OJATA opened for one of today’s top blues rock bands; The 44’s, on their Midwest Summer Tour. The 44’s have been touring both state side and across the pond for over 10 years now. And during this time, they have acquired a huge following of enthusiastic blues loving fans. They’re unique in both their style and delivery and they always leave the audience begging for more. While The 44’s were tearing it up music wise, OJATA was blazing their own trail; thanks in part to Johnny Main and JR Lozano of The 44’s that had invited them, on this fun filled excursion though the Midwest. Every club and festival they performed at the crowds responses were heartfelt and enthusiastic from the first chord struck by Bruce Krupnik on Backbone until the last note rang out on Sowin’ Seeds by Orphan Jon. OJATA had a very memorable great time with everyone present, and made many new friends and fans along the way. We would like to thank Pete Watters of The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE, Vinnie Valenza of Blues City Deli in St. Louis, MO, Suki Willison of Uncle Bo’s and The Topeka Blues Society of Topeka, KS, Lindsey Shannon of BB’s Lawnside BBQ in Kansas City, MO, Mark Audi of The Alamo and The Central Illinois Blues Club of Springfield, IL, Jeff Burgos of Club Chalk in Forest Park, IL and Frank Hicks of Knuckleheads in Kansas City, Mo for allowing us to share our music with their patrons and members. It was a thrill and a great honor to do so, and one we never take lightly or for granted. We would personally like to thank Kathi Vandever and Rich Murteza for their awesome hospitality and for putting us up for a few nights during the break in the tour. And most importantly, we want to thank Johnny Main and JR Lozano for not only inviting us, but for being such great friends and supporters of us. It means the world to us to have you two brothers helping and guiding us along this musical journey of ours. Her’s a few pix from the tour to give you an idea what was going on. Thank you Peggy Stevinson Bair, Dana Chapman, Russel Schenke, Kathi Vandever and Jeff Burgos for the amazing shots taken of us. See you all on our very own Midwest Tour next year sometime early June.