the June show was not routine for the 4thFridays' crew.  We were scheduled in the Dome Room - where we hadn't been since February (see March '04 newsletter) so it was a challenge just to re-acclimate ourselves to this setting.

For those of you who have never attended a show in the Dome, our main challenge is always to capture the allure of intimacy in the much larger Dome.  It's not like the smaller Studio A.  It's a whole lotta space!  The lights can only be reached via a "Cherry Picker" - a machine used to reach very high places.  Even the projector screen has to be mounted using it.  So to maintain the same feel of Studio A, we have to be creative.  

The Dome room used to be a gym where residents would engage in various sports like rolling skating before the big renovation in the late 90s.  A few months ago it was used for a Metropolitan-wide guitar show.  So you can imagine how large this room really is.   One of the first things we decided to do whenever we are in this room is to use pipe and drape.  The drape accomplishes a few things.  First, it reduces the size of the room by 50% - a more controllable setting.   The drape also helps to absorb the sound so that it doesn't get lost in the bigness of the room.  And finally the drape blocks out the later-setting sun-light from the large windows at one end of the room which would interfere with the mood of the show.  All in all, the Dome is a fantastic room.  The show was great!

We thank God for the Ford Center staff who worked hard to ensure that everything was in place. The Center even lent us a couple of their lighting folks to help improve our visual presentation.  A special thanks to Erica Lyght (a.k.a. our angel at the Center) for pulling this crew together to help.  We'll be back in Studio A this 4thFridays. 
kelly Smith - Last month, we figured we'd take full advantage of the extra space in the Dome by featuring a dancer, Kelly Smith.  Kelly started off the show with a dance number that was both beautiful and graceful.   Kelly has been singing and dancing professionally for over ten years.  She spent two years traveling the world with Up with People and worked as a dancer in the Shoji Tachuchi Show in Branson, MO.   At 4thFridays, she danced to Mercy Me's hit - I Can Only Imagine.  Her artistry was perfectly synched to the lyrics of this moving song which speak about seeing Christ in His glory and what a believer's response might be.  The lyrics are as follows:


This was Kelly's first time performing for us but we hope won't be her last.  We will invite her back for a future show.

next... rufus harris (the 4thFridays' houseband) immediately followed Kelly with the 4thFridays theme.  They performed Look So Good, Captain, Risen, Who is Like the Lord? (all from the first project) and ended their set with My Life from the "How Do You Read It?" CD.


after a short breat..., an acoustic 2nd set openner by Rufus.   Then...Heaven Sown took the stage.  These 5 guys are revved about God.  They handle the serious subject of the Gospel with reverence, but are also able to work in a lot fun.   Included in their set was a Veggie Tales tune which warranted the use of a very large tuba and a Jamaican tune where the guys sing with colorful tams complete with dreadlocks.  They are not only talented but versatile.  The 4thFridays crowd welcomed them.
julia Dittberner - displayed some of her black and white photographs of children who live at the Sadovy and Social Orphanages in Far East Russia. She and a group of 26 others traveled to Russia last year to build playgrounds at three orphanages. 

The prints in her series focus on the contrast between elements of daily life and the children living in the orphanages.  Even though these children are several thousand miles away, Julia's work pulls you into the particular moment of the photo.  Julia was on hand afterwards to converse with the attendees about her work.  



rap artist Knowgood - This guy backed out of a 30 million dollar contract with his secular label to serve God.  What was he thinking?  He says simply "God saved him".  Knowgood no longer wanted the drugs, sex and violence that came with his recording contract.  He wanted out, but it wasn't easy.  Now he belongs to God - doing His work and will command the stage this Friday with slammin rhymes and rhythms.  If you've never heard Knowgood, you need to!  Come here his story.

nashville artist - Rhonda Hanson - Rhonda lives a quiet life in middle Tennessee.  She has spent time in street ministry, has served on the staff of what is now known as Mercy Ministries of America, a home for unwed mothers and troubled girls and shares intimate friendships with many of Nashville's singers and songwriters. The Christian music industry has always been baffled by Rhonda's music, not quite knowing where to pigeon-hole her. She is a strange mix of rock, blues, country, gospel, etc., not really conforming to any particular genre but managing to appeal to fans across the board.  Her musical influences range from Mark Heard and Keith Green (to whom she is most often compared) to secular artists that many Christians may find offensive but who, in Rhonda's opinion, carry deposits in them that were intended for God all along.  She doesn't apologize for making room for all kinds of music. "Music has a life and soul all its own," Rhonda says. "It's a living, breathing thing, as alive as any person. Or, at least, it should be." 

You'll enjoy Rhonda when she takes this stage at this month's 4thFridays.  Her voice is unique and perhaps comparable to Stevie Nicks and Bonnie Rait.  Really good stuff!
                         
rufus harris - will also share some great tunes on Friday.  We're really mixing it up this month so come on down and enjoy and evening of Good Music, Good Coffee and Good Company.
other News... Remebering Chestes Price - On behalf of The Price Family, we'd like to thank all of you for attending The Price Benefit Concert on July 10.  The family was deeply moved by kindness shown by so many.   Kindred Nation performed a 45-minute set which included a beautiful song about Chester called Big Guy.  There almost wasn't a dry eye in the place.  And rufus harris played some of Chester's favorites while he was with the band.  It was a wonderful evening.  A special thanks to the bands, Ralf Patterson for helping out the band, Michelle Burns and Rhonda Welsh for reading personal journals from the Price Family,  Yodit Brooks and Evangel Ministries, Kindred Nation and their spouses (Lucy and Jenny), Carmen Holmes, the 4thFridays crew (Mildred and Marvin Sheets, Mike Brewer, Rod Sledge, Sidney Howard and Jeannine Gardner).  We could not have done this without you. 

If you weren't able to make it and would still like to send a donation to the Price family.  Here is the address:  The Price Family Michigan First Credit Union 7700 Puritan  Detroit, MI  48228.  Make checks payable to "The Price Family". 




attention Artists - We invite Christian artists of all types to come out to see our shows - whether you want to perform at a future show or just check out what we're doing.  We'd like to meet you.  4thFridays is presented by theCamp - Christian Artists and Musicians Project - a non-profit organization.  One of our purposes is to promote and showcase the independent Chrisian artist - especially Michigan artists.  So if you are an artist, we encourage you to come check us out and support what we're doing.  We need your help in order to make an impact 

fundraiser - Stay tuned for information on our first fundraiser for theCamp in late fall.  Proceeds from this function will benefit all C.A.M.P. activities including 4thFridays and prison ministry.