Providence singer-songwriter Mary Ann Rossoni’s new album is Timber & Nails; she performs at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland tomorrow night.

Denise J.R. Bass

Sometimes form can set you free.

Providence singer-songwriter Mary Ann Rossoni’s work has always had a literate lyricism and an eye for character and detail, but sometimes suffered from a coffeehouse claustrophobia. On her new Timber & Nails, however, she’s turned in her best work yet, with songs that stick in the head and spring from familiar templates without sounding like retreads. Starting with the twangy, torchy title tune, going into the chugging “Emma Lee” and continuing with such songs as the swinging “To the Sky” and the two-step “Everything Needs Fixin’,” it’s music that isn’t afraid to show its roots while staking out its own turf.

Rossoni considers herself a songwriter first and a performer second, and in the writing process for Timber & Nails she kept the songs accessible. “In the back of my mind, it has to be something maybe someone else would use. And I don’t say ‘Yeah, I’m going to write a hit song today,’ but they do tend to be more sing-songy.”

That impulse to write something someone else might want to sing is part of her bedrock philosophy, she says.

“I always liked writing. Really, the only reason I perform is because no one else would perform my stuff. So I started early on, just playing whatever I could to play it, and then it kind of turned into I enjoyed performing. I have a great time at shows.”

Rossoni, who grew up in Johnston and began her performing career in a duo with Jon Fuzek, says that there were “some real departures” on Timber & Nails, including the title song and “Evangeline,” both of which Rossoni describes as having been written as straightforward rock ballads that weren’t working until the former was turned into a waltz and the latter into a spare, haunting story-song — “we took some real chances with that.”

“We” is Rossoni and her band, which includes guitarist David Lauria, bassist Joe Potenza and drummer Dan Hann, with guest appearances from everywhere-all-the-time fiddler Cathy Clasper-Torch. Rossoni especially lauds Lauria’s contributions — “He’s got a way about him that’s not overpowering. He lets me do my Travis picking and he’s able to move all around it” — and raves about the importance of the band to her sound.

While she can, and does, do plenty of solo acoustic shows, mainly due to the economics of what venues are willing to pay, she says her dream setting is an eight-piece band, complete with backing vocalists. “That’s the thing. I’m not really a folkie. I like hard rock. The band gets complicated — people are married and have children, and if they’re younger you have to keep them steady working.”

Rossoni gives credit to the Rhode Island Songwriters Association, whose monthly critique sessions she’s been attending for 10 years. “People really rip people up,” she says, explaining that for gentler souls the groups asks where you want your criticism based on the “salsa method” “mild, medium, hot or painful.”

If the record-company fairy dropped from the skies and handed her a contract and a tour schedule, she says, she’d grab it — “If someone would take me on, at my age, I would go in a heartbeat — take everything and run,” says Rossoni, who is in her late 40s. “But the likelihood is there is not a likelihood that that would happen.”

So the plan instead is to work certain “anchor gigs” in various towns where she’s popular — around here, and in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and a few more places — and expand gradually from there, rather than running across the country mixing full rooms with empty ones.

A self-employed graphic designer by day, Rossoni muses that “I’ve put more effort into my music than I ever have in my day job” and notes that as the years go by, the task of balancing work and, well, work requires a lot more organization.

“I never thought I would ever hear myself say, ‘I’m going to make an appointment with myself to write,’ or to practice. But that’s what I do now. I’m far more focused.”

Mary Ann Rossoni is at the Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad St., Cumberland, tomorrow night at 8. Jan Luby, Joanne Lurgio and Paul Pasch open. Tickets are $12; call (401) 725-9272.

Acoustic at Perishable

The Live/Whirled acoustic concert series at Perishable Theatre begins Sunday with Jamie Masefield, leader of the Jazz Mandolin Project and all-around mando Renaissance man who has also worked with members of Phish, performing and heading up the traditional closing jam session along with series host Marilynn Mair. It’s a big-time lineup, and Perishable is small enough that when they say “acoustic,” they mean it. The show is at 3 p.m.; Perishable is at 95 Empire St., Providence, and admission is $8. Call (401) 331-2695.

Stuporhero at Jake’s

Stuporhero is a Seattle duo who combine a sunny-day pop sense, loud guitars and lyrics about yo-yo tricks, Super Balls and robots on their second record, Last Star Shining. They’re at Jake’s, 373 Richmond St., Providence, Saturday night. Call (401) 453-5253.

Wildstock in Bristol

The fourth annual Wildstock festival benefits the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island (and that’s a gig I’ve seen up close and don’t wanna do) with shows by local bands including Just Say Yes, Band of Brothers, Crazy Rita and Sanctuary Saturday night from 5 to midnight at the VFW Hall, 850 Hope St., Bristol. It’s $25 and that includes food. Call (401) 294-6363 or (401) 253-3991.

rmassimo@projo.com