The Orange Peel sits at 101 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, a mid-sized concert hall that built a national reputation out of a building that had already lived several lives. The address had previously housed a roller rink, a bowling alley, a cabaret club, and even a short-lived nightclub also called the Orange Peel back in the 1970s, before former New Orleans club owners Jack and Lesley Groetsch reopened it in its current form on October 25, 2002.
With a capacity of about 1,050 people, the general-admission hall quickly became a must-play stop for touring artists who wanted a room with real history and real sound. By 2008, Rolling Stone had named it one of the top five music venues in the United States, cementing its place alongside much larger rooms in much bigger cities.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 101 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina
- Type: Indoor concert hall
- Opened: October 25, 2002
- Capacity: About 1,050
- Famous for: Rolling Stone’s 2008 top-5 US music venue ranking
A Stage for Legends
The Orange Peel’s hardwood-floored, general-admission layout gave it an intimate feel that attracted artists who could easily fill rooms many times its size. Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, and Lauryn Hill all played the venue, and the Beastie Boys performed what turned out to be their final club show there. The Smashing Pumpkins went even further, choosing the Peel for a nine-show East Coast residency rather than a typical arena run.
The venue also became home base for Moogfest, the electronic and experimental music festival that drew on Asheville’s connection to synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog, further tying the hall to the city’s broader musical identity.
Built on Old Foundations
Long before touring bands took the stage, the building at 101 Biltmore Avenue cycled through Skateland Rollerdome, Biltmore Lanes bowling alley, and the Jade Smith Cabaret Club. A nightclub also named the Orange Peel operated there from 1974 to 1978, drawing young Black Asheville residents to see acts like the Commodores and the Bar-Kays. That layered history gave the modern venue a sense of place that a newly built room couldn’t replicate.
Explore more: More iconic music venues.
The Orange Peel FAQs
Where is The Orange Peel located?
The Orange Peel is located at 101 Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
What is The Orange Peel’s capacity?
The venue holds about 1,050 people in its general-admission concert hall.
When did The Orange Peel open?
The current venue opened on October 25, 2002, though an earlier nightclub of the same name operated in the same building from 1974 to 1978.
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Photo: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.