Get amped up for this announcement. The Orange Peel’s new outdoor venue, Hellbender, will open this July and hold its first show with Rhiannon Giddens, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mavis Staples, and Hurray for the Riff Raff on Aug. 1. The three-acre, 6,000-seat Thompson Street venue sits along the Swannanoa River, where Cursus Keme called home before Helene.
Named for the elusive Appalachian salamander, the creature became the venue’s mascot to represent their shared history of adaptability and sense of place.
Get ready to rock from the graded general admission lawn, or opt for the seated section on the side. Renderings show shaded awnings, bar, merch, food truck areas, and two entrances. According to the venue’s FAQ page, in addition to free parking + shuttle service, attendees will be able to reserve paid temporary concert parking in advance starting April 15.
Audiences can expect a limited season this year, with a full season slated to begin in spring 2027. The first show, “Rhiannon Giddens presents American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” is set for Aug. 1, bringing folk and R&B icons Rhiannon Giddens, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mavis Staples, and Hurray for the Riff Raff together for one night only for “a joyful celebration of American songs that connect generations.” Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 6, at 10 a.m.
“As we invest in this new venture and watch it come to life over the next few years, we look forward to being part of rebuilding, re-energizing and bringing new life to the Swannanoa River Road industrial corridor which was hit so hard,” said Co-owner and Director of Staff, Dana Roberson. “Asheville music fans are some of the most dedicated and engaged crowds in the whole touring world, and we can’t wait to introduce Hellbender to all the music lovers out there.”
Hellbender isn’t the only new venue in our future. In November, Salvage Station announced it would rebuild at the former Asheville Waste Paper Co. on Riverside Drive after its property was set to be acquired by the NCDOT for the I-26 Connector.
