Meet Carrie Repp: Tennessee Motorcycles and Music Revival

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Some of you may know that before my stint as Marketing Director for Boswell’s Harley-Davidson, I spent 24 years as a marketing professional in the music industry. So my love of music combined with a life-long passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles might give you a hint about how I feel about the Tennessee Motorcycles and Music Revival (TMMR).

I mean, what’s not to love? A four day “festival” type atmosphere with everything motorcycles... plus great live music interspersed throughout the entire event. What could be better? Well... since you asked, what if you put this event at one of the most beautiful and rider friendly locations in Middle Tennessee... like Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills. That’s what I’m talking about!

I had so much fun at the 2021 TMMR that I’ve had this years event on my calendar ever since. The invitation only bike show was off the chains! Live music was everywhere and top notch! And then there was the awesome Fist City Flat Track showdown where the Boswell’s Hooligan Race Team laid it all on the line. (See video below.)

This years TMMR is set to be even bigger and better and it probably makes you wonder... who is it behind all of this motorcycle and music goodness? Let me introduce you to my friend Carrie Repp. Carrie is part of the team at R&R Promotions who are responsible for TMMR. I caught up with her last week.

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BOSWELL’S: Hi Carrie... Tell me a little about yourself. When did you first become interested in motorcycles?

CARRIE: I went to my first Daytona Bike Week in 1995 and a year later put on a multi-day event we named Bikers Ball. I fell in love with motorcycles then and bought an ’03 Harley Fat Boy that Bill Dodge did some custom work to... and Paul Cox of Indian Larry’s did a custom leather seat for.

BOSWELL’S: And how did R&R Promotions come about?

CARRIE: The company was started with my mentor, Bruce Rossmeyer, who owned Daytona Harley-Davidson at the time. I did special projects for Bruce and started taking on clients and producing events. R&R got deep into the motorcycle world when I began working with numerous promoters such as Republic of Texas (Austin), Thunder Roads (Sturgis), Meadowbrook (Laconia), Myrtle Beach and others, to help build their events. I focused primarily on the custom builders, entertainment and media.

In 2003, I created a tour and obtained HARD ROCK as the title sponsor. The Hard Rock Roadhouse was an interactive touring activation featuring four custom built Hard Rock bikes and their builders with a main stage, bars, artwork and other sponsors including Hawaiian Tropic, Budweiser, S&S, Baker Drivetrain and Performance Machine. At the end of the season, we’d fly five semi-finalists to the Hard Rock in Fort Lauderdale and one went home with a brand new custom bike of their choice. We hit about five to six rallies a year setting up in premier locations in Daytona, Sturgis, Laconia and other major rallies. It became the star of the custom world and helped to leverage the careers of many custom builders with media coverage worldwide.

BOSWELL’S: And of course with Hard Rock being involved, there was already a music connection for you.

CARRIE: Yes, we filmed TV shows and often brought in guests like John Mellencamp and Steven Tyler. It was an amazing 12 year run working with builders including Cory Ness, Roland Sands, Eddie Trotta, Paul Cox, Jesse Rooke and about 30 more.

BOSWELL’S: So what is your role with R&R today?

CARRIE: I am the President and have a staff and vendors I bring in to fit the needs of an event, concert, show or whatever it is.

BOSWELL’S: How did the idea of TMMR come about?

CARRIE: Working with so many rallies and producing the Hard Rock Roadhouse for 12 years led me to wanting to do my own rally. I called my good friend, Buck Shaw (who became my partner with his wife Tonya) who jumped on board and shared the vision. We both loved Nashville and the state of Tennessee overall so we started searching for the right venue.

BOSWELL’S: Which lead you to Loretta’s? Seems like a no brainer given the Ranch’s motorcycle related history.

CARRIE: We visited a lot of places, but once we saw the Ranch we knew it was perfect. The Ranch sits on 3500 acres of beautiful countryside, is just an hour west of Nashville, offers camping year-round and is one of Tennessee’s top country music tourist attractions. And like you said, it is home for the AMA Motocross Championships for 40 years making it somewhat sacred grounds for riders everywhere.

BOSWELL’S: And then there is Tennessee treasure, Loretta Lynn!

CARRIE: Loretta Lynn is a living legend, but having been so fortunate to get to know the family, they are truly amazing people that I now consider family. Loretta loves motorcycles and calls me her motorcycle girl. This property is where she penned so many songs that you can almost hear them in the air.

BOSWELL’S: Coming from the music industry myself, I get the parallels between motorcycles and music but put that into words for me.

CARRIE: Both are a passion and a lifestyle. Folks that wrench and build bikes, dream of making a living. Folks that write and play music, dream of making a living. There are so many similarities to the crafts while the lifestyles are passion-driven. You either love it and live it, or you don’t.

BOSWELL’S: So... who is TMMR for?

CARRIE: Anyone who loves two-wheels and/or music. On the motorcycle side, we host long-time riders who are enjoying their retirement travelling the country in their RV; the weekend riders who want to get away from their corporate job or stresses of daily life, put on a black t-shirt and let loose; young riders who are setting the trends; and kids coming out with mom & dad and getting out on the track – maybe for the first time ever. We don’t care what you ride or what make; it’s the comradery of spirit.

As for music, TMMR music goes a little deeper than the same-ole, same-ole you hear at every rally in the country. Nothing wrong there; we just wanted to showcase music as much as motorcycles. At TMMR, songwriters share the stories behind the lyrics, musicians play and sing their hearts out, and bands you may have never heard of play the main stage that are about to be the “next” big name. Of course, we always feature a legend headliner. The music basically comes down to that feeling you get the first time you go to Nashville and you hear the most amazing artist you’ve never heard of, then you go to the next spot and hear the most amazing artist, and on and on. There is no other city like Nashville when it comes to music. TMMR rounds up some of our current favorites and you get to hear them from morning until the wee hours every night.

BOSWELL’S: And of course one of our favorite events at TMMR is the Fist City Flat Track

CARRIE: Since our first year, we were already racing and enjoying the track. A bunch of racers reached out to say loud and clear that they would come if we put together a flat track. Last year it was great and then Kolby Mullins offered to put on the races this year and sold out in less than 48 hours. The racing is just one part of the weekend and it is certainly the most exciting!

BOSWELL’S: It’s going to be a great event!

CARRIE: Being on Loretta’s Ranch sets the stage with the beautiful setting, a creek everyone enjoys, and some of the hardest working staff and Ranch hands that are genuinely excited to show off the Ranch and welcome you. It’s a super friendly vibe. There is music all day and night, vendors, food trucks, a number of bars, and just about anything you want to do on two-wheels that we’re now tagged as “your two-wheeled playground!”. Harley-Davidson has their 2022 models and demo rides, the BC Moto Invitational showcases 30+custom bikes, the trails are open for off-road riders, there are group rides, a hill climb and, of course, all the excitement on the Fist City Track. Folks are in their 20’s to 70’s, couples, families, and lots of singles with a pretty even mix of men and women. So far, passes have been purchased from about 40 states! Add to that the amenities and attractions of the Ranch with the museum, Loretta’s plantation home, country store, swimming pool and more -- it’s a good time whether you want to party or set up a hammock and chill.

BOSWELL’S: Sounds amazing and we can’t wait. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us!

CARRIE: You’re welcome, See you in May.

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Be sure to drop by Boswell’s (Nashville, Madison, Cookeville) and register to win 2-Four Day Passes to Tennessee Motorcycle and Music Revival!

Purchase tickets now at: motorcyclesandmusic.com

Use discount code “BOSWELLS” at check out for a $15 Discount on 4-Day Passes! (Offer expires April 19, 2022.)