Emily Davis, creator of Tipple and Tune. Photo by Nicole McPheeters
by JANA WILSON
On the first Monday of each month, Cardinal Spirits, 922 S. Morton St., hosts Tipple and Tune from 7 to 9 p.m. Live music is performed by artists who work in the local food and beverage industry. There’s a featured cocktail each evening, with $1 from each purchase benefitting a local charity.
The event was the brainchild of local musician and restaurant worker Emily Davis. The 26-year-old moved to Bloomington from New York City in 2016 and noticed something right away. “In New York, there are a lot of cocktail bars where people can perform,” she says. “The music scene is busy but different here in Bloomington.”
Davis worked with Jeff Wuslich, co-founder of Cardinal Spirits, to get Tipple and Tune going in September 2019. Performances have ranged from a jazz trio to a vocalist singing show tunes. Davis says the charity donations change every quarter. The first charity in 2019 was Indiana Recovery Alliance. Middle Way House will benefit from drinks purchased through the first quarter of 2020.
Davis was inspired to start the musical venture by reading the book Meehan’s Bartender Manual. In addition to discussing how to make cocktails, the book discusses ways to stay healthy in the bar and restaurant business. Davis explains that having a creative outlet like music helps keep those in the service industry healthy.
“There are a lot of actors and musicians who tend bar and wait tables,” Davis says. But working at a bar or restaurant can lead to lots of late nights and unhealthy eating and drinking. Davis said she chose an early evening time for Tipple and Tune to make it easier for musicians who most likely are performing on their night off from restaurant or bar work.
Davis notes that she has big plans for 2020, including expanding the diversity of artists and genres. “We want to make this a sustainable event,” she adds.
For more information, visit magbloom.com/tipple&tune.
