On Sunday, February 4, patrons flocked to Journeyman Distillery in Valparaiso to attend the first-ever Whiskey and the Blues event. The Sam Cockrell Band performed a variety of bluesy selections while attendees enjoyed the wide array of beverages on tap. This event is one of the many public functions that Journeyman has put on since its grand opening last October.
David Regan, the Retail and Public Programs manager at Journeyman’s Michigan location, expressed his pleasure at the public’s reception at the Whiskey and the Blues event.
“We've had a really great response,” Regan said. “When we were designing this event, we thought, ‘It's the middle of winter and people have the winter blues, so let's get them out of their houses.’ We went from winter blues to blues music and came up with Whiskey and the Blues. People love the blues. There's a lot of rich blues music in the Northwest Indiana region. Valparaiso’s proximity to Chicago and its blues culture gives us access to the great music and artists coming out of the city.”
Regan sees the Whiskey and the Blues event not only as an opportunity to celebrate blues culture but also as an embodiment of Journeyman’s brand and values.
“Journeyman has a casual upscale feel and the blues lend itself to that vibe as well,” said Regan. “I also feel like blues music is accessible to anyone and Journeyman is accessible to many different types of people. Whiskey goes hand-in-hand with the blues and all of it fits our aesthetic.”
Vocalist and electric bass guitar player Sam Cockrell met Regan while performing with his band at the Valparaiso Blues and BBQ Festival last June. Regan asked Cockrell if he and his band would be interested in performing at Journeyman, and Cockrell agreed. After giving the opening Whiskey and the Blues performance, The Sam Cockrell Band will be returning to Journeyman in March to close out the series with a second concert.
Cockrell, a Chicago Blues Hall of Famer, considers the Whiskey and the Blues event to be a unique opportunity to educate others about the blues and create new fans of the music genre.
“Most of the time, when younger people hear the blues, they run from it,” Cockrell said. “They assume that all blues music is slower and more traditional-sounding. There's nothing wrong with that kind of blues, but when they see guys like us, it changes their perception because our songs have a lot of energy. It's great for our audience and it's great for us because we're now creating a new audience here in Indiana. Every time we play for new people, it's going to encourage people to go see other artists perform. If people like what you do, then they’ll come out and support what you do.”
The event attendees spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with one another, savoring their drinks, and enjoying the Sam Cockrell Band’s stellar tunes.
Below are the dates of upcoming Whiskey and the Blues concerts:
2/11 – Fantasy Blues Band
2/18 – No concert, visit the Artisan Market instead!
2/25 – Derek Caruso & The Blues Fuse
3/03 – Southside Soul Kings
3/10 – Total Package Blues Band
3/17 – Street Jaxkson Band
3/24 – Sam Cockrell Band
For more information about tickets and future events at Journeyman Distillery, visit journeyman.com.
