The Orange Peel has been setting the tone for North Carolina’s live music scene for decades. Located in Asheville, its capacity is just over 1,000, and its storied venue has hosted generational artists from multiple eras. The magic of The Orange Peels is in its acceptance and welcoming atmosphere. Its website hosts a list of archived shows that range from Bob Dylan to Psychedelic Furs and everything in between. The Orange Peel has become one of the most historic and beloved venues in the States, landing on Rolling Stones’ “Top 5 Rock Clubs” list in 2008. The historic building that hosts The Orange Peel has gone through many phases. Thankfully, it ended up right where it started: providing a unique lineup of comedians, local events, and national touring acts to the city of Asheville.
Glide had the pleasure of speaking with The Orange Peel about their history, future, and how they achieved such purposeful longevity. You can read the whole conversation below.
Most people might not know that the original Orange Peel was a popular venue for young African Americans during the 1970s. It played recorded disco and funk, featuring DJs from one of the few Black-owned radio stations in the country, WBMU-FM. Have you heard any tapes or seen photos of this era of the building, and can you share with our readers what it might have been like?
Never heard any tapes, but we may have some photos we share. They also hosted live shows with artists like The Commodores and The Chi-Lites for $5. (Photos of ads we found are attached) The Jade Club existed for a short period of time in this building prior to the original Orange Peel. They also hosted DJ nights and some live shows with artists like Percy Sledge, Dixie Cups, and Ronnie Milsap. This building has a great deal of musical history. We actually have a small history museum in our front room where guests can read up on some of this history and see photographs.
Does The Orange Peel associate the venue with a certain genre/sound? What bands from Asheville have you helped foster and allowed to grow musically on your stage?
Today’s Orange Peel covers all genres. We have experienced certain cycles over the years where certain genres seemed to be at the forefront. The jam scene was big when I arrived here in February 2007. So, there are musical trends that we experience industry-wide, which will cycle through the years. Some artists we’ve hosted before they were known nationally are The Avett Brothers, Alabama Shakes, Steep Canyon Rangers, Luke Combs, and Wednesday.
What type of synergy does The Orange Peel play with the Asheville arts scene, and what is your role in making Asheville such an important musical outpost?
The Orange Peel also hosts local showcases, where we highlight the different musical styles percolating in our little city. These experiences help prep some local artists for support slots for nationals that come through. We also love alternative programming, with events like ABS Fest (Asheville Burlesque and Sideshow Festival), Trail Running Film Fest, 24-hour Film Fest, and comedy nights.
The list of bands that have played at The Orange Peel is endless- Bob Dylan, Beastie Boys, Megadeth, Queen of the Stone Age, and more, to name a few. What are some of the most memorable nights that patrons or past employees recall?
We hosted a residency with The Smashing Pumpkins in 2007. They played nine shows, and we basically all lived together for two weeks. The tickets were in such high demand that it crashed the ticketing system, and we had people from all over the world come in for that. Billy Corgan would walk around town during the day and hand out guest passes, too. Having Chris Cornell play an acoustic solo show was extremely special as well. Method Man & Redman and Digable Planets were a couple of our favorite Hip Hop shows. I can probably go on and on.
Why do bands like playing at the Orange Peel so much? What are the compliments you usually hear?
It’s a combination of running a tight ship with production while offering the kind of hospitality that makes artists comfortable. We also take pride in providing a safe environment for them. Tour Managers let us know they circle our date on their tour schedule as a date they won’t have to worry about. But it’s not just about us. It’s about the fans that attend shows at our venue as well. They bring a great deal of passion that fills the room. Often, I heard “This is the band’s favorite night on this tour” from tour managers at the settlement.
If you could change one thing about the venue or incorporate something from another venue you like, what would it be?
We’d love to find a way to build a seated balcony in the rear of the venue. Many of our regulars would also love that.
What on the calendar for 2024 are you most excited about?
We’re stoked to have DJ Shadow back in the house this year. Also looking forward to shows from Cold War Kids, Jose Gonzalez, The Hives, and Gavin Adcock.
