Red Molly

Red Molly
Red Molly at the Connecticut Folk Festival in New Haven, Connecticut
Red Molly at the Connecticut Folk Festival in New Haven, Connecticut
Background information
OriginNew York
GenresFolk, bluegrass
Years active2004–present
Members
  • Laurie MacAllister
  • Abbie Gardner
  • Molly Venter
Past members
  • Carolann Solebello
Websiteredmolly.com

Red Molly is a folk trio consisting of Laurie MacAllister (vocals, bass), Abbie Gardner (vocals, guitar, Dobro, lap steel guitar), and Molly Venter (vocals, guitar). They perform original works composed by each of the group members as well as other songwriters, such as Hank Williams, Gillian Welch, Richard Thompson, Mark Erelli, Susan Werner, Jake Armerding, Ryan Adams and Amy Speace. Their fans are known as "Redheads".[1]

History

Red Molly was formed late one night at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. MacAllister, Gardner, and Carolann Solebello, three solo singer-songwriters, were the last ones left at a song circle. They liked the way they sounded together and decided to form a band. The name Red Molly is taken from a character in the Richard Thompson song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning".[2][3][4]

Their career started to take off in 2006. They were the top vote getters in the 2006 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase.[citation needed] WUMB in Boston named them Top New Artist of the Year and picked their Album Never Been to Vegas as one of their Top Albums of 2006.[5] In 2007, they toured with Pat Wictor and Ellis, the other winners of the Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist showcase, on the Falcon Ridge Preview tour and performed with them in the Most Wanted Song Swap at the Festival itself.[citation needed]

Their album Love and Other Tragedies reached number 15 on the Americana Charts on June 30, 2008.[6] James reached number 4 on the same chart in May 2010.[citation needed] In 2010, Carolann Solebello left the group "to spend more time with family and pursue solo opportunities" and was replaced by Molly Venter.[7] Molly Venter's debut with the trio was on August 6, 2010, at the Lunenburg Folk Festival.[citation needed] Light in the Sky was released in 2011.[3]

On March 26, 2015, Red Molly announced that the band would take an extended hiatus after the conclusion of the 2015 tour on August 25, 2015. The band members have since pursued solo projects. They re-formed in 2017 with a tour that includes appearances in Seattle, Virginia, and New York City.[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums
Year Album Peak positions Certification
DEN
[8]
2008 Love and Other Tragedies  –
2010 James  –
2011 Light in the Sky[3]  –
2011 Red Molly 40
2014 The Red Album  –
Live albums
  • 2006: Never Been To Vegas Live Album

EPs

  • 2005: Red Molly (4 song EP)
  • 2018: One for All & All for One (6 song EP)

References

  1. ^ "Red Molly". Kate Wolf Music Festival. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  2. ^ "Good golly, Red Molly: Folk trio at The Kate Sunday". The Middletown Press. June 20, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Red Molly: Light In The Sky, album review". The Telegraph. November 22, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  4. ^ Extended Bio (accessed March 7, 2011) from redmolly.com
  5. ^ Top 10 Albums of 2006, WUMB.org (accessed ???)
  6. ^ AMA Radio Chart Archived July 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Americana Music Association
  7. ^ "Red Molly at Chandler October 22". The White River Valley Herald. October 13, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "Red Molly discography". danishcharts.dk. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2013.