Wayne Newton also appeared at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center and drew hundreds of people.  The parking lot was jammed with Newton… groupies.  The size of Wayne’s show required the usage of all the stages at the facility. We were, therefore, forced to secure our own stages. And we did thanks to the wonderful people at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Canton who donated their stages. 

Members at St. Michael’s have been very supportive and were happy to help us with our music ministry needs.  Thank you so much - especially Diane Halis, Barb Weide and the custodial team.  We love you!  You are a tremendous blessing to us. 

Now… since our room (Studio A) was right next to Wayne Newton’s, there were some serious security issues – Wayne might see us backstage and refuse to do the concert.   So we were not allowed in certain parts of the hallways we normally use. In fact, there was a threat of a $500 fine should anyone be caught lurking around Wayne Newton’s backstage area. 

A highlight of the evening was when about 20 people – attendees from the Wayne Newton show – wandered down to our room and were gathered around our door listening to the music and reading the info on our easel.  They said the music at 4thFridays sounded great!   What a nice compliment!

September’s Line-up – We started our show with our house band - rufus harris.   Then Rufus shared an acoustic version of the song - It’s Not About… from his upcoming album – How Do You Read It? It was thought-provoking and nicely performed.

Next on stage was singer songwriter Pony Baldwin. She was great!  The former racehorse jockey shared tunes from her latest project – Calling My Name. Pony’s voice was exquisitely clear and beautiful.  She’s a very talented writer and guitarist.  We enjoyed having her at 4thFridays and hope to have her back again next year.

4thFridays welcomes singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jan Krist. She’s one of the most successful independent artists in Michigan.  Jan travels all over the country sharing her clever melodic tunes. 
She began writing and singing songs in Detroit-area folk clubs back in 1980. At the time, she was a young mother, and a graduate of Berkley High School who had grown up in Grand Haven.  Over the years she began spreading her wings beyond the Metro area, winning praise at the nationally known Kerrville Songwriting Competition in Texas in 1991, and then releasing her first album of songs, Decapitated Society, in 1992. That album won praise from Billboard and other magazines, and Krist followed it up with 1993's Wing and a Prayer, which also garnered accolades. She was honored as Best Vocalist in the Acoustic Division at the Detroit Music Awards in 1995.  In 1996 she celebrated the release of her latest album, the intelligent and polished Curious, with a show at the Ark in Ann Arbor. Through it all she has raised her kids -- Amy, Ian and Michael -- and stayed in Detroit. She married Alan Finkbeiner in 1995. "And that's why they call me Jan Krist," she says with a laugh.

If you’re a musician, poet, comedian, dancer, artist, or band, we’d like to hear from you.