Songwriters in the Round

Wed. Mar. 05, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

1st & 3rd Wednesdays at ROOTED Cafe at 7 PM

Four songwriters take the stage, seated in a comfortable semi-circle. They take turns playing songs, occasionally joining in with each other on harmony vocals or guitar licks.

This week’s Songwriters in the Round features faces familiar and new. Sam Bergquist’s brand new album “Racing Down the Valley” is about capturing the beauty and impermanence of life as we speed through it. Ella McDonald sings with a delicate deliberation that draws out the meaning in each word and phrase. For the first time, we welcome the polished yet powerful music of our Somerville neighbor Karen Grenier. And your host, David Thorne Scott will be leading the conversation while singing his jazz-influenced songs from the piano.

Songwriters in the Round needs sponsorships to continue at our high level. This week’s show is being sponsored by an anonymous community member. Thank you — you know who you are! To everyone else, let this be a lesson. If we all do our part we can keep this magical tradition of connection going. If you know of a business or individual who can sponsor a performance for $200, I can guarantee the four songwriters and sound engineer a base fee of $40, so they can be sure to at least afford a sandwich and an Uber ride home regardless of how much they earn in tips. I will announce the sponsoring business from the stage at the beginning and the end of the show. Also, if the business has a flyer or coupon to distribute, we will place one on every table in the Café. Please get in touch if you can help.

Admission is free (suggested donation $10-$20)

The Armory Café is a warm, welcoming place where people can enjoy food and drink as well as chance meetings and conversation. But everyone becomes quiet when four songwriters take the stage to take turns playing songs, occasionally joining each other on harmony vocals or guitar licks. In between songs, the audience listens while the performers discuss music and life in general. “I was inspired by the ‘guitar pulls’ of the Bluebird Café in Nashville,” host David Thorne Scott says, “but with a wider variety. There is folk and country, but also rock, R&B, soul, jazz, and musical theater.”

Held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. This program is supported with a small grant from the Somerville Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The event is free but you may want to donate $10-$20 for the performers.

Part of the ROOTED Armory Café Series. Food, snacks, coffee, tea, beer and wine available!

You might hear a young up-and-coming pro, an established mid-career performer and mentor, and a cherished elder of the scene — all sharing music. The growing relationships will warm your heart and enrich your soul. Come every week as the lineup shifts and new friends are made.

All ages welcome.

Our songwriters this week

Long-time Somerville resident Karen Grenier has been writing and performing for over 25 years. A polished vocalist and guitarist, her knack for writing crafty lyrics and catchy melodies make for an excellent listening experience. Karen got her start playing in bars and restaurants in the mid 90’s in New Hampshire and caught a break in 1999, landing a seasonal gig in Provincetown, MA where she performed regularly for over 20 years. “Provincetown put me on the map as a performer. My fans and friends opened doors for me that I never imagined!” Karen has performed throughout New England, and has appeared on stages in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey Delaware, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin and California. Karen balances her love for music & performing with another passion, working with kids. Currently Dean of Students for Somerville Public Schools, she has profound gratitude for being able to pursue both careers. “You’ve got to reach for your dreams… It’s an attitude I’ve always tried to inspire in my students… and I’m living mine everyday!” www.karengrenier.com

Ella McDonald is a Cambridge-based musician and songwriter whose thoughtful, intimate lyricism glides from haunting to healing in the same breath. Their 2018 debut album, February, is a lyrical exploration of her growth in friendship, self love, and queerness, and musically melds folk and R&B influences into a cohesive body. After spending last summer as a Lead Audio Technician at Interlochen in Michigan, they are working on recording their sophomore album. Ella’s creative spirit pulls from her experiences as a community organizer and their passion for cooking, photography, and music. You can find Ella on Instagram and TikTok at @ella.mcd, and on Spotify and Apple Music as Ella McDonald. https://www.ellamcd.com

Sam Bergquist is a guitar playing singer/songwriter from Boston. He began his musical journey by performing frequently in Boston subways, and later released his first of two solo LP’s, appropriately titled, “Songs From the Red Line.” For fifteen years, Bergquist was frontman for Loose Change, a gritty country/blues band that played frequent gigs at some of the area’s most iconic clubs, including Johnny D’s Uptown Lounge, and the original House of Blues. Bergquist grew up listening to the great singer songwriters of the day, Tom Waits, Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell to name a few. Throw in contemporary voices Andrew Bird and Anais Mitchell, and you have a feel for his inspirations. Lyrically, Bergquist’s music delves into matters of the heart, head, and social conscience. “I like to fill in the cracks, find life’s unexplored details.” In February, 2023, Bergquist released a solo EP, “Wiser Then.” https://bergquistmusic.com/

Your host, David Thorne Scott, is a singer and songwriter in jazz and Americana styles. A longtime resident of Somerville, he organized Songwriters in the Round to foster a creative, dynamic music scene here. He believes that music can bring a community together like nothing else. “At a time of great conflict in our country – when words often fail us – music has the power to bridge divides… David Thorne Scott explores the intersection of Jazz and Americana, city and country, instrumentation and lyrics to create lush compositions and covers that are unifying, and healing, in their beauty.” – Laurie Fanell, Eponymous Review www.davidthornescott.com