featuring Ben Lovett (Mumford & Sons, tvg Hospitality)
Photos By: Josh Weichman
You don’t have to be born in the South to understand it. In fact, sometimes the most telling perspective on a Southern city comes from someone who chose it.
Musician and hospitality entrepreneur Ben Lovett first came to Huntsville with a vision for The Orion Amphitheater, and found a community defined by pride, creative momentum, and a rare civic alignment. This summer, we’re seeing Rocket City through his eyes: a curious visitor who came with a vision and stayed to help write the next chapter.
You’ve lived in some of the world’s most creatively charged cities. What was it about Huntsville that makes it feel like a place you could truly live, not just visit?
I live in New York and have spent the last sixteen years touring extensively around the world, so I’ve seen a great many cities and a great many sides of humanity. What struck me when I first spent time in Huntsville in 2018 was the strength of identity among the people who choose to live there. There is a real sense of pride in the community, and the relationship between citizens and local government feels healthy and constructive. We saw that very clearly in the discussions around the Orion. There was a genuine mandate from residents, and the mayor’s team really listened. Watching that civic alignment, alongside developments like MidCity coming online, has been remarkable.
What does a perfect Huntsville day look like?
A perfect day in Huntsville is actually quite easy to assemble. Depending on where you are staying, you might start with a stroll to Honest Coffee, then wander through downtown, which is one of my favourite downtowns of any American city. You could do a bit of shopping around there and have lunch at Domaine South. Afterwards, I would head down through Big Spring Park, and if something is happening at The Lumberyard in the evening, that is a wonderful place to spend time. Then dinner somewhere nearby. There are now so many excellent restaurants that it is genuinely difficult to choose.
Beyond The Orion, what excites you about what’s happening with Huntsville’s cultural future?
I am really encouraged by how well Mars Music Hall has done, and I think it matters that Huntsville is seeing both new venues open and historic spots come back to life, such as the Tip Top Cafe reopening. That balance between restoring heritage and building new spaces is very healthy for a city’s cultural life. We are also working on a mid-cap venue for the market and continuing to develop the cultural offering at The Lumberyard, which is a fantastic space.
For someone visiting Huntsville for the first time, what’s the one thing they should not skip? What are your best-kept tips for experiencing the best of Rocket City?
You really ought to experience a bit of everything. I would not skip the U.S. Space and Rocket Center because it gives important context for the city. I would also spend time walking around downtown, but I would make sure to go up the mountain as well. The first time I hiked Monte Sano with Ryan Murphy, it gave me a wonderful sense of the geography, and the views are extraordinary. What makes Huntsville special is that combination of natural landscape and topography, the space infrastructure, and then this very human-scale, walkable downtown with genuine Southern hospitality woven through it.
Music is often a reason people travel. Beyond a show at The Orion, where should visitors look to understand Huntsville’s creative side?
One of my favourite places to take people is Lowe Mill. It is an extraordinary collection of creatives, and you can simply wander through and drop in on different makers and studios.
If you had to describe Huntsville as a travel destination in just a few words, what would you say?
Unexpected. Inspiring. Welcoming.
What else do you want us to know (about Huntsville, The Orion, or your upcoming projects/music/tour)?
It is a city that is constantly evolving. There are some remarkable projects coming online over the next few years, and it is also very easy to visit now. New flights are being added all the time. You can fly in from major hubs, including twice daily from New York, and be downtown within about fifteen minutes of landing. Whenever someone has the opportunity to visit Huntsville, I strongly recommend they take it.
