'Eddie Owen Presents' Opens at Red Clay Dec. 2,3

There's much buzz in neighboring Duluth about having live music venue to bring energy downtown, and Eddie Owen is excited about opening the weekend after Thanksgiving. The first concerts by “Eddie Owen Presents” at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth Dec. 2 and 3 will feature Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers.

Owen, the founder and former general manager of Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, signed a lease agreement in October with the city of Duluth to present live music acts at Red Clay. Owen had planned to launch with performances by Edwin McCain and Erick Baker Nov. 26 during Thanksgiving Weekend, but he announced that show has been postponed until Jan. 28.

Hood, who still performs with Drive-By Truckers, will be appearing solo at the post-Thanksgiving concerts on stage at the Red Clay Theatre. A songwriter and singer, “he’s a performer in his own right,” Owen said. Tickets for the first Friday and Saturday night concerts are on sale online for $20 at www.eddieowenpresents.com or at the door if there are any left.

Owen already has shows lined up for other dates. The concert line-up so far includes:

• Dec. 2,3 – Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers
• Dec. 17 – Ed Roland of Collective Soul
• Dec. 30 – Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
• Dec. 31 – The Mosier Brothers and Friends
• Jan. 28 – Edwin McCain with special guest Erick Baker
• Feb. 25 – Darrell Scott

The New Year’s Eve show will end about 11:30 p.m. so that the audience can attend New Year’s Eve festivities on the Duluth Town Green, Owen said.

The doors open at 7 p.m., and the concerts start at 8 p.m. Owen is applying for a license to sell beer and wine at the concerts. Prices for the general admission tickets vary. “I have 10 to 15 to 20 shows pending in January and about that many pending in February,” Owen said.

“Tell the people in Duluth and Gwinnett County I’m as excited as they are. I can’t wait,” Owen said. “This has the potential to be something special.”

Pending approval by the Duluth City Council, Owen plans to reposition the rows of seating in the theatre so the audience will be more comfortable. Space between the rows would be increased, Owen said, in time for the first concerts. Lack of leg room has been a complaint from audiences at Red Clay performances in the past. 

Owen estimated that after the rows are re-spaced, the Red Clay Theatre, which originally had 267 seats, will have about 250 seats. Funds for the seating change would be provided by the Duluth Downtown Development Authority, he said.

“Also, you will hear that I have agreed to help Alex Cooley and Dave Mattingly, the new owners of Eddies Attic, and they have agreed to help me,” Owen said. “It is true. And it is a very good and exciting marriage. They close on the purchase Dec 1.”

Atlanta concert promoter Cooley, co-creator of Music Midtown, and Mattingly recently agreed to purchase Eddie’s Attic from owner Bob Ephlin.

Over the past two decades Owen and Eddie’s Attic have been credited with launching the careers of the Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins, John Mayer, Sugarland, and the Zack Brown Band.

In addition to presenting nighttime concerts at the Red Clay Theatre, Owen plans to offer workshops and classes for singers, songwriters and musicians during the daytime.