Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Bralts.
Hi Justin Bralts, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
BusCall started in Nashville in 2018 with a simple idea: create a place where emerging artists could truly feel seen, heard, and celebrated. The name “BusCall” comes from the music industry term for the time everyone meets at the bus before heading out on tour, and that perfectly represented the vision: building a space where the next generation of artists connects before their big moment happens.
BusCall was founded by me, Justin Bralts and later it evolved alongside co-host, long time best friend and business partner Jon Sepulveda, who brought his years of touring and hosting experience to the brand. Both of us came from real experience within Nashville’s music and nightlife scene, working closely with artists, venues, and live events long before BusCall became what it is today. That background helped shape the culture and energy that people now associate with the brand.
From the beginning, we wanted BusCall to feel different than a typical writers round or showcase. We wanted high energy, a real live-show atmosphere, and a sense of community where artists, industry professionals, and fans could all be part of the same experience. We built it from the ground up through consistency, relationships, and a genuine love for live music and artist development.
Over the years, BusCall has grown into one of Nashville’s most recognized independent showcase brands. We spent years building a loyal following at Tin Roof before continuing our growth at Category 10 in downtown Nashville. Through venue changes, industry shifts, and even the challenges that came with the pandemic era, the mission never changed: create opportunities for artists and build a room people genuinely want to be in.
What makes BusCall special is the atmosphere. It’s not just another night of music it feels like an event. We focus heavily on personality, crowd energy, artist curation, and creating moments people remember. Jon’s ability to connect with both the crowd and the artists, combined with Justin’s vision behind the scenes and relationships throughout the industry, helped BusCall develop into more than just a weekly show. It became a community and a trusted platform for emerging talent.
Many artists who have played BusCall have gone on to bigger opportunities, and being a small part of those journeys is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Today, BusCall is continuing to evolve beyond just a weekly show. We’re exploring larger partnerships, takeovers, sponsorships all while staying true to what made people connect with the brand in the first place: authenticity, community, and great live music.
At the core of everything, BusCall has always been about creating the kind of room where artists feel like something real is happening, because usually, it is.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but honestly that’s part of what shaped BusCall into what it is today. Building something consistently in Nashville’s music scene for this long comes with a lot of challenges, especially as an independent brand.
One of the biggest challenges early on was simply building awareness and trust. Nashville has so many talented artists and so many live music events happening every night, so creating something that stood out and kept people coming back consistently took time, patience, and a lot of relationship building.
Another major challenge was navigating growth while staying authentic to who we are. As we grew BusCall, there were always opportunities to change directions or become something different, but we’ve worked hard to protect the identity and culture of the brand. Jon and I never wanted it to feel manufactured or lose the energy and community that made people connect with it in the first place.
Like everyone in live entertainment, the pandemic era was also incredibly difficult for us. Live music came to a stop for a while, venues were uncertain, and the entire industry had to adapt. Coming out of that period and rebuilding momentum wasn’t easy, but it also made us appreciate the community around BusCall even more.
We’ve also had to navigate venue transitions, long nights, balancing multiple jobs, and the realities of building something independently without a huge corporate machine behind it. A lot of what BusCall became was built through consistency, persistence, and genuinely caring about artists and the experience we were creating every week.
At the end of the day, every challenge taught us something. It forced us to evolve, stay creative, and continue finding ways to grow while still keeping the heart of BusCall intact.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
(Justin’s) My background in live events, talent buying, hospitality, and artist relationships helped shape the vision and long-term direction of BusCall from the very beginning. Having spent years working closely with venues, artists, and live entertainment environments, I understood both the creative and operational sides of building a successful music platform. A big part of BusCall’s foundation came from understanding how important the overall experience is not just for the audience, but for the artists themselves. From artist curation and venue relationships to branding, promotion, and long-term growth strategy, I helped create the structure and identity that allowed BusCall to evolve from a small idea into a recognizable Nashville brand.
Jon brought a completely different but equally important dynamic to the table. With years of touring and live hosting experience, he naturally understood how to command a room, connect with audiences, and create energy that translates both on stage and behind the scenes. His personality and ability to engage with both artists and fans became a huge part of the BusCall atmosphere. Jon helped turn the show into more than just a lineup of performances, he helped make it feel like an event people wanted to be part of every week.
Together, our combination created a balance that became one of BusCall’s biggest strengths. I focused heavily on the vision, partnerships, artist relationships, and long-term brand development, while Jon helped bring the personality, live energy, and crowd engagement that gave BusCall its identity in the room. That balance between business, entertainment, and authenticity helped BusCall carve out its own lane within Nashville’s music scene and build a community that continues to grow today.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
One of the most important qualities behind our success has been consistency. In a city like Nashville, there are always new shows, new ideas, and constant competition for attention, so simply continuing to show up week after week for years and continuing to improve has been huge for us. We built trust with artists, fans, venues, and industry professionals by being dependable and genuinely committed to creating a great experience every time.
Authenticity has also been incredibly important. We never tried to create something that felt overly polished or manufactured. We grew BusCall naturally through relationships, word of mouth, and a real passion for live music and artist development. We think people can feel when something is genuine, and that authenticity helped build a loyal community around the brand.
Another major factor has been adaptability. Over the years, we’ve had to evolve through venue changes, industry shifts, changing audiences, and challenges within live entertainment. Instead of resisting change, we learned how to grow with it while still staying true to the identity of BusCall.
Most importantly, we’ve always cared deeply about the people involved the artists, the fans, the venue staff, and everyone who helps make the nights happen. At the end of the day, BusCall has always been about creating opportunities, building relationships, and making people feel like they’re part of something bigger than just another show.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Buscallnashville
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/buscallnashville
