Folk, Roots and World Music Comes to Rhode Island

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Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Michelle Nguyen, GoLocalProv Lifestyle Contributor

If you're looking to try something new that promises not to disappoint, Common Fence Music has scheduled a series of innovative folk, roots and world music concerts for the public this month.

Common Fence Music has brought numerous underexposed, but culturally engaging styles and performers to the Rhode Island community for the past 18 years. Concerts on queue for this month include Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, a self-described "hillbilly" version of Pink Floyd, Rumbafrica, a congolese rumba and modern soukous band that features guitar theatrics, sweet harmonies and powerful percussions, and Buille, an Irish trio embracing traditional style with contemporary arrangements (pictured here).

A Musical Community

Since 1993, the nonprofit organization has dedicated itself to building and strengthening an alternative musical community by offering public workshops on music and song writing in addition to their concerts. They have also developed fun traditions like "the Picnic Concert Series," which encourages attendees to bring food and beverages for a tailgate-style gathering. Based in Portsmouth out of the Common Fence Point Improvement Community Hall, Common Fence Music has recently expanded their musical outreach to Newport with the Channing Church Concert Mini-Series.

February Common Fence Music Schedule:

Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Channing Memorial Church, 135 Pelham St, Newport, Feb 5, 8 pm, $25.

Rumbafrica, Common Fence Music, 933 Anthony Road, Portsmouth, Feb 19, 8pm, $25. Part of Picnic Concert Series.

Buille (Niall Vallely, Kevin Vallely and John Doyle), Channing Memorial Church, 135 Pelham St, Newport, Feb 24, 8 pm, $20.

Tickets can be purchased at ticketweb.com or for future shows at concert intermissions. For more upcoming concerts, visit www.commonfencemusic.org/schedule.html