Meet Keiran Neely of The Music Room in Old Fourth Ward

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keiran Neely.

Keiran, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I moved to Atlanta from England when I was 16. Fresh off the exploding rave scene there, I arrived here with a small stack of records and nowhere to go. By the time I was 18, I managed to score a pair of Technics turntables and a mixer and was determined to hone my skills as a DJ. From then until now I have been very fortunate to have been part of a core group here in Atlanta that have helped sustain and grow the underground dance music scene. Now as one of the owners of The Music Room, we are continuing that legacy and helping plant seeds for future growth.

Has it been a smooth road?
Owning and operating a small business is fraught with problems. Every day we put out fires and try to make the most of the cards we are dealt. If it wasn’t for my amazing wife, family and my best friend and business partner, I really wouldn’t have made it this far. I couldn’t have done it without them. We have made every mistake in the book and fortunately we have tried our best to learn from them and are still around to share those mistakes with anyone who wants to listen. Having a team you can rely on is probably the most important piece of owning a business. My first piece of advice to anyone who asks me about opening up their own bar/restaurant is DON’T.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Music Room story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in underground dance music and we might have the best DJ line up in the city! But it’s not just about the music over here at The Music Room. Our “complex” also comprises Bone Lick BBQ and Edgewood Speakeasy.

During my time as restaurant owner, I was able to really focus on hospitality and customer service. I think what sets us apart is our policy of inclusivity. We hate false pretenses and wanted to create a place where folks from all walks of life could forget about their worries even if it was only for a few hours. We pride ourselves in being a place where you won’t be judged. Wear your sweats, wear a suit you are welcome. Black, white, gay, straight, young, old…come and get down with us!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The festival culture here has truly exploded and so many youngsters were introduced to and brought up on the homogenized sounds of EDM. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I think that as their passion continues to grow, it’s only a matter of time until they find themselves delving deeper into the more established, dare I say refined forms of dance music. House and Techno are huge in most of the rest of the world. It’s only a matter of time before that’s the case here. At least I hope that’s what happens.

Contact Info:

• Address: The Music Room
  327 Edgewood Ave
  Atlanta GA 30312
• Website: www.atlmusicroom.com
• Email: musicroomatl@gmail.com
• Instagram: musicroom327
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMusicRoomATL/

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