Only Bands Offers Opportunities To Nashville Musicians [Interview]

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Justin de Graaf. Photo: Austin Friedline

In a city like Nashville, talented musicians are not hard to find. Nearly every person you meet is musically inclined or knows someone who is.

The musically inclined can make a good living in the studios of Nashville, out on the road with touring artists and in the bars of the lively lower Broadway. While a Nashville-based musician can certainly thrive here, one Nashville resident noticed an area where players were getting the short end of the stick: private events.

When planning his own wedding, Justin de Graaf, 20-year touring musician who currently backs Seaforth and Madeline Merlo, was flabbergasted by how expensive a generic wedding/corporate event band could be. Being a musician, he also knew first-hand that the musicians were likely not seeing the majority of the money.

This inspired him to use his experience and connections in the industry to make a difference.

Justin and with his wife, music business professional Care de Graaf, launched Only Bands Live Entertainment in 2021 to help bridge the gap between musicians and clients, paying musicians a generous rate while delivering high quality entertainment to Nashville’s private event sector. Focused on weddings, parties, corporate events and other gatherings, the company aims to bring a concert-level experience to private events with Nashville touring musicians and artists who are in between gigs, need to spend more time at home or just want to make some extra money.

“When my wife and I started planning our wedding back in early 2021, it was important to us to have a band for our entertainment, as we are both in the music industry and music is quite literally our lives,” Justin tells MusicRow. “It was even more important to me that the quality of the band matched the caliber of artists that are here. The more I looked at the many local party bands, I just wasn’t finding the unique Nashville feel I wanted our guests to experience. Being a hired touring musician for 20+ years, I decided to hire my previous band mates that met my own personal expectations of what a Nashville Party Band should be.”

After forming the company’s initial band, Party Down Live, Justin and Care started forming other groups to please a variety of genres as offerings for their clients.

“Party Down Live was the start of what later became Only Bands Live Entertainment,” he says. “Our catalog now features multiple party bands made up of seasoned touring musicians, who have toured with artists such as Billy Joel, Guns N’ Roses, Keith Urban, One Direction, Kelly Clarkson and so many more.”

When booking with Only Bands, there’s no middleman like an agent or manager. You book directly with the musicians you want to hire. That ease of communication has led to Only Bands being recognized by wedding planning giants like The Knot and Wedding Wire. They also believe they are the highest-paying private event gig in Nashville.

“The concept of a band designed for weddings and private events is not unique. I have seen it done plenty of times over. What is unique here is Nashville. The music and entertainment in Nashville are unlike anywhere else,” Justin shares. “In a city like Nashville, it’s essential to have a level of consistency that can be brought to all events–private or public–to reflect the true caliber of talent and energy at the fingertips of this town. Only Bands Live Entertainment was built to bring customization and uniqueness of Nashville to our clients, while providing our musicians with the same level of consideration and respect.”

Justin and Care are focused on growing both the clientele and their book of available musicians for Only Bands.

“Over the past three years we have traveled outside of Tennessee and even out of the country for multiple corporate events. The number of clients from other states that reach out wanting us to come bring a bit of Nashville music to their wedding, or event is such an honor,” Justin says. “It has also provided incredible experiences for our bands and their own exposure. My plan is to continue cultivating those opportunities and honor the music scene in Nashville on a much larger scale.”

When asked what he wants musicians to know about the platform, Justin shares that first and foremost, he knows their value.

“While my sole priority is providing the most genuine, authentic and energetic entertainment experience in the private sector, I know that the caliber of musician required for that is not cheap and shouldn’t be compensated as such. That’s why Only Bands is one of the highest paying gigs in town,” he says. “This entire industry is built on the backs of musicians, we all know it, but it’s brushed over more times than not.

“Only Bands is my way of giving back to the city, the industry and my people. To me, it’s so much more than a catalog of bands. It’s more than a memorable and quality experience. It is recognition of years and years of long hours, tireless work, and the uniqueness of what musicians bring to the stage here and everywhere.”

LB Cantrell
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