Door County inspires singer Dorothy Scott By Donna Marie Pocius For The News-Chronicle Dorothy Scott hopes her music awakens something inside her listeners, just as the Door Peninsula has inspired the singer/songwriter to change her summer address. The Peninsula also serves as a good base for Scott to launch a Midwest tour including performances at Sturgeon Bay's BlueFront Cafˇ 7:30 p.m. June 14, Third Avenue Playhouse's (TAP) Artists for Independence 7:30 p.m. July 5, Door County Maritime Museum 7 p.m. July 6, and with Cheryl Wheeler at TAP 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23. Other Wisconsin gigs include festivals and clubs in Appleton, Beloit, Green Bay, Madison and Manitowoc. "Sturgeon Bay is a great place to travel from. It is a good little town, so I am pleased to be here," she said. Scott, who resides the rest of the year in Brooklyn, N.Y., is still becoming accustomed to traveling country roads in route to cafes, schools and festivals, where she sings and plays guitar. "I have to get used to traveling 40 minutes to get somewhere. Usually if we are traveling 40 minutes, we are going away for the weekend," she laughed. She grew up in New Hampshire and has lived in New York for 10 years while traveling to Sweden and Ireland playing in venues similar to those she plays in the states. "It's a good life, if you can keep a sense of humor and have fun. It's a great job. I love to travel, and I love people," she said. She calls her style "folk soul moving toward jazz" and compares herself to Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison. But she says her favorite performer is the late Nina Samone, a husky-voiced soul singer also known for songs about the U.S. civil rights movement. "She's great. She's my hero. She stuck to her guns,and wasn't afraid to say what she felt when it was probably dangerous for her to do so," Scott said. Scott wrote all of the songs on her two CDs, "Restless Machinery" and "Into the Natural." Nature inspires lyrics and, like many singer-songwriters, she writes a lot about love. According to Billboard magazine, "Dorothy dares the listener to think. Her songs are as intellectually stimulating as they are emotionally empathetic." "Restless Machinery," the title song on her most recent CD, tells listeners to "live in their hearts." It was the favorite song of Susan "Seal" Weaver, Scott's mother, who died 19 months ago from cancer. "I think she liked to dance to it, and the message of it," Scott explains. If we exist only in our hearts, maybe we could understand each other more. Having lost my mom, I always tell my sisters, she is always with me. You really only take what is in your heart with you." Scott's performances often involve sharing the stage with other artists. She also likes to surprise an audience by going to a cafe or other small venue, paying the cover, and then introducing herself and playing for guests. A good night for the singer is when the music comes out right and she makes a connection. "This is a feeling of togetherness Š that I enjoyed it, and they enjoyed it," she said. "Sometimes they will enjoy it, but my head is somewhere else. I'm happy when we both enjoy it. It's a lot like a relationship." Ultimately she hopes to complete a circle and inspire her audience to do something or make a change. She looks forward to returning this summer to BlueFront Cafe, where she performed in January, and TAP, where she most recently played in October. "BlueFront is such a lovely vibe. I love small rooms," she said. And Scott anticipates more sharing with artists Julian Hagan, Jay Whittney and Cathy Braaten during her return engagement at TAP July 5. "There will be some sharing and maybe poetry. Let's hope for lots of sharing," she said. TAP Executive Director Terry Lundahl invited Scott back after an overwhelming audience response to her fall performance. "We are really excited that she is going to be here," Lundahl said. "We got so many e-mails wanting more of her music here. She is doing the Midwest tour, and she can fit this in." Lundahl adds Scott's unique style appeals to TAP audience. "She appeals to so many different types of music lovers. I think her music is unique. It warms people's heart in a different way. People are looking for that," she said. And will Scott record another CD while living on the inspirational Peninsula this summer? "Do I want to start making a record? I may start doing that here," she said. "There are a lot of friendly people and nurturing vibrations here. I can concentrate on the simple life of a songwriter. I can get distracted but everyone is very focused here - that is great." FYI: Hear Dorothy Scott 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14, BlueFront Cafˇ, Sturgeon Bay. Call for cover fee, 743-9218. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5, Artists for Independence at Third Avenue Playhouse, Sturgeon Bay. $12 7 p.m. Sunday, July 6, Maritime Museum, Sturgeon Bay, Waterfront Concert Series. Free 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, Cheryl Wheeler & Dorothy Scott at Third Avenue Playhouse $18