On Jan. 23, the musicians of Red Molly will bring Driftwood Folk Cafe concert-goers to their feet with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship and their warm, engaging stage presence. They have earned a devoted and ever-widening fan base, and are now touring nationally. Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello have a lot of fun on stage, and it’s contagious.
On a July evening in 2004, at their campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, they 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. The magic of Red Molly stems partly from the richness and diversity of each member’s “pre-Molly” experiences.
MacAllister (vocals, banjo, bass, guitar) 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).
Gardner (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.
Solebello (vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin) spent several years as a professional theater actor before releasing her first 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 2009, she released a new solo acoustic recording, “Glass of Desire.”
For more information and sound clips, visit www.redmolly.com.
The opening act Jan. 23 is Jenny Goodspeed. Goodspeed bloomed as a singer-songwriter in the rich Boulder/Denver music scene of the mid-’90s where she played local venues and festivals, including the renowned Swallow Hill Music Association. After moving to Western Massachusetts to begin a new life in the landscape that felt most like home, she unexpectedly rediscovered her love for theater, and spent the next decade acting with numerous theater companies in the region. All the while, she continued to write songs and quietly hone her craft. In 2007 a concert presenter heard Goodspeed sing at a festival and offered to finance a CD. The end result was the release of her debut CD “Under the Ash Tree,” a stint opening for Beth Amsel on a Midwestern tour, and finalist slots in numerous songwriting competitions, including the 2009 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist Showcase and the 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. With “Under the Ash Tree,” Goodspeed has returned to the acoustic music scene with a sparkling debut CD full of verve and honesty 10 years in the waiting. Songs from the record have been added to over 100 folk and AAA radio stations in 31 states. With such a talent, one might assume she’d been at it all along.
For additional information, visit jennygoodspeed.com.
Driftwood Folk Café is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit corporation. Shows are generally held on the second Saturday of the month at Plymouth’s Unitarian Universalist First Parish Church, downstairs in Kendall Hall, at 19 Town Square in Plymouth. Café-style seating as well as home-baked goods, a variety of tea, soft beverages, and, of course, delicious coffee help to ensure a tasty, intimate concert experience. In order to provide the highest quality listening atmosphere for all, this is an alcohol-free and non-smoking venue. Children are always welcome with adult supervision, provided they are attentive and courteous. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Plymouth Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Tickets may be purchased for $20 at 7:30 p.m. at the door the day of the show (if available) or in advance by visiting www.driftwoodfolkcafe.com or Hollis Insurance Agency at 1 Village Green North in The Pinehills.
