First Thursdays at The Rialto Theatre

Written By Ellen

Thursday August 7th 2025

Local singer-songwriter, Jim Ballard, hosted two of Northeast Ohio’s finest musicians for a night of heart and soul-stirring melodies. Susan Wojnar and Bob Frank captivated the audience with songs and melodies of the human condition, acceptance, self-love, and community. Leaving all feeling inspired, moved, to go out and connect with others.

Susan Wojnar, is a Northeast Ohio musician and writer. She has been composing and performing music and poetry for over 30 years. Her songs are all about heart, connecting with others, uplifting spirits, and helping all to see the beauty inside-and-out. The beauty of the self, as well as the beauty of the natural world. Her melodies aim to bring everyone closer together. Letting go of fear and moving towards a culture of love, by being there for one another. Supporting each other’s passions and dreams.

You can find Susan on her website, and wherever you stream/listen to music!
https://www.susanwojnar.com

Bob Frank, is a Northeast Ohio musician, producer, writer, educator, and journalist. He writes a lot of blues-centered songs, aiming at the human condition, acceptance, family, and love. His songs will leave you feeling inspired to go out and make something in the world. His stories encourage all to keep going, find their purpose.

You can find Bob on his website, and wherever you stream/listen to music!
https://www.bobfrankblues.com

Jim Ballard, is a strong advocate for the local music scene. Always encouraging and highlighting local artists each month during his Rialto First Thursday event. Jim Ballard is a Northeast Ohio singer-songwriter, musician, producer, engineer, writer, advocate for society and the Earth. His songs and stories always aim to bring the world closer together, through love, peace, compassion, joy, understanding, and connection.

You can find Jim on his website, and wherever you stream/listen to music!
https://www.jimballardmusic.net

After the songwriters’ circle, three incredible local artists performed their heart melodies of love, understanding, peace, acceptance, and compassion.

Bobby Talley, is a Northeast Ohio folk singer-songwriter, who writes heartfelt poetic melodies for all to listen and feel inspired. He plays his guitar to help the audience feel something, encouraging them to know themselves, and to go keep moving forward in life. His songs are all about living life to the fullest, embracing each moment, and feeling the gratitude of each passing breath. Like a river, rushing endlessly on, down the path. There’s always something new around each bend. Changing of time to Seasons dance, Bobby’s music will make you feel a part of something larger, a family, a home.

I’d Like To Go Home Now, is a Northeast Ohio alternative folk rock band from Akron, Ohio.

Blue Radio, is a Northeast Ohio rock band from Akron, Ohio.

Ellen

Hey! I’m Ellen and I’m just a vessel journeying through life with a camera, a journal and a message by my side.

I take photos of me, the world, musicians, mother nature — wherever there’s a story burning bright through the horizons, I’m there. Documenting it, preserving it forever.

That’s why I chose ‘Zeitgeist’ as my name. Zeitgeist means ‘the defining spirit or mood as described by the ideas, people, places of the times’. I shoot through a ‘lens’, telling those stories, piecing together those ‘pieces of time’, framing them on this website for you all to see. I hope you’ll enjoy them, and maybe they’ll go on to inspire you.

https://zeitgeistlens.com