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

Songwriters in the Round at the Center for Arts at the Armory shows there is more than one way to skin a cat. We aren’t advocates of cat-skinning, mind you. But the old aphorism is also true about writing and performing songs. The variety of artists you can see if you attend every session will boggle your mind. And every one of them has a unique voice, a unique process, and a unique take on life. And occasionally a song about cats.
You won’t want to miss this night. Britt Connors plays “Y’all-Ternative” music with flavors of country, folk and jazz.  Mark Stepakoff’s music highlights his wry and poignant observations of modern life. Nora Meier is a youthful performer with an old musical soul like Randy Newman. Stephanie James has Linda Ronstadt vocal chops with which she delivers her 21st century messages of love, loneliness and friendship.

Songwriters in the Round
Wednesday September 6, 7pm-8:30pm
Arts at the Armory Café
Suggested donation $10

Four songwriters, trading songs and swapping stories. And you have a front row seat.

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. The format encourages conversation between the writers, which gives the audience an opportunity to hear these creative people talk as if in their own living rooms. Inspired by the “guitar pulls” of the legendary Bluebird Café in Nashville.

Hosted by Somerville singer/songwriter David Thorne Scott. Held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $10.

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.

Part of the ROOTED Armory Café Series. Café menu is available here. Beer and wine also available!

Our songwriters this week

Singer/Songwriter Britt Connors was born and raised singing in small-town West Boylston, MA before taking her studies to Ithaca College in NY. But, the lure of the talented Boston singer/songwriter scene and the thought that she may someday try her hand at songwriting brought her to Boston in 2001. Her acclaimed 2010 debut “The Bad Side of Good” was released under her maiden name of Britt Sawdon and blended blues, folk, and country with jazz voicings and pop sensibilities. By the time she released her second album, “Warmer Season” in 2014, she had met and formed her backing band, “Bourbon Renewal,” and had written the songs with that sound in mind, with tunes that are alternately rockin’, country, sweet, rootsy, and New-Orleans-street-parade. The record needed its own category, so they started calling it “Y’all-Ternative” music. Britt continued to expand into the band’s sound, calling on even more of some of Boston’s talented musicians for her 2020 album, “Longitude.” On this third record, she slips nimbly and authentically between soulful ballads, pop-rock, and gospel-infused Americana, reminiscent of recent feminist-inspired albums by Sara Bareilles and The Highwomen. brittconnors.com

Boston area singer-songwriter Mark Stepakoff is widely admired on the New England folk music scene for his mix of wry humorous material and poignant ballads, in the vein of artists such as John Prine and Loudon Wainwright III.  He has won numerous songwriting awards and his songs have reached as high as number 3 on the national folk radio airplay chart.  Mark performs frequently in the Boston area.  Among the artists he has opened for are Bill Morrissey, Steve Forbert, Christine Lavin, and Cheryl Wheeler. www.markstepakoff.com

Nora Meier grew up in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by her parents’ expansive vinyl collection and a lot of trees. Encouraged by her mentor Moorea Masa to pursue her love of music, Nora began seriously honing her skills as an artist throughout her teenage years. In January of 2017 she wrote and produced her first single, Icicles, followed by a five-track EP, “With Time,” released in November. Her single “Astraea,” was released in fall of 2019. These projects would not have been possible without support of Portland’s amazing creative community and artists such as Moorea Masa, Rebecca Sanborn, Steve Swatkins and more. She is currently studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
 Meier has a proven ability to connect to the heart of the individual while uniting us through the emotions that make us human. Her newest single “Harvest Song” is out now. https://www.norameiermusic.com/

Recording artist Stephanie James breathes new life to pop music, blending the smoothness of jazz singers and classic country singers with her honey-coated voice. With songs ranging from heartstring-tugging ballads to uplifting songs that leave a lasting impression on audiences. Stephanie has established herself in the heart of the music industry performing at venues from coast to coast including Hotel Cafe in LA, Rockwood Music Hall in NYC, and Brighton Music Hall in Boston. A powerhouse of a performer, Stephanie has been likened to legends like Linda Ronstadt, as well as mega-talents of today such as Sara Bareilles and Kacey Musgraves. Whether in intimate rooms or packed venues, Stephanie connects deeply with her audience in ways that elicit both tears and celebration. Her new singles are “I Could Use A Laugh” and “Just Like Me”. https://www.stephaniejamesmusic.com/