Susan Cattaneo’s non-stop tour makes a stop at Sally O’Brien’s this weekend.

By Max Sullivan

Internationally known songwriter, as well as Medford resident, Susan Cattaneo is continuing to slug it out as an original performing artist, stopping by Sally O’brien’s along the way on Saturday, June 2. Having already enjoyed a successful career as a songwriter for Nashville and teacher at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, the songstress decided to “hit the road” in the proverbial sense four years ago and start performing her own songs. 2012 marks the release of her third album since then, Little Blue Sky, which she will be promoting at her stop in Somerville this month.

The album, she said, will be a very rocky one. According to Cattaneo, the rock nature of Little Blue Sky had a lot to do with allowing her recording band to let loose and enjoy themselves.

“It’s really rockin’,” said Cattaneo. “I have to say, I loved letting the musicians go a little bit and really embracing a country rock sound. That was really fun.”

The title track to Little Big Sky, a song Cattaneo is very excited about, is in fact a new version of a song from her second release, Heaven to Heartache. Originally, the song was recorded with a New Orleans-style arrangement. The song resurfaced when Cattaneo began promoting her other single Girls’ Night Out through live radio sessions across the country. Always having time to play an extra song on air, she typically chose to play Little Big Sky. The song was a hit with both listeners and DJ’s, and she was encouraged to record the song as her next single. Cattaneo took their advice, soon heading for Nashville to record a new, countrified version of the song.

When she arrived in Nashville, Cattaneo was greeted with even more praise for her work, and she was encouraged by her promotion team to record more songs. They loved what they were hearing, and they wanted more. Cattaneo, always having a couple extra songs on hand, pulled out a handful and recorded what would be the album Little Big Sky.

It now being roughly four years since Cattaneo hit the road as a performer of her own material, the songwriter said that she is very happy with her decision. Even though there are struggles from time to time, she said that she gets a lot of satisfaction from touring and performing her own music live. She’s been writing songs for Nashville artists like Erica Nicole and Jillian Cardarelli, but Cattaneo said she still gets butterflies when she hears her band playing her material specifically for her.

“As a songwriter, it’s super exciting, because, I swear, whenever I’m playing one of my songs [with the group], inside, I think ‘Oh my gosh, can’t believe they’re all playing my song!’” laughed Cattaneo. “Even when we have rehearsal, we’ll work out a song and I’ll have this desire to go into a separate room and be like, ‘yay!’ and come back in again.”

While she’s had plenty of good times since her restart as a performer, there have been moments of frustration. In these times, Cattaneo does her best to focus on the fact that she is making a living doing what she loves in music.

“It’s constantly an up and down,” said Cattaneo, “but I don’t know what I would be doing if I weren’t doing this. I think you do it because you have to do it.”

Cattaneo recalls one instance at an outdoor fair on a rainy day. Before the stage sat a large pool of water when she arrived. Beyond that pool, a noticeably small crowd of people stood watching. In addition, a large jumpy tent stood to her, overpowering her with the sound of its pump. Cattaneo felt overwhelmed, but she decided to put her head down and power through it, focusing on the positives.

“[I said] ’I’ve just got to enjoy the fact that I’m here with these great musicians,’” said Cattaneo. “And so we got into the set, and I just got really into the fact that I’m with these great musicians and we’re just going to make some really great music.”

The day proved fruitful after all. Walking by during her set was the fair’s musical promoter. He was so impressed by the performance in spite the small crowd and circumstances that he gave Cattaneo another gig. The moment was encouraging.

“I played it. I gave it my all, even for those seven people in a difficult situation,” said Cattaneo.

Saturday night, Cattaneo will be sharing the bill with opener Kiley Evans, another Massachusetts country songwriter. Cattaneo said that she is excited to bring some country music to Somerville.

“I’m super excited to bring a little bit of country,” said Cattaneo. “Because I think it’s different than Americana. So what I think is essential about the Sally O’brien show is that it really is a commercial country music, so it’s kind of nice to have that, and it should be good.”

Cattaneo, formerly a resident of Cambridge, said she really appreciates what Somerville has done with its cultural go-to spots like Union and Davis Square, calling it “the place to be.”

“There is this new life that is breathed into the community and some great places to play,” said Cattaneo. “And so Somerville is the place to be right now, I think.”

The upcoming show at Sally O’brien’s will not be the first time Cattaneo has performed in Somerville. She’s played at the Precinct in Union Square a number of times, including at last year’s CD release party. Her very first show as an original performer was also at Sally O’brien’s back in 2009.

“Somerville has been really good to me,” said Cattaneo. “That’s why I keep coming back.”

See Susan Cattaneo at Sally O’briens on June 2. The show starts at 9 p.m.