Two years ago, Evanston resident Thomas Cray had the idea to start an open mic night at his local coffee shop, Brothers K Coffeehouse on Main Street and Hinman Avenue. With the blessing and support of owners Brian and John Kim, Cray has turned that idea into First Saturdays, a thriving monthly showcase for amateur musicians.

From 6 to 8 p.m. the first Saturday of each month, musicians of all ages, styles and experience levels sign up to show their skills with two songs.

“We have everything from sensational singer/songwriters doing original material to your average Joe who always wanted to try it,” Cray said. And the performances are not limited to the standard acoustic guitar. Cello, upright acoustic bass, violin, harmonica, banjo—all have been used by performers at First Saturdays.

“We had a rapping preacher,” Cray said. “It was very cool.”

Cray, himself an experienced musician and open mic performer, pulls double duty as host and sound engineer.

“The open mic nights have far exceeded my expectations,” Cray said.

Wilmette resident Naomi Rosen stopped into Brothers K Nov. 7 in the midst of its 2nd anniversary show. She came for coffee after dinner with her parents and left having performed a Joni Mitchell song a cappella to a room full of strangers.

“It was a little scary,” Rosen said. “But it actually was nice. It was really fun.”

Rosen, a sophomore theater major at Northwestern University, said the performance was her first at an open mic.

“It was such an open, accepting space that I felt OK going for it,” she said.

An atmosphere of openness is what Chicago Public School teacher and open mic performer Dave Newman appreciates about First Saturdays.

“This venue has the reputation of being a listening one,” Newman said. “People here are tuned in to what’s going on. It’s one of the reasons I like playing here—you know that people are listening.”

For more information about First Saturdays, go to www.thomascray.com.

For more information about Brothers K Coffeehouse, go to www.brotherskcoffee.com.

—Jonathan Bullington, Triblocal.com reporter