Songwriters in the Round 2/18

[David Scott]

You are not going to want to miss February 18th Songwriters in the Round at the Somerville Armory. We have some brand new voices to share with you - both New England legends and up-and-comers. Erin Ash Sullivan writes songs that contain both the sweetness and the tart of a small-town pie-eating contest. Her music evokes driving across the country in a VW bus and arriving in New Bedford just in time to attend the Moby Dick marathon at the whaling museum. Meanwhile, Haley Montelaro’s music is catchy and rhythmic with a full-bodied voice that belies her years. We are incredibly lucky to have the pride of Vermont, indie folk legend Bow Thayer bestowing his splendiferous racket. (did you know he invented the Bojotar???)  And Mark Stepakoff is the unassuming, unaffected, unpretentious dean of Boston songwriters. His heart is where the song is.

Note: the session after this one, the first week in March, will be at a special location in Somerville! Stay tuned!

Songwriters in the Round
Wednesday February 18, 7pm-8:30pm
Arts at the Armory Café
free (suggested donation $10-$20
https://artsatthearmory.org/events/songwriters-in-the-round-2025-12-17-2026-02-18/

Songwriters in the Round is a warm, welcoming event 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. The event is free but you may want to donate $10-$20 for the performers.

Our home base is the ROOTED Armory Café. Food, snacks, coffee, tea, beer and wine available! We occasionally visit other venues — don’t miss out! Sign up for the Songwriters in the Round email list at http://eepurl.com/c2gNWf for the latest communication.

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

Erin Ash Sullivan is a New England singer-songwriter whose music reflects a deep sense of place. Her 2024 album, Signposts and Marks, debuted at #4 on the FAI Folk DJ Chart, and Americana UK called her “a songwriter of the highest order.” A 2025 Wildflower Performing Songwriter winner and Falcon Ridge “Most Wanted” artist, her story-driven songs echo the spirit of Lori McKenna and Patty Griffin. https://www.erinashsullivan.com

Haley Montelaro is a singer-songwriter from Bellevue, Washington currently studying voice and songwriting at Berklee College of Music. She has had melodies and lyrics floating around in her head since 7th grade and they show no signs of abating. These days she is recording some of these songs and publishing them on streaming services while hitting the books pursuing her degree. https://linktr.ee/haleymontelaro?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=aaa21738-c855-4ff0-a3f4-c4da8c6f8426

Bow Thayer is a longtime singer songwriter based in Vermont for last 30 years but from the Boston area. Multi instrumentalist with a massive archive of songs, most available on the mainstream streamers. An ardent DIY artist  and one time Levon Helm compatriot who has explored many musical genres, from rock to folk to Blugrass, ambient, improvisation and beyond. It’s hard to say what Thayer will play on any given evening as it is usually integrated to fit the room and who he is playing with. www.bowthayer.com

Your host, 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