Long before touring bands took this stage, 101 Biltmore Avenue was a roller rink, then a string of soul and R&B clubs that were the heartbeat of Asheville's Black nightlife in the '60s and '70s — one of them literally called The Orange Peel. When the modern venue reopened in November 2002, the name wasn't a coincidence. It was a continuation.
Since then, it's built a reputation that punches far above its size: Bob Dylan and Lauryn Hill chose this 1,000-person room over Asheville's much bigger venues. The Beastie Boys played what turned out to be their final club show here. Smashing Pumpkins picked it for a nine-show East Coast residency. When a snowstorm stranded Dave Grohl in town, he and Warren Haynes threw together a pop-up show for ten bucks a ticket.
It's certified through the National Independent Venue Association — genuinely independent, not a corporate concert conglomerate wearing a local name. After a 15-month COVID shutdown, it came back with a second stage, the 4,000-capacity Rabbit Rabbit, just down the street.
101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville. Rolling Stone called it one of the top rock clubs in the country. The building's been earning that reputation since long before Rolling Stone showed up.
