“We’ve had a great success in our first year,” Redding said. “I attribute all our success to the Lord, but at the same time, he’s surrounded us with great people.”
The venue does have a lot to brag about in its one year in operation: It has hosted 30 shows and more than 20,000 patrons; welcomed national renowned performers, such as Toby Keith, Ricky Skaggs, Alabama and Steven Curtis Chapman; hosted nationally recognized musicals “Veggie Tales Live!” and “Smoke on the Mountain;” and begun plans for the Harold Shedd Music Gallery.
“We’ve been on a steep learning curve,” said Redding, owner of R.K. Redding Construction Company of Bremen. “We had to start from a dead stop [...] but we’ve had great marketing support, great support from volunteers and the surrounding community. And we’ve had the most encouraging and positive feedback from the community and the artists themselves.”
Redding says he and his staff have worked diligently to make both patrons and performers feel at home at Mill Town. The venue can hold 1,000 people, which is plenty of room for a large crowd; however, it’s much cozier than the large Atlanta venues that hold roughly 20,000.
“When Amy Grant was on stage, she said she liked the intimate feel of [the venue],” Redding said. “I’ve been really blown away by the artists’ reactions.”
Of course, the Mill Town staff also works to make the artists feel welcome back stage.
“My wife created the Green Room so artists would have a place to relax back stage,” Redding said. “We cater food for them so they can have a nice meal; we help them unload their trucks. We want it to be a positive experience for not only the patrons but also the visiting performers.”
And that attention to detail seems to be paying off as the venue continues to attract big names in country, gospel and bluegrass music. In fact, Redding expects more Nashville-quality acts to head to Bremen this year.
“We’re beginning to get calls from further and further away from other artists, and even venues wanting to share talent.”
But Redding says that’s not all fans have to look forward to this year. Plans are underway to open the Harold Shedd Music Mill Gallery in spring, which will serve as a tourist attraction celebrating renowned music producer and Bremen native Harold Shedd as well as local music history.
“People in Nashville love Harold,” Redding said. “The artists he’s helped over the years want to give back and say thank you, and being a part of this is another way they can do that.”
Redding says he looks forward to the rest of 2013 as he and the Mill Town staff are looking to make this year even better than last.
“We’re just getting used to a typical show night,” Redding said. “But now that we know what needs to be done, we want to continue to grow and make it better. We want to provide the best possible night of entertainment and family enjoyment for those coming in both the front and the back door. At R.K. Redding, we understand that our client is our most valuable asset. We want to do what’s best for them and make them happy. Whether you’re building buildings or providing entertainment, it all goes back to the same philosophy.”
For their anniversary weekend, Mill Town plans on hosting the Triumphant Quartet, The Isaacs and The Diplomats Feb. 1 and 2. Check out their web site, www.milltownmusichall.com, for more information.
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