Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin De Graaf.
Hi Justin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved to Nashville to chase music full time after years of writing, performing, and touring, but Party Down honestly started in a pretty funny and very real way. It came out of me getting married. I had played in wedding bands back in Toronto, so I figured booking a great band for my own wedding would be pretty straightforward. I married into a Southern family and quickly learned I had basically zero say in the wedding because, traditionally, her parents were paying for it. The one thing I knew I absolutely wanted was a band.
When I started reaching out to bands in Nashville, I was blown away by what some of them were charging. It felt like a down payment on a house just to book one. I remember thinking it was completely insane. I was already playing with a great party band and that was really the moment I realized there was an opportunity to build something better. I wanted to create a band that still felt high-end and exciting, but without the whole thing feeling inaccessible or overinflated. That’s really how Party Down started.
What began as a group of top-level Nashville musicians coming together to play energetic rooms turned into a real brand. Over time, we built a reputation for bringing high-energy, live-show level entertainment to weddings, corporate events, galas, and private parties, while still making the process easy and professional for clients and planners. As the band grew, it also opened the door to some amazing opportunities, including members stepping into national touring and live entertainment opportunities connected to the Savannah Bananas and Party Animals Banana Ball sensation.
Today, Party Down has evolved, but the mission is still the same. I continue to lead the private event and corporate side of the brand, and we’re still actively performing and creating unforgettable experiences for clients in Nashville and beyond. A huge part of that mission for me has always been creating opportunities for great musicians to do what they love while being treated well, paid fairly, and being part of something they can be proud of. At the end of the day, that’s what Party Down has always been about just as much as putting on a great show.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. It’s been incredibly rewarding, but definitely not a smooth road.
Like anything in music, especially when you’re building something that depends on people, timing, personalities, and a lot of moving parts, there have been plenty of challenges. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that building a great band is about a lot more than just finding talented musicians. You’re managing schedules, personalities, travel, production, client expectations, logistics, and trying to keep the standard high every single time. In the private event world, there really isn’t room for an off night. People are trusting you with weddings, corporate events, and major celebrations, so there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that.
As Party Down grew, it also naturally evolved. Some members remain on the banana ball stage, which has been exciting to see, but that kind of growth also forces you to adapt. Any time a band changes, there’s a rebuilding process. You have to protect the reputation, keep the quality high, and make sure clients still get the experience they expect. That hasn’t always been easy, but it’s made me better as both a musician and a business owner.
On top of that, there’s the challenge of trying to do things the right way in an industry that doesn’t always make that easy. I’ve always cared a lot about building something where musicians are treated well, paid fairly, and proud to be part of it, while also delivering at a high level for clients. Balancing the creative side with the business side can be tough, but that’s also what has made it worth it. If anything, the harder seasons have made the brand stronger and made me even more clear on what I want Party Down to be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I do is build live entertainment experiences through Party Down and my company, Only Bands. Party Down is the flagship band and really the heart of how all of this started, but over time it grew into something bigger. Today, through Only Bands, I help provide top notch entertainment for weddings, corporate events, galas, private parties, and destination events, with Party Down being one of the main bands at the center of that.
Party Down is known for bringing real live show energy into the event world. We’re not just trying to be another wedding band or corporate band. The goal has always been to make it feel like people are getting a true Nashville experience with top level musicians from all over, strong production, and a show that feels exciting, polished, and seamless from start to finish. Through Only Bands, that same mindset has expanded into different formats and options depending on the event, but the standard is always the same.
What I think sets us apart is that this was built by working musicians who actually understand both sides of the business. I know what it feels like to be on stage, but I also know what clients, planners, and venues need behind the scenes. That’s a huge difference. We care just as much about professionalism, communication, and making the process easy as we do about the actual performance. We know how to read a room, adjust the energy, keep things moving, and make people feel like they got something bigger than they expected.
I’m really proud that Party Down has grown into something that’s had success in more than one lane. We’ve built a strong reputation in the private event world, That’s been exciting to see, but what means the most to me is that the private event and corporate side of Party Down is still thriving and that Only Bands has grown into a bigger platform around that, creating more opportunities for both clients and musicians.
More than anything, I’m proud that we’ve built something people trust. In a city like Nashville, there’s no shortage of talent, so standing out takes more than just playing well. I’ve always cared about creating something where the clients feel taken care of, the show feels unforgettable, and the musicians are treated well and paid properly for once. That balance matters to me a lot. I think that combination of real musicianship, professionalism, and genuinely caring about both the client experience and the players involved is what has always set Party Down and Only Bands apart.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Two podcasts to rule them all…. 10 year town, and the writer is 👌🏻
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.partydownlive.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partydownlive
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/partydownlive
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-de-graaf-78140a3a6
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@partydownlive
- Other: https://www.onlybandslive.com
