Will Bradford of SeepeopleS Expands His Company, Johnny Hustle Promotions

One of the busiest folks in Asheville’s music scene, Will Bradford splits his time between his band SeepeopleS and his company, Johnny Hustle Promotions. Many folks will recognize Bradford from his work with local music festivals such as Vortex Music Festival and Trinumeral Music Festival, both of which are based in Asheville or nearby. But his company is preparing to take on more work than just the festival circuit, including street team promotions, album PR and more.

“We’re expanding [Johnny Hustle]’s operations from just one man to four people,” he says. “It’s really just to enable us so that we can cover all of those things ... pretty much anything under the sun. I think the reason why people want to work with us is because I do play in a band, and because I do get their point across as well, so I know what it’s like to be on both sides, which I think is a helpful thing.”

Bradford’s experience with his own band has definitely helped him with his work on other bands’ projects, as he has tried and true methods, which have been tested out in the eight years that SeepeopleS has been around. Today he is gaining more experience and connections as SeepeopleS’ popularity continues to grow.

“What’s been helpful to me is that the band has been on tour for a while and I’ve been able to meet a lot of the people and media outlets that I really work with,” he explains. “So now I’m really more the company’s ambassador, salesperson really. And I leave some people at home for the stay-at-home operations.”

But for Bradford, even with all the other forays into promotions and PR for single bands or album releases, it is the festivals that he feels most passionate about.

“It’s still my favorite thing to go do in the summer,” he says, explaining that the festival is easier on budding new bands than the club gig. “I think it’s economical. Going out and discovering new artists and new bands and new music is just difficult, because it costs money. Making that decision to go out on a given night to see a new band that you haven’t heard of at a club is really just a financial commitment, one that sometimes a lot of people aren’t willing to make, just based on the fact that they don’t have the money, whereas if you’ve gone through the process of convincing yourself to buy a festival ticket, you’re there already there and you’ve gone there probably to see a few bands, possibly one band that you really wanted to see, and at that price people really end up seeing a lot more.”

The festival is what could be slowly replacing the other outlets people have relied on to discover new music, like the radio, MTV or even MySpace.

“At these festivals right now, the one things they are doing good things for, for the music scene in general, is people go there and they end up discovering new bands,” explains Bradford. “You know other then the tour, other than MySpace and internet marketing, it’s still a really great way for an unknown band to really get some exposure, which its getting harder and harder these days for upstart bands.”

To get in touch with Bradford regarding festivals or for your own band’s promotion, email him at willbradford@gmail.com for more information.

www.johnnyhustlemedia.com

IN THE NEWS

Gypsy jazz ensemble One Leg Up is playing gigs throughout North Carolina this month at Blue Ridge Community College, Saxapahaw Market and others. The five-piece band has become a staple in the Asheville music scene and will be performing at Jack of the Wood on August 29.

www.onelegupjazz.com

Groove Collector is a rock cover band playing the most favorite and popular songs of artists like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix with its own twist. The trio is made up of experienced musicians and has been playing in small clubs and venues since June.

www.myspace.com/

groovecollectorband

Having hosted big acts such as Wilco, Bob Dylan and Daniel Johnston, Asheville’s premier live music venue The Orange Peel is holding rock ‘n’ roll and homegrown showcases in August, promoting local bands like The Cheeksters, The Poles and Night’s Bright Colors. The rock ‘n’ roll showcase is on August 16 and the homegrown is on August 22.

www.theorangepeel.net

Performing at The Orange Peel’s local showcase on August 16 is indie rock band Heypenny. The group has been promoting its debut record Use These Spoons with a widespread tour this summer, covering states anywhere from Arkansas to Missouri since early June.

www.myspace.com/heypenny

Usually a one-man band, Shake It Like A Caveman has been touring the Southeast with drummer Duncan Whitney since May. The band is scheduled to perform at the Bohemian Cafe/Horizon Records in Greenville, S.C. on August 23.

www.myspace.com/

shakeitlikeacaveman

Voted Asheville’s best indie band two years in a row, Stephanies ID is well known for its live performances and will be playing in several cities in North Carolina and in Greensburg, Pa. The group also played at Bonnaroo music festival in June and is performing on August 9 at the Trinumeral Festival.

www.myspace.com/

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The Trinumeral Festival is a music and arts festival held every year on the date the day, year and month align, this year starting on August 8 (8/08/08). The first festival kicked off January 1, 2001 in order to combine and celebrate the arts, humanity and love in one amazing weekend. This year’s event is taking place in Deerfields, N.C., 20 minutes south of Asheville, with live performances by various bands and artists like Lotus, Galactic, GZA/Genius and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band.

www.trinumeral.com