Corey Cox, a Pendleton native and country music star will take the stage at The Chug on Saturday. The show is like coming home according to the musician.
MUNCIE, Ind. — Corey Cox, a local country musician, has continued to rise in notoriety in the country music scene, but he never forgets his roots.
On Saturday, Jan. 13, Cox will hold a free show at The Chug, located in the village near Ball State University. The doors for the show open at 6 p.m., with Cox taking the stage around 11 p.m.
According to Cox, the show at a local venue with hometown fans offers an atmosphere he can’t get on the road, offering a chance to re-energize.
« Local shows are the fuel back on the fire, » Cox said. “You remember what you’re striving for and why you’re doing it.”
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Cox, a Pendleton native, grew up in the area going from a baseball player at Anderson University to a rising star in the country music scene. He recently opened for Blake Shelton at the Indianapolis 500 and Toby Keith at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center (formerly Klipsch) this past summer.
Other major stars that Cox has shared the stage with on tour and at festivals include Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, and Chris Young.
That rising stardom has garnered quite a reputation locally, according to Phil Juskevice, the general manager of The Chug.
“I think there is a buzz of excitement around him coming back,” Juskevice said. “He’s been playing with bigger names and bigger venues.” The Chug saw a large positive response on social media when they first announced the concert.
Cox has played at the chug several times, including one show in the fall as the school year began for Ball State University.
Music, while not always an easy career path, remains a passion for Cox. Songwriting has been a passion for Cox since he was 16, giving him an opportunity to say what he wants to say and to tell a story.
“When you write a song and see people react in a positive way, there is no better feeling in the world,” Cox said.
Some of the music that put Cox on the music charts included his 2014 release « Wake Up Drunk, » which hit the radio airwaves that year. The Indianapolis Star has also featured several of his songs on their episodes of IndyStar Sessions including “Mistakes you Don’t Make,” and “The Long Way”.
Over the fall Cox released a single called “Strawberry Wine,” a cover of the 1995 country song of the same name by Deana Carter. More of his music and albums can be found online at coreycoxmusic.com .
