Part of the NE Ohio singer/songwriter scene since the ’70’s, Jim Ballard wrote, recorded and toured extensively into the ’90s, having worked with artists as varied as Gordon Lightfoot and Pete Seeger, Pure Prairie League and Poco, Odetta and 10,000 Maniacs, he took a years long break. Having wrapped recording on his most recent CD release, Ask John Steinbeck, he was nudged (that’s putting it lightly) by the musicians who made the album with him to take it onstage. Encouraged by the response to his first live concert in years and to the new CD, he’s back and playing. Joining him onstage will be his band, Wes McCraw on guitars, Tim Longfellow on keyboards, Bill Watson on Bass and Joe Lang on drums. In addition to songs from Ask John Steinbeck, they’ll be performing songs from throughout his career.