Red Molly

On a July evening in 2004, at their campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello harmonized for the very first time. As they sang their campmates off to sleep, they knew they had stumbled into something extraordinary. Audiences seem to agree. Since that summer night, Red Molly has garnered a devoted regional fan base, and has begun laying the groundwork for national touring. These ladies have a lot of fun on stage, and it's contagious. Red Molly consistently brings concertgoers to their feet with stunning threepart harmonies, crisp musicianship, and a warm, engaging stage presence. The magic of Red Molly stems partly from the richness and diversity of each member's "preMolly" experiences. Laurie (vocals, guitar, banjo) left a career in psychology to pursue her love of singing. She worked for several years as a backup singer, and also released two solo albums, These Old Clothes (1999) and The Things I Choose To Do (2004). Abbie (vocals, Dobro, guitar) has a background in jazz, bluegrass, classical and a cappella music. She released two solo albums, My Craziest Dream (2004), a collection of swing standards featuring her father Herb Gardner on piano, and Honey on My Grave (2006), a collection of acoustic originals. In May 2008, she released a duo album, Bad Nights/Better Days, with Anthony da Costa. Carolann (vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin) spent several years as a professional theater actor before releasing her solo album, Just Across the Water (2000). She went on to release two albums with power folk quartet CC Railroad, Smile Whatever (2001) and Black Horse Motel (2004). In July 2006, Red Molly's first fulllength CD, Never Been to Vegas (2006), was released. Recorded on a December evening before a studio audience of fans and friends, Never Been to Vegas is a collection of fourteen carefullychosen songs that span more than a century of great American songwriting. Never Been to Vegas quickly climbed into the Top 30 on the Radio & Records Americana chart, a rare accomplishment for an independent album. And listeners of WUMB radio Boston voted the CD one of the Top 10 CDs of 2006. Red Molly's newest release, Love and Other Tragedies (2008), is their first fulllength studio album. Produced by Ben Wisch, it finds the women of Red Molly adding a little spice to their winning recipe. The new album features a fuller, more "polished" sound than their previous releases, due in part to the contributions of guest artists Mike Weatherly (upright bass), Duke Levine (mandola, lap steel), and Jake Armerding (fiddle). In addition, the ladies incorporated more original songs into the mix this time. Songs written by Laurie, Abbie, and Carolann mingle admirably with songs by wellknown contemporary writers Gillian Welch and Susan Werner, upandcoming artists Amy Speace and George Wirth, traditional American gospel tunes, and standards from the bluegrass and jazz worlds. "With gorgeous harmonies on original work and tasteful covers, plus slide guitar and multiinstrumental versatility, Red Molly brings a breath of fresh air into the singer/songwriter world. Here's hoping we'll be hearing from these three women for a long time." Richard Cuccaro, Publisher, Acoustic Live in NYC (New York, NY) "Red Molly is one of the finest female groups I have heard in a long while. Their artistry will captivate you. If you want to be mesmerized by shimmering harmonies, I urge you catch one of their shows." Jerry Pashin, Writer, Upstage Magazine (Spring Lake, NJ) "Red Molly breathes new life into classic and contemporary Americana. A performance like theirs is the reason why I'm so fortunate to be doing this kind of radio." Jerry Treacy, Host, "Crash On The Levee", WFDU FM (Teaneck, NJ) "Red Molly is a powerhouse NY trio that pulls out all the stops for their energizing stage performances. Laurie's clear, sensual voice shines through. Carolann's connection to the beat allows the band to run. Abbie wields the velvet hammer in the form of her Dobro. Red Molly's connection to the audience is intimate and strong." J. Spica, Host, "Thin Air", WVKR FM (Poughkeepsie, NY) "Red Molly plays highenergy, satisfying string band music with a hint of pop and a dash of country, and blends their voices in soulpleasing threepart harmony." Liz Milner, Writer, www.greenmanreview.com "Red Molly has taste, talent, and voices to die for. They make music the way it should be made: raw, powerful, and beautiful. With this band, you hear and feel the soul inside the songs. It's music to make the spirit soar." Michael Scott Cain, Author, "Midnight Train" General $16.00