Common Fence Music seeks new musical director

Tom Perrotti steps down, but will remain education director

Jim McGaw
Posted 8/11/16

PORTSMOUTH — Wanted: Highly motivated person to act as musical director for small, nonprofit group that hosts popular, weekly concert series in neighborhood community …

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Common Fence Music seeks new musical director

Tom Perrotti steps down, but will remain education director

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Wanted: Highly motivated person to act as musical director for small, nonprofit group that hosts popular, weekly concert series in neighborhood community hall. 

Qualifications: Must love roots music, be able to contend with the challenges of getting cash-strapped residents out to live shows and be able to work well with others — including the random temperamental musician.  

Compensation: Not much, but the perks — including lifelong friends and front-row seats to some of the finest musical talent around, both locally and internationally — are priceless.

After 14 years as musical director of Common Fence Music, Tom Perrotti says he’s ready to step down.

Mr. Perrotti, 66, isn’t going anywhere, however, and hopes the move will actually benefit the nonprofit concert series going forward.

“It’s my ploy of actually building the organization. I want to stay on as education director and build programs like Connecting the Beats,” said Mr. Perrotti.

Connecting the Beats, which received financial assistance from the Newport County Fund of the Rhode Island Foundation and support from several other groups, brings African-based percussion music and dance to local youth.

“I want that to expand,” said Mr. Perrotti, who taught at Portsmouth High School for 20 years before retiring. “I love working with the kids.”

He sees his stepping down as a positive step in Common Fence Music’s development. 

“I’ve been trying to figure out, how can we build this program? At least it brings in another person. I’ve never looked for big money for it. As musical director, I get a guarantee of $10,000. Obviously you have to have a pension,” said Mr. Perrotti, who called himself a “glorified volunteer.”

Signed on 23 years ago

The music series, which hosts about 15 coffeehouse-style concerts on the “gold lamé ” stage at the Common Fence Point Improvement Association (CFPIA) Community Hall, started in 1993 with Ed Nary as musical director. (Mr. Nary died last year.)

“I came into the first show and signed on as the tech director,” said Mr. Perrotti, who took over as musical director — basically a jack of all trades at the hall — about nine years later. 

The series is known for its congenial atmosphere, in which patrons arrive early for the Irish music jam sessions — featuring Mr. Perrotti and friends — that often precede the main show. They spread out their picnic suppers, pop open their bottles of wine and gab with fellow music-lovers who surround them in long tables. Several years ago a mini-series was started up at a separate location: Common Fence Music at Channing Church in Newport.

Along the way, Mr. Perrotti and his crew of volunteers have been responsible for bringing world-class talent to the little hall. In the past 10 years alone, the series has hosted the likes of Maria Muldaur, Chris Smither, Eilen Jewell, Tom Paxton, Mary Gauthier, Cheryl Wheeler, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Bill Kirchen, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Patty Larkin, Bill Morrissey, Paul Geremia, Àine Minogue and many others.

When asked about his favorite shows, Mr. Perrotti mentioned the time the series hosted Dónal Lunny from Ireland. 

“They call him the Quincy Jones of Ireland,” he said. “He brought this big band over with all these special Irish players. We had to set up a special stage for it. It’s kind of hard to rival that.”

He’s rarely disappointed with any of the talent on the stage, however.

“The shows are always fabulous,” he said. “It’s a 200-seater, so they’re right there with the audience and they can’t hide.”

Promoting lesser-known artists has always been a big part of Common Fence Music’s mission. 

“I like the amazing unknowns as much as the bigger names,” he said, while acknowledging that often poses “a bit of a business conflict” when trying to promote little-known talent.

“Save the string bands — that’s my motto,” said Mr. Perrotti, who will continue the annual “Fiddlers and Fishermen” show, a popular open mic “tribute to the sea” that showcases local acoustic talent.

“That’s my show,” he said.

Schedule changes

“Fiddlers,” which is normally held in January, will come much earlier in the 24th annual series that kicks off in September. This year, Mike Laureanno will be emcee for the event, scheduled for Nov. 19.

The reason for the schedule change is a practical one, Mr. Perrotti said. 

“Until we get a cover over the ramp at the hall, which might not happen, we’re not going to have any shows in January and February,” he said. “The series will run from September to December, then from March to May,” he said.

Having said that, he praised CFPIA for all the improvements it’s made to the hall. “Conley’s doing a fabulous job,” he said, referring to Conley Zani, CFPIA’s development director who’s also in charge of hall rentals.

Mr. Perrotti has seven shows booked for the series, including Cheryl Wheeler on Sept. 17, Patty Larkin on Nov. 5, and Wild Ponies, whose gig last year had to be canceled due to bad weather.  

Soon, it will be up to someone else to book the shows. Common Fence Music is taking applications through Aug. 22 and hopes to hire someone to train under Mr. Perrotti’s tutelage this fall and begin the position in January 2017.

“I think it’s a positive moment,” said Mr. Perrotti, who has expects great things in Common Fence Music’s future. 

At the same time, he’d like a little more time for himself.

“I’m not going away, but I am looking for someone to take over the concerts. I just want some flexibility in my life and be able to get out of town once in a while,” he said.

Common Fence Music, Tom Perrotti, Common Fence Point Improvement Association, CFPIA, Fiddlers and Fishermen, Connecting the Beats

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Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.