BRUNSWICK

Portland resident Caroline Cotter is no stranger to traveling, so heading up 295 for a gig at Frontier Cafe in Brunswick is no biggie. In the past 10 years Cotter has lived and traveled in 28 countries on five different continents. Her love of music allows her to adapt to any environment and fit in seamlessly with those around her. On Saturday she’s bringing her unique blend of folk, jazz and blue grass to the Frontier Cafe in Brunswick — one of dozens of shows in an ongoing tour to promote her debut album, “Dreaming As I Do,” which hit number five on the Folk DJ Charts in February of 2015.

“I went across the country from Portland to Portland in April, and toured Alaska and the east coast this summer,” said Cotter, who hails from Providence, Rhode Island but has been entrenched in Maine culture ever since she first came here for college. “I try to promote good vibes with my music. When we went across country we carried these little peace flags with us to promote peace.”

Cotter’s experience traveling the world has certainly shaped how she carries herself in the states. She spent five years working and studying in France, Portugal, Spain, Thailand and India, as well as traveling in South America.

“Part of what’s been fun for me as a traveling musician is I get to be a part of the local theme,” said Cotter, who in addition to English also sings in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and Sanscrit. “When I played in Barcelona and Paris there were people watching me like a tourist attraction. It helps me connect with people on a different level.”

Cotter’s comfort zone when traveling and immersing herself in other cultures is buffered by her talents.

“Living in different places where I had to learn a language, music helped,” said Cotter. “When I was living abroad I learned a lot of songs in Spanish, then when I moved to France I listened to French music.”

“Dreaming As I Do” features two original songs in French, a practice that has become common for Cotter in her music.

“I don’t have a natural gift for languages, but I have a good way of shedding the discomfort of learning languages through music,” Cotter said.

By the time she returned to Maine five years ago, Cotter was equipped with the tools to create meaningful music with a world-view that few artists can rival. She settled down in Portland and has been a staple on the music scene in southern

Maine ever since.

“I do the Acoustic Paddle (in Portland) on Sundays,” Cotter said. “I’ve played in Brunswick many times. Maine Songwriters Association had a contest there in 2012 which I won. I also played there recently on the mall with the Gather Rounders, and I’m really excited for the Frontier Cafe show.”

Cotter takes the stage at Frontier with two other local artists, William Joseph Jiordan and Michael Howard, the latter of whom Cotter has been touring with this summer.

“I haven’t played with Bill (Jiordan) before, but Michael came across country with me,” said Cotter. Howard also joined Cotter in Alaska — his home state — as well as the east coast. Now he’s back in Maine and ready to accompany her to Frontier.

“Caroline is a superb folk artist that has a foot in the traditional stylings of many cultures,” said Sean Morin, program director at Frontier Cafe. “She made a living touring the last year, and I’m particularly excited to see and hear her on the other side of that.”

Cotter sites her core musical inspirations as jazz, swing and world music, but many other subtle styles arise in her art as well.

“Blue grass certainly influences what I do, as well as older Americana and country,” said Cotter. “I grew up in the ’90s, so girls like Natalie Merchant and Sarah McLaughlin are big influences. I always wanted to play the Lilith Fair.”

Caroline Cotter’s show at Frontier

Cafe is Saturday at 8p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, and can be purchased at explorefrontier.com.

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