pair of stiletto heels. Not to mention that clubbing with 3,000 people in an industrial space can quickly go from yay to a boiling melting pot. 

group-of-people-at-alcatraz-milan
© @alcatrazmilano / Facebook

Maybe that’s the reason why Alcatraz chose to keep things casual and simple when it comes to dressing up. Shirts, jeans, sneakers and day dresses are all part of the package. If you feel comfy, Alcatraz will approve your outfit. 

The gigantic venue can hold up to 3,000 individuals

Alcatraz’s uber-generous space spans across two giant ballrooms and a floor-to-roof bar. A quick peek at its jaw-dropping dance floor will give you the mini-festival feel.

concert-at-alcatraz-milan
© @alcatrazmilano / Instagram

The venue’s capacity sits around 3,000, with more than half filling the standing area alone. Despite its more-than-enough capacity, Alcatraz has no problem packing the venue with clubbers. During most events, the club can easily become crowded with curious tourists and local revelers alike. 

Alcatraz club Milan kept its industrial aesthetic

There might not be car parts scattered around like they were back in Alcatraz’s car workshop days, but the megaclub stayed loyal to its post-industrial roots.

Brick walls, concrete floors and towering ceilings ooze the nostalgia of a bygone era. Instead of opting for the full-on modernized look, Alcatraz preserved its industrial aesthetic.

alcatraz-club-milan-interior
© @alcatrazmilano / Facebook

It was originally called Alcatraz Music Island

It pretty much reflects the megaclub’s initial mission statement – to become an off-the-wall club in the heart of Milan.

Alcatraz Music Island was supposed to reflect the concept of a modernized multi-purpose venue that had no match in the Italian city.

Alcatraz’s current manager Lorenzo Citterio recalls:

zarro-night-at-alcatraz-milan
© @alcatrazmilano / Facebook

“We wanted ours to be a location that dictated new rules, in which we could organize previously unthinkable events and a name like that in a neighborhood called an island certainly played into this one.”

Versatility is Alcatraz’s strongest selling point

While the club is famous among music aficionados for its generous range of club nights and concerts, Alcatraz’s strongest value proposition is the venue’s versatility. 

Spacious enough to host a wide spectrum of experiences – from art and fashion shows to corporate events and concerts – Alcatraz club Milan has a 360-degrees approach when it comes to events. This way, the club’s profit goes way beyond tickets and bar doubles, but also soars its international reputation. 

alcatraz-club-milano-concert
© @alcatrazmilano / Facebook

The club has a pretty diverse music repertoire

One look at Alcatraz’s long-running lineup through the years proudly showcases an eclectic and zestful mix of performers.

Resident DJs take over the weekend sounds, hyping up the crowds from late night to early mornings. But Alcatraz doesn’t stop there. During the mighty weekend, the mega club entices music lovers with live concerts from rock, pop and hip-hop heroes. 

dj-playing-at-alcatraz-milan
© @alcatrazmilano / Facebook

Whatever music taste you have, Alcatraz club Milan has a scheduled concert that is doomed to match your needs. 

In a world where clubs commit to one music genre throughout their lifespan, Alcatraz was brave enough to have an opposite approach. Although bravery doesn’t always score you a win, it did for the Milan club. Throughout the years, its diverse music catalog has been stealing the show. 

In between the megaclub’s industrial walls, your ears can witness anything and everything – from alternative rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen to progressive electronic duo Disclosure.

With decades of music experience and an undeniably jaw-dropping size, Alcatraz surely gives international and local clubbers more reasons to hit the dancefloor.

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