Watchhouse with Fruit Bats at Hellbender by The Orange Peel

Watchhouse — the Americana duo of Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin, formerly known as Mandolin Orange — bring their luminous folk sound to Hellbender for one of the most anticipated shows of the inaugural season. Fruit Bats open as special guests at this all-ages outdoor show along the Swannanoa River.

Watchhouse's intricate fingerpicking, warm harmonies, and deeply felt songwriting translate beautifully under open sky. The 151 Thompson Street riverside setting is exactly the kind of stage their music was built for.

Doors at 5:30 pm, show at 7 pm. All ages. Tickets available online and at The Orange Peel box office.

Asheville's largest outdoor concert venue sits on three acres along the Swannanoa River at 151 Thompson Street — the former home of Cursus Keme brewery. Operated by the same team behind The Orange Peel, Hellbender opened in summer 2026 with a limited inaugural season and plans for a permanent stage and full programming beginning spring 2027. The amphitheater holds approximately 6,000 and features a general admission lawn, premium and standard seating, shaded awnings, bars, food truck areas, and two entrances. Named for the hellbender, Appalachia's giant aquatic salamander, the venue draws its identity from the region's wildness and resilience.

Locals say Hellbender feels like the outdoor show experience Western North Carolina has been waiting for — open skies, river air, and the same locally-rooted booking sensibility that made The Orange Peel a national landmark. The three-acre site along the Swannanoa hits different when the mountains are in the background and the lineup is stacked.

Hellbender by The Orange Peel

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Watchhouse with Fruit Bats at Hellbender by The Orange Peel

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