Brad Hoshaw

There’s a longer version of this story that probably belongs in a memoir someday.

This isn’t that version.

This is just to say:
the songs are finished.

Six months ago, I thought this project would already be complete. It ended…

I moved to Minneapolis on July 4th, 2002.

I was 22, fresh out of a white suburban Republican home in Omaha, and shaped by a conservative Baptist church that handed me a very small map of the world. I…

February has me rehearsing for an upcoming band show at The Rusty Nail (Feb 13). It’s our first gig of the year and we’re dusting off some crowd favorites. I’ve also been in planning mode - mapping out tour dates,…

Nashville froze over in January, and so did my power - but I kept writing by candlelight (and portable charger). Grateful for the friends who checked in on me and offered me warmth. Starting the year slow but steady. I’ve…

I returned to the Emerald Coast Songwriting Retreat this month - and wow. Second year in a row and it hit just as deep. I left with 4 new co-writes, and a heart full of gratitude. There’s nothing like unplugging…

August was a creative whirlwind. I joined a group of writers for the East Nashville songwriting retreat and came out with some of my favorite new songs of the year. I got to perform with my band at The Underdog,…

Choosing the Songs

How I Narrowed Down 100+ Songs to One Setlist

Before I ever stepped into a rehearsal room with my band, I had already written over 100 songs since moving to Nashville.

Not all of them came in…

Finding the Players

How I Found My Band

Starting a band in Nashville is a little like dating—with instruments. You’re looking for chemistry, shared values, good timing, and hopefully, someone who doesn’t ghost you after one rehearsal.

In a town…

The Spark

Why I Decided It Was Time to Start a Band in Nashville

When I moved to Nashville in August of 2023, I had a simple, focused plan for year one:

Write 50 songs.
Grow in my song craft.…

Last week, I had the chance to hear Laura Veltz speak in one of my classes, and let me tell you, her insights on songwriting hit me right in the heart. If you’re into songwriting like I am, you probably…