Red Molly coming to Jonathan’s in Ogunquit

Don't miss Red Molly's second-ever appearance in Maine at Jonathan's on Oct. 12.
Courtesy photo

OGUNQUIT - "Everything Red Molly sings is delivered with tick-tight arrangements, crystalline vocals, and caramel harmonies. But what is most striking is the ardor they bring to everything they do, whether snuggling into the sweet parochialism of an old spiritual, or the gritty pathos of a Gillian Welch tune. They come on less like stars strutting for their minions than pals sharing their favorite songs. In the friendly world of the coffeehouse, that remains a starmaking quality."

That is how Scott Alarik of The Boston Globe described the acclaimed trio known as Red Molly, which will perform live at Jonathan's on Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. 

This will be Red Molly's second ever appearance in Maine and their only one north of Massachusetts for the rest of the year.

Red Molly is a folk trio consisting of Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello that performs original works composed by each of the group members, as well as covers of other songwriters including Hank Williams, Gillian Welch and Ryan Adams.

According to Red Molly's band biography, it was on a July evening in 2004 at their campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival when the three women harmonized together for the very first time - singing their campmates off to sleep and realizing they had "stumbled into something extraordinary."

In the years that have passed since that summer evening, the band has garnered a strong fan base and has begun touring throughout the U.S., recording multiple albums and becoming known for their stunning harmonies and engaging live shows.

Each of the group's members bring unique experiences to Red Molly.

Laurie left a career in psychology to pursue her love of singing, working for several years as a backup singer and releasing two solo albums before joining Red Molly; Abbie has a background in jazz, bluegrass, classical and a cappella music and has released two solo albums and a duo album, while Carolann spent several years as a professional theater actor before releasing a solo album and two albums with power folk quartet CC Railroad prior to joining Red Molly.

Red Molly's first full-length CD, "Never Been to Vegas" was released in 2006 after being recorded on a December evening before a studio audience of fans and friends. Red Molly's new release, "Love and Other Tragedies," a mix of originals, traditional pieces and covers, is their first full-length studio album.