Indianapolis-based Frank Bradford has performed with the Wright Brothers and is releasing an album. (Photo provided by FRB Records)

Click here to watch Frank Bradford's performance in this week's Off the Record video

If you've driven in Indianapolis in the past three months, you might have seen billboards promoting Frank Bradford's "Man in the Wilderness" album.

It's rare for local, unsigned musicians to promote on such a large scale.

Bradford, who refers to his work as "mainstream music with a message," is releasing "Man in the Wilderness" after the billboard campaign.

On Feb. 6, the Northwest High School and Indiana University graduate will play a record-release show at the Rathskeller, 401 E. Michigan St.

Bradford sang in a reunion lineup of rock band Roadmaster in 2003, and the vocalist-guitarist-keyboard player also appears frequently as a member of the Wright Brothers.

He recently talked to Indy.com about music, spirituality and Rick "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" Derringer's guitar cameo on the new album:

On his billboards:
"A good friend of mine had an idea about a year ago. He said, 'You know what? We're going to put up billboards.' I said, 'OK, we'll do it.' I just hope my claim to fame is not that I was the first musician in Indianapolis to put up a billboard. But I haven't seen anyone else do it, and, coincidentally, all my musician friends are saying, 'Hey, I had that idea.'."

On the ad campaign's impact:
"I'll get a lot of phone calls from friends, but I'll get e-mails on MySpace.com from, 'Hey, you used to be my guitar teacher when I was 15. Now I'm 25 and in L.A. My mom saw your billboard. She wants a copy. How do we get a copy?'

"It's planting the little seeds. It's an awareness. ......"

On the meaning of title "Man in the Wilderness":
"I tell people it's a soul-searching record. It asks a lot of questions about the meaning of life: Why am I here? Does God know my ZIP code? I would say the answer is yes. So there are a lot of tough questions about life and some answers in there, too."

On his beliefs:
"I want to call my music faith-based, but not clobbering you over the head. I'm going to sing this music, and I sing it in nightclubs, I sing it in restaurants and I sing it in church. ..... I believe in God; I don't like to shove it down somebody's throat. I'm always looking for ways to share."

On the popularity of Christian music:
"I think parents want something for their children that has something positive to listen to, in general. I think music that shares something that's bright, as opposed to something that's dark, is going to always win and sort of conquer the darker music out there."

On occasional trips to Nashville, Tenn.:
"I've been encouraged to try to get into some songwriting circles. When I'm 80, I'll still be able to write songs. I don't know if I'll be able to play the 'Cheeseburger in Paradise.' So I'm trying to make a few more trips, just to get connected. As we're seeing, (Nashville) is R&B, pop, rock and country. When Steven Tyler from Aerosmith is on CMT, that's kind of a sign to me. All the rockers are down there, and it's a very happening city."

On the album's cameo appearance by Derringer:
"Everyone says, 'How did you get Rick Derringer on your album?' I warmed up for Rick Derringer -- it will be two years in May -- at a little place in Anderson. I got to shake his hand, and I said, 'Hey, would you mind playing on my new record?' He said, 'Sure.' It was that simple. Ask and you shall receive."

Frank Bradford

When: 6 p.m. Feb. 6.
Where: The Rathskeller, 401 E. Michigan St.
Admission: Free.
Info: (317) 636-0396, www.rathskeller.com, www.frankbradfordmusic.com