The Orange Peel is the premier nightclub in Asheville and really the whole of the Western Carolinas. Much like the city of Asheville itself, it punches above its weight, booking internationally known acts that typically play much larger venues, making it a great place to catch much more intimate sets than you're likely to find elsewhere. Performers run the genre gamut, including Indie Rock/Pop, Soul/R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Jam Bands, Country/Americana and World Music. It's a very open, even cavernous, GA-only venue, almost all standing room only, with a well elevated stage providing good sight lines from all over. There are two bars in the main room and a private ($2 annual membership) bar downstairs, as well as an outdoor smoking deck. There's a reason this place is loved by artists and fans alike.
Immediately to the right when entering the main room from the lobby
101 Biltmore Avenue Asheville, NC28801 United States
History
The building first opened as a roller skating rink in 1945 and also housed a bowling alley at one point in its history before housing a series of nightclubs, mostly serving the local Black community and hosting some legendary R&B acts. The last of those clubs was named The Orange Peel, before the building being either unoccupied or used as a warehouse for several years. A concerted effort at a downtown renaissance helped lead to the building's sale in 2001 and, in 2002, it was re-opened as a nightclub, reviving the Orange Peel name. The owners, having the experience and connections of running a club in New Orleans, were able to make it an immediate success.
