ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) – The Orange Peel has announced a new outdoor music venue named for North Carolina’s favorite salamander.
Hellbender by the Orange Peel, a three-acre concert site located at 151 Thompson St. along the Swannanoa River, will begin to host concerts this summer before opening a permanent stage in Spring 2027.
What to know about Hellbender
Hellbender will take over the space formerly occupied by Cursus Keme brewery, one of the local businesses shuttered after Tropical Storm Helene tore through Western North Carolina in September 2024. The new venue is a sign of revitalization for commerce along the Swannanoa River, which includes nearby neighborhoods like Biltmore Village and Asheville arteries like Tunnel Road. In this way, the venue mascot resembles the city around it.
“Hellbenders (WNC’s celebrated giant salamander) are known for their longevity, adaptability and sensitivity to the health of the river ecosystems they inhabit,” the Orange Peel wrote in a press release. “In choosing the uniquely Appalachian species to represent the new venue and become its unofficial outdoor brand mascot, the long-time management team at the Orange Peel hopes to reflect their connection to place, their history in Asheville and the new venue’s riverside setting, while signaling their commitment to a thoughtful, sustainable activation of a site shaped by water and history.”
The first show announced for the Hellbender stage is “Rhiannon Giddens presents American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing: Rhiannon Giddens, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mavis Staples, and Hurray for the Riff Raff,” an ensemble concert scheduled for 6 p.m., Aug. 1, 2026.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, March 6 at www.hellbenderavl.com and at the Orange Peel box office.
The Orange Peel is looking forward to introducing Hellbender as a new chapter in Asheville music.
“The Orange Peel’s 24-year history as a locally owned live music business, deeply connected to our community, is central to everything we do,” said Liz Whalen Tallent, head of marketing and co-owner of Big Picture Concert Group, The Orange Peel and Hellbender, in a press release. “We love bringing people together for live music and we love Asheville, and Hellbender will be a reflection of both.”
Find more information about Hellbender at www.hellbenderavl.com.