Sean Ryder, Joanne Lurgio, Beth DeSombre at Somerville Armory Cafe Saturday February 1

The concert will feature a solo set by each artist, followed by a round robin song swap. The show begins at 7:30 pm with an open mic, and admission is $10. The Armory Cafe is at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville. For more information call 617-718-2191 or visit artsatthearmory.org/cafe or www.facebook.com/SomervilleSongwriterSessions. Email SomervilleSongwriter@gmail.com to reserve an open mic slot. 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. Our 2/1 performers:

Sean Ryder got his start in music playing guitar in garage bands while in high school. In college, he focused on his vocal craft performing with the University of New Hampshire Concert Choir. He then performed for a year with the New Haven Chorale before giving up music in order to focus on a career in research. After a long hiatus, Sean returned to music in 2013 after discovering a latent passion for songwriting. Sean’s songs have received critical praise and have been featured on local and nationally syndicated radio programs. He brings his self-reliant outlook and strong appetite for learning to his approach to music. Inspired by transcendentalism, he writes songs that have been described as “genre-crossing,” “deep and overflowing” and “desolate and beautiful.” He’s also a member of Backyard Swagger, a country rock band with tight vocal harmonies and dance friendly arrangements. In his spare time he’s a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. More at seanrydermusic.com.

Joanne Lurgio is a talented songwriter whose gifted voice, wonderful guitar work, and moving tales of ordinary people in extraordinary moments will inspire listeners to chase their own dreams and excel. With the release of her fourth album, Crossing Jordan, Joanne seeks to offer comfort and healing through song. The album brings Joanne full circle, as she both revisits her very early singing days leading the folk mass at her local church and now serves as cantor for funerals and memorial services, bringing comfort through song. Joanne also plays a central role in the Rhode Island Songwriters Association (RISA), which sponsors showcases, critiques, and other events designed to support songwriters. More at joannelurgio.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. She has performed throughout New England, and her songs have been honored in national and international songwriting contests. An award-winning writer in many formats, her most recent (eighth) book was published by Oxford University Press. More at bethdesombre.com.