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Red Molly started at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Laurie, Abbie and Carolann were singing their fellow campers to sleep with their classic American tunes.

Red Molly has performed at many places in the northeast and is steadily building a fan base. They have opened shows for artists like Aztec Two-Step, Catie Curtis, and David Wilcox. Red Molly also performed in the 2006 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase. The band earned the highest number of audience votes!

Red Molly Releases Never Been To Vegas

In July 2006, Red Molly’s released their first full-length album, Never Been to Vegas. Never Been to Vegas is a collection of 14 songs that explore a history of epic American songwriting. In songs by Hank Williams and Billy Edd Wheeler, new traditionalists of the likes of Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin, and Red Molly’s own Abbie Gardner mix easily with traditional American folk and gospel. Never Been to Vegas peaked in the top 30 on the Radio & Records Americana chart.

The Magic of Red Molly

The magic of Red Molly likely stems from the richness and diversity of each member’s “pre-Molly” experiences.

Even the Bands name, an homage to a great-grandmother screams America.

“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.”
-Scott Alarik, The Boston Globe

QUOTES about Red Molly

“Red Molly is one of the most entertaining trios I’ve ever seen and I predict they’re on their way to national stardom. You have to see them live so you can not only hear their great vocals and instrumental work but so you can also appreciate their witty banter and on-stage presence. Their new CD captures the excitement of their live stage shows and everyone should include it in their personal collections. They’re simply fantastic!”
Carol Beaugard, Host of ‘Lonesome Pine RFD’ heard on 89.1, WFDU-FM, the radio voice of Fairleigh Dickinson University

“To say we were pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement. They rock! Their musicianship is flawless. And their voices … their harmonies sound like they’ve been singing together for years. Their energy is intoxicating. Their show was our first ever sell-out. For weeks afterward, people were asking, ‘Are you getting Red Molly back for next season?’ YES!”
Rick Widdekind, Director, Second Saturday Concert Series (Frederick, MD)

“Red Molly came and made us all so happy. My only regret was that they only had one set; I could have listened to them all night! What they do is so NEEDED: keeping the old music alive, but making it refreshing, new, and unique.”
Lisa Wenzel, Director, Circle Of Friends Coffeehouse (Pleasantville, NY)

“They are just great. I don’t think I have ever had as many requests to get someone back as I did for them. Great individual voices that sound wonderful together. See them if you can.”
Jake Jacobson, Booker, Circle of Friends Coffeehouse (Franklin, MA)

“These chicks create a sound straight out of their living room, with enough polish for a concert hall. Their voices transcend all.”
Robert Price, Entertainment Editor, The New Jersey Herald (Newton, NJ)

“With gorgeous harmonies on original work and tasteful covers, plus slide guitar and multi-instrumental 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 high-energy, satisfying string band music with a hint of pop and a dash of country, and blends their voices in soul-pleasing three-part 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”

More About Red Molly

How was Red Molly formed?
Red Molly had a very organic, natural start. We have been friends and solo performers for years. Late one night at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, we spontaneously started playing together at our campsite, and realized, “Hey, we should form a band!” Within a matter of weeks, we were rehearsing and booking gigs.

Which one of you is Molly?
Well, none of us is named Molly. That’s the BAND’S name (kinda like there was no Floyd in Pink Floyd). But at this point, all three of us would probably answer to Molly anyway!

Did you get the name Red Molly from that Richard Thompson song?
Well, sorry to disappoint all you Richard Thompson fans, but no, we didn’t. After we decided on the name, we realized the connection and are happy, since we really like Richard. But we aren’t a RT tribute band or anything. Actually, we got “Red” from “Red Dirt Girl”, an album by Emmylou Harris (one of our favorites). The “Molly” came from a little girl we met on the subway who was sweet and wide-eyed and wonderful. Red is also a spunky color, so we like that!

When did Red Molly put out their first FULL-LENGTH CD?
Red Molly recorded a live album (Never Been to Vegas) in December 2005 at Bennett Studios (in Englewood, NJ). Some of our most dedicated and wonderful fans were there on that special day for the taping. We released the CD in July 2006.

When will Red Molly put out their NEXT full-length CD?
We are recording in January 2008 and shooting for a Spring 2008 release! Join our mailing list to get updates.

Who are your influences?
Laurie’s earliest musical loves were harmonizing groups like Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Mamas & The Papas. Later, she was drawn to the gorgeous melodies and singing voices of musicians like The Beatles, James Taylor, Elton John, and Billy Joel. Her favorites in the folk genre are exceptional songwriters and performers, like Cliff Eberhardt, Cheryl Wheeler, and Lynn Miles.

Abbie’s mom introduced her to bluegrass music at the tender age of three, while her father (a professional jazz pianist) introduced her to swing and Dixieland jazz. Her own influences range from Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, and Aretha Franklin to Patty Griffin, Prince and Jerry Douglas. Abbie’s husband (a member of The Amish Outlaws) is a metal-head and she even gets some rhythmic inspiration from that genre. So if you put together the melodies of standard jazz, the rhythms of heavy metal, the harmonies of bluegrass, and the soul of blues and funk, you get Abbie.

While a student at Fordham University, Carolann listened to WFUV and fell in love with acoustic music. It was the folk revival of the late 80s and early 90s: Suzanne Vega, Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls, Christine Lavin, Richard Shindell. She then became acquainted with American roots music and learned to play bluegrass while living in east Tennessee and Kansas.

Are your harmonies arranged? How did they evolve?
Our voices definitely have a natural blend, but we spend plenty of time experimenting with arrangements and polishing the sound. We bring together our varied backgrounds in harmony singing: Laurie has sung backup for Cliff Eberhardt since 2001, Carolann was in a quartet for years, and Abbie was in a gospel choir and directed/arranged a cappella music at Boston University.

How do you pick songs? Why do you sing songs written by other people?
We sing the songs we like: the ones that touch us, make us boogie or break our hearts. We can’t limit ourselves to only songs we’ve written; there are just too many good tunes out there for us to sing! We are excited to introduce people to songwriters like Patty Griffin and Gillian Welch. And yeah, sometimes one of us will write a song that needs to be sung, too.

What’s that thing that Abbie plays?
It’s called a Dobro, or resophonic guitar. You’ve probably heard it on commercials, pop-country recordings, etc. but didn’t know what it was. It’s capitalized because Dobro is technically a brand name that eventually became the standard name for the instrument (kind of like Band-Aids - few people say “adhesive bandages”). Abbie will talk your ear off about the Dobro if you let her.

Why does Laurie sing Long Island Cowboy? Didn’t Abbie write it?
Yup, but Abbie asked Laurie to sing it because her high lonesome, Hank Williams-type voice is just perfect for a song like this. Having another person sing your song is a high honor for a songwriter.

How old is Red Molly?
109.