'All roads lead to Huntsville' as the Orion Amphitheater opens its gates

4393222298355473618 — Orion Amphitheater officially opens tonight. (Emily Phillips / Hville Blast)

Mayor Tommy Battle, standing in front of the new Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville’s MidCity District Friday morning, said it best right before the ceremonial ribbon was cut to open the venue: “All roads lead to Huntsville.”

Battle joined members of Huntsville Venue Group in officially cutting the ribbon to open the new 8,000-seat amphitheater just hours ahead of the 3-day music festival, the First Waltz begins on the stage.

Showing the public Huntsville’s vision

PXL 20220513 143356030 — Officials with Huntsville Venue Group said the Orion Amphitheater has many of the same seating considerations at The Greek and Red Rocks. (Emily Phillips / Hville Blast)

The Huntsville Venue Group’s CEO, Grammy Award-winning musician Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons, said the idea behind the new venue came about in 2018 and has been a consistent process to realize the group’s vision.

“I have played in thousands of venues, and had a vision for what I wanted this one to be. Now this week the public can finally see what Huntsville’s vision was, and what our work and dedication to this project was all for.”
Ben Lovett, CEO, Huntsville Venue Group

PXL 20220513 143106825 — A full slate of concerts has already been scheduled this summer at the Orion. (Michael Seale / Hville Blast)

The $46 million Orion Amphitheater is owned by the City of Huntsville but operated by by Huntsville Venue Group, a partnership between Lovett and industry veterans Ryan Murphy, Mike Luba, Don Sullivan, Jeff Kicklighter and Al Santos.

Check out who is coming to the Orion this year

PXL 20220513 140444352 — Artists such as Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic and Kenny Chesney are scheduled to play the Orion in May. (Michael Seale / Hville Blast)

After this weekend’s event, First Waltz, winds down, the Orion Amphitheater will be warming up for a full slate of concerts this summer, with some huge shows set for the remainder of the month.

Here is just a glimpse of the artists coming to the Orion this year:

Dave Matthews Band: May 18
Kenny Chesney: May 26
Widespread Panic: May 27-29
Neil DeGrasse Tyson: June 8
Dierks Bentley: June 11
Black Crowes: June 16
T-Minus Music Fest featuring Old Crow Medicine Show: June 18
Keith Sweat: June 25
Hank Williams, Jr.: July 9
Josh Groban: July 18
Chris Stapleton: July 28
Jack White: August 27
Black Keys: August 28
Styx/REO Speedwagon: Sept. 13
My Morning Jacket: Sept. 24
Earth, Wind & Fire: Oct. 4
Luke Bryan: Oct. 14

PXL 20220513 144344230 — The stage at the Orion will be alive with music this weekend. (Michael Seale / Hville Blast)

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