Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Huntsville Classic with Jake Owen to be inaugural show at The Orion

HUNTSVILLE – The highly anticipated opening of The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville’s MidCity District culminates with the $40 million venue’s first show, the 33rd annual Huntsville Classic featuring Jake Owen. There is still time to purchase tickets to witness the history-making show tonight.

You can purchase tickets to tonight’s show via theorionhuntsville.com. Country superstar Jake Owen will perform acoustically.

Jake Owen has eight No. 1 songs, plus numerous chart-topping albums and multi-platinum hits to his name. Some fan favorites include Barefoot Blue Jean Night, Beachin’, Alone With You, and The One That Got Away. Those and more will be performed May 7, all in support of a great cause.

“Hosting the Huntsville Classic as The Orion Amphitheater’s inaugural event is meaningful in a multitude of ways,” said Ryan Murphy, The Orion Amphitheater General Manager. “Huntsville Hospital Foundation has done immeasurable work in our community. We’re thrilled that the Foundation and their guests will be among the first to experience The Orion.”

The event benefits Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. Proceeds will fund specialized pediatric services at the not-for-profit hospital, which serves children from across our growing region.

“By supporting the 2022 Huntsville Classic, you can celebrate the work of our health care heroes over these last few years, while contributing to the future of our children’s health care in this dynamic community. Proceeds from this inaugural show in the Orion Amphitheater stay local,” said Huntsville Hospital Foundation President Sarah Savage-Jones. “Huntsville Hospital cares for our entire region, and your support ensures we can continue to offer world-class facilities, technology and programs. Tickets not only give you access to a historic event, it will also make a difference for the lives of patients and families from across North Alabama.”

Huntsville Venue Group (HVG), the management company for The Orion, hosted a media tour of the amphitheater on Friday as crews continued to work to get the new venue ready for tonight’s performance. CEO Ben Lovett and President and General Manager Ryan Murphy said people coming to the concert tonight will see an impressive facility, but that is also a work in progress as the construction wraps up on the finishing touches over the next few weeks.

Lovett said the experience visitors will receive within The Orion will be worth it. “There is not a bad seat in the house,” he said.

Next weekend, The Orion will officially celebrate its opening weekend May 13-15, with The First Waltz — a landmark event featuring many of music’s most beloved artists, all of whom have deep ties to the north Alabama region.

Across the momentous three-day event, there will be performances from The Aeolians of Oakwood University, Brittany Howard, Drive-by Truckers, Element XI, Emmylou Harris, Huntsville Community Drumline, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, John Paul White, Kelvin Wooten & Deqn Sue, Mavis Staples, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The N.E.I.G.H.B.O.R.S., Translee and Waxahatchee.

The weekend will wrap on Sunday with an event featuring special performances from Huntsville’s own vibrant musical community hosted by Melody Shari and Dante Pride.

The opening weekend concerts will be followed up by The Dave Mathews Band on May 18.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to theorionhuntsville.com.

CEO Ben Lovett and President and General Manager Ryan Murphy said people coming to the concert tonight will see an impressive facility, but that is also a work in progress as the construction wraps up on the finishing touches over the next few weeks.