First Thursday of EVERY month, Jim Ballard welcomes special songwriter guests. Come for the music, the stories, the great bar selection and great food from Paninoteca. No admission ~ Gratuities are welcome.

Alex Bevan
Whenever the subject of Northeast Ohio (or simply Ohio, for that matter) songwriters comes up, the name Alex Bevan appears front and center. After more than two dozen albums, he’s still plying his trade, having released his most recent collection, Sparrow, in 2023. The Grammy nominated Emmy winning songwriter will make his third First Thursday guest appearance.

Rolly Brown
Renowned guitarist and folksinger/songwriter Rolly Brown is well known both throughout the country and internationally for his adept command and beautiful performances on acoustic guitar. Solo performer, studio musician, side man, teacher and radio producer, he has taken his skills to much of the United States, Canada and Australia. Known in the 330 as Alex Bevan’s first sideman, Rolly will be joining Bevan as Jim’s guest for June’s First Thursday at The Rialto

Jim Ballard
is a journeyman singer songwriter, producer and film music composer. Starting out in the coffeehouses and campuses of NE Ohio before moving on to travel most of the country, he’s appeared in venues large and small, sharing the bill with artists as diverse as Pete Seeger and Odetta, Poco and Pure Prairie League, to Phoebe Snow and Gordon Lightfoot, Kenny Loggins and Ten Thousand Maniacs.
He plays frequently in the 330 solo and with his backing band The Strangs. Their 18th album is due out in 2024.
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