30A Life Record's Bradley Gaskin Joins TKO for Booking

Duck Springs, Ala native, Bradley Gaskin, has signed with The Kirby Organization (TKO) for global booking representation. TKO, one of the industries premier boutique booking agencies, boasts a diverse roster with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London and a Nashville office with veteran booking agent, Michael Kelley.

Kelley says, "As soon as I heard this record, saw the 'live' show and met the team behind Bradley, I knew we had to be involved." He adds, "We are looking forward to being an instrumental part of this project's development."

The flagship artist for upstart 30A Life Records released his Keith Stegall–produced new album, aptly titled Unfinished Business, last week on all platforms [Listen HERE]. In celebration, Gaskin performed the entire album to a full house at AJ's Good Time Bar. The lead single, “Accidentally Drunk”—an anthem for all the barstool fools shedding tears in their tequila—is "top 10 most added" to country radio.

"I've got a great team supporting my music with my label, 30A Life Records, along with Dreamlined Entertainment and 16Camino" shares Gaskin. "Adding Michael with his experience to help my music come to life on stage is an exciting addition to my team's circle."

Music lovers can see Gaskin in the Nashville area at the upcoming in the rounds: Grindstone Cowboy in Eagleville, April 12; Bluebird Cafe, May 1; The Listening Room, May 28.

For more information, check out his socials: TikTok | Instagram |  Facebook | YouTube.

Traditionalist Bradley Gaskin performed his entire new album Unfinished Business

on 4/3 at AJ's Good Time Bar in Nashville

Pictured l to r: Ryan Barnstead (16Camino), Jack Cole (30A Life Records),

Josh Weddington (30A Life Records), Gaskin, Keith Stegall (producer),

John Ettinger (16Camino), and Michael Kelley (TKO)

PHOTO: Provided by MPR

About Bradley Gaskin

When Bradley Gaskin finally picked up his Gibson J45 after a decade of self-doubt, he was responding to an inexorable pull he could no longer resist. Gaskin had left Nashville behind but couldn’t quite shake the feeling there was something there for him. Upon garnering the attention of a Music Row exec in 2008 after posting a rough demo of a self-penned song, Gaskin quickly signed a publishing deal, then a record deal. Poised to release his debut album in 2011 once his first single became a Top 40 country hit, everything came to a halt when his label deemed him too traditional. After Gaskin was released from his contract, he packed away his guitar, picked up his toolbox and headed back to Duck Springs, AL, to resume real life—which is where Jack Cole, a seasoned businessman and longtime fan, eventually found him. Offered the deal of a lifetime, Gaskin jumped at the chance to get back in the studio with the promise of recording the kind of music he wanted to write. True to his word, Cole started 30A Life Records, signing Gaskin as his first artist and brokering a deal with legendary producer Keith Stegall to produce Gaskin’s new album.

Traditionalist Bradley Gaskin's UNFINISHED BUSINESS Drops April 4 at Midnight

You could call Bradley Gaskin’s path to country music stardom unconventional, but this singer/songwriter is ready to prove himself worthy. The flagship artist for upstart 30A Life Records will release his Keith Stegall–produced new album, aptly titled Unfinished Business, Friday on all platforms [Listen HERE], while the lead single, “Accidentally Drunk”—an anthem for all the barstool fools shedding tears in their tequila—was "top 10 most added" yesterday.

A Duck Springs, Ala., native, Gaskin got his first break in Music City in 2008, after posting a rough demo of a song he’d written and recorded. Two weeks later, a country music executive heard it and invited Gaskin to enter a talent contest he was organizing. Gaskin won and was quickly signed to a publishing company, where his success as a writer ultimately lead to a major record deal. Despite landing in the Top 40 with his first single, Gaskin’s album was shelved in 2011 due to a label shakeup. A disheartened Gaskin headed home, where he hung drywall, worked at a sawmill and served as a janitor at his daughter’s school to provide for his young family.

But the desire was still there. “As a kid, I remember my granddad (LeBo) Hammac getting blistered on Budweiser and playing Haggard and Jones,” says Gaskin. “He had this crappy old guitar that he probably knew two chords on, yet he would try his very best to sing anything George did. I didn’t really know what he was singing about, but it made me want to dive into everything George Jones recorded.” Apparently, that feeling never really goes away.

Now, thanks to 30A Life Records co-founder Jack Cole—a fan and successful businessman turned independent label exec—Gaskin is back with a new album, including songs written by Grammy Award–winning songwriter Ashley McBryde (“Never Wanted to Be that Girl,” McBryde/Pearce) and hitmakers Ashley Gorley (“You Proof,” Morgan Wallen), Terry McBride (“Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” Brooks & Dunn) and Bill Luther (“My Best Friend,” Tim McGraw).

A 10-song mix of co-writes and expertly crafted outside cuts, each track of Unfinished Business reveals a bit more of Gaskin’s temperament as an artist, from the plaintive cries of the steel, electric and acoustic guitars creating a rich backdrop for Gaskin’s soaring vocals in “Without Her” (All my pain and emotion, like a storm on the ocean, drowns me out; I ain’t out of touch, with reality; Without her… I just ain’t me) to the rowdy, near-confident conviction of a man on a mission in “’Bout Damn Did” (’Bout damn stopped you from drivin’ tailightin’ into the night … ‘Bout damn talked you in to coming back to me … It ain’t the things I’ve done … It’s what I didn’t do). In between, Gaskin and Stegall interlace playful odes to the hard-working man and woman (“Bad Day To Be a Beer” and “Bumpin’ Buckles”) to the spiritual “Pray For God” (Gorley, Wade Kirby and Luther) revealing faith in God like only a child could have (When she says a little prayer for God… I know it takes a lot of love ... Taking care of all of us) with psalms of love and hope that lean autobiographical, particularly in the Gaskin co-write (with Stegall and Cole) “Stronger Than You Think.”

“When Keith told me he believed in me the same way he believed in Alan Jackson and Randy Travis,” Gaskin explains, “that’s when I knew I was finally getting somewhere.” Stegall adds: “Singers are a dime a dozen, but exceptional artists like Bradley are true music makers.”

Looking back, Gaskin muses, “I’m stronger because of what I went through; it makes you tougher. But there’s more to my story, which is why we’re calling the new album Unfinished Business.”

Gaskin will hold an album release party at AJ’s Good Time Bar in Nashville Thursday at 4 p.m. and is currently finalizing his fall tour. For more information, check out his socials: TikTok | Instagram |  Facebook | YouTube.

About Bradley Gaskin

When Bradley Gaskin finally picked up his Gibson J45 after a decade of self-doubt, he was responding to an inexorable pull he could no longer resist. Gaskin had left Nashville behind but couldn’t quite shake the feeling there was something there for him. Upon garnering the attention of a Music Row exec in 2008 after posting a rough demo of a self-penned song, Gaskin quickly signed a publishing deal, then a record deal. Poised to release his debut album in 2011 once his first single became a Top 40 country hit, everything came to a halt when his label deemed him too traditional. After Gaskin was released from his contract, he packed away his guitar, picked up his toolbox and headed back to Duck Springs, AL, to resume real life—which is where Jack Cole, a seasoned businessman and longtime fan, eventually found him. Offered the deal of a lifetime, Gaskin jumped at the chance to get back in the studio with the promise of recording the kind of music he wanted to write. True to his word, Cole started 30A Life Records, signing Gaskin as his first artist and brokering a deal with legendary producer Keith Stegall to produce Gaskin’s new album.

"Accidentally Drunk," New Single from Traditionalist Bradley Gaskin, Available Now

Bradley Gaskin has some unfinished business. As the flagship artist for upstart independent 30A Life Records, the former major label artist’s soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics, as featured in his lead single, “Accidentally Drunk,” will convince you his first new music in over a decade is well worth a listen. “Accidentally Drunk” [LISTEN HERE]—off Gaskin’s forthcoming Keith Stegall–produced album, Unfinished Business—is available now on all platforms and officially goes for radio adds Monday, March 31.

The Duck Springs, Ala., native got his first break in 2011 after Gaskin’s wife encouraged him to post a rough demo of “Mr. Bartender,” a song he’d written and recorded. Two weeks later, John Rich called and invited Gaskin to enter a talent contest he was organizing. Gaskin won, and the next thing he knew, he was center stage in the iconic circle at the Grand Ole Opry.

Gaskin’s first deal with a major record label took shape soon after with a self-titled EP and “Mr. Bartender” as the lead single. Unfortunately, Gaskin was deemed a bit too traditional, and his album was shelved in a management shakeup at the label. That disheartening event sent Gaskin back to Duck Springs where he hung drywall, worked at a sawmill and served as a janitor at his daughter’s school.

Now, thanks to 30A Life Records co-founder Jack Cole, a fan and successful businessman turned independent label exec, Gaskin is back in the game. “Accidentally Drunk” is a beautiful, bittersweet ballad about a broken-hearted barstool fool shedding tequila tears—I was tired of waking up to another hangover/Trying to get high, ending up a little lower/Swearing it’s the last time, like every other Friday night—and continually losing his battle with sobriety:

PHOTO: Amick Cutler

Written by Grammy Award–winning songwriter Ashley McBryde (“Never Wanted to Be that Girl,” McBryde/Pearce), artist Dan Smalley (The State of Country Music) and Justin Ebach (“Here Tonight,” Brett Young) “Accidentally Drunk” is performed by top Nashville musicians, with Brent Mason and Joel Key on guitar; Scotty Sanders on steel; bassist Glenn Worf; Mike Rojas on keys; drummer Tommy Harden and Stuart Duncan on fiddle.

“Keith and I were in his studio where I saw Grammy, CMA and ACM Awards,” Gaskin says, “so I asked him point blank, ‘You’ve worked with all these people and wrote all these songs. Why does a guy like you want to work with somebody like me?’ And he told me that the same way he believed in Alan Jackson and Randy Travis, he believed in me,” Gaskin relates, “and that’s when I felt a huge weight leave me.” 

“Singers are a dime a dozen,” Stegall explains, “but exceptional artists aren’t. Make no mistake—Bradley Gaskin is an artist.”

Looking back, Gaskin says, “I’m stronger because of what I went through. Everything I loved, which was music, was killing me. It seemed like nobody wanted my stuff. I couldn’t get one of the biggest labels in the world to put out my record.” When you go through that, he muses, “It makes you tougher. There’s more to my story that we haven’t gotten to tell, and there’s a lot of unfinished business to take care of.”

Gaskin will hold an album release party at AJ’s Good Time Bar in Nashville, Thursday, April 3 at 4 p.m. with the album officially out at Midnight, April 4. For more information, check out his socials: TikTok | Instagram |  Facebook.