Phil Henry, Caroline Cotter, & Beth DeSombre 

The concert will feature a solo set by each artist, followed by a round robin song swap. The show begins at 7:30 pm, and there is a suggested donation of $15. The Armory Cafe is at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville. For more information call 617-718-2191 or visit artsatthearmory.org or www.facebook.com/SomervilleSongwriterSessions. Performer details below.

Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe presents contemporary folk singer/songwriters in concert on the first Saturday of each month. The Armory Cafe features live music in an intimate setting, a menu featuring sandwiches, soups, desserts and coffees, and plenty of free parking. Please note that all attendees are encouraged to wear a mask except while eating or drinking. Our 10/1 performers:

Vermont singer-songwriter Phil Henry has always believed in making it himself. As a kid, he was never content to only look at art, but instead he had to paint and draw something new. An avid fan of music, Phil studied the masters in music school but was drawn to the DIY pluckiness of folk music. He concentrated on steel-string guitar and writing his first original compositions. Phil’s songs reflect that same creative drive. He builds detailed worlds and characters who speak through Phil’s words. The upbeat acoustic rhythm and melodic sensibility and lush instrumental treatment is no carbon-copy of popular or folk radio songs, but is instead an expression of Phil’s individuality and craft. Vermont’s Seven Days calls it “vivid lyrical imagery that captures the imagination.” Twenty years later, Phil continues to make it all himself, recording and mixing albums from his home studio, booking concerts, shooting and producing videos, and designing cover art and posters. The sophistication of the work has grown: His songs have been recognized with concert wins at SolarFest and Susquehanna Music and Arts, and showcase sets at Falcon Ridge and Kerrville. Phil’s music exudes the skills of a craftsman and the authenticity of an artist. More at philhenryband.com.

With her captivating soprano voice and award-winning songwriting, Caroline Cotter takes listeners all over the world and into the depths of the human heart with her music. Since her debut album Dreaming as I Do was released in 2015 (reaching #5 on the Folk DJ chart), Caroline has performed over 800 shows in 45 states and 13 countries. She is currently touring to support her second major release Home on the River. No Depression calls it “sweet and smooth, and downright refreshing…raising spirits with one song, calming them with another.” Icon Magazine writes, “Her well-constructed songs bring to mind the early work of Mary Chapin Carpenter.” “Today’s folk scene has a new champion, one who encapsulates the sweetness, serenity and sophistication that has always made the genre so affecting in such a timeless manner. In that regard, Home on the River is an absolutely essential record.” (Country Standard Time) Opening Home on the River is “Peace of Mind,” a declaration of Cotter’s aspirations, both personally and professionally: “I’ve talked with many people who see the goal of a music career to be wealth and fame,” she says, “but when I thought about it and really dug deep, I realized that everything I’m doing is to move forward with peace of mind. I’m taking the focus off of material wealth and recognizing that none of it matters if you don’t have peace of mind.” More at carolinecotter.com.

Beth DeSombre  writes songs that are “smart and uplifting…focusing on the quiet meaning to be found in ordinary life” (Sing Out! Magazine), exploring issues from the personal to the political. Her music touches both mind and heart, with insights wrapped in melody and harmony that stay with you after the echoes of the last chorus have faded away.  Her 2017 EP Resistance reached #10 on the folk charts (with two top-10 songs). This EP, with songs written in response to the current political situation, is a fundraiser for the ACLU. Her 2016 CD I Was Here was produced by Sean Staples, and includes guest appearances by Tracy Grammer, Vance Gilbert, Laura Cortese, and other music luminaries.   An award-winning writer in many formats, she has just published her ninth book. More at bethdesombre.com.