Red Molly Set for Ware Center, 3/29

By: Mar. 19, 2014
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Since 2004, Americana trio Red Molly has been bringing audiences to their feet with gorgeous three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship and their warm, engaging stage presence. The band consists of Laurie MacAllister (bass, banjo), Abbie Gardner (dobro, banjo) and Molly Venter (guitar). They perform for the first time in Lancaster at the Ware Center, 42 North Price Street, Lancaster, PA, Saturday March 29 at 7:30 PM.

The ladies have opened for music legend Willie Nelson and performed at the venerable RockyGrass Festival in CO. Their latest CD "Light in the Sky" spent 20 weeks on the Americana Music Association's Top 40 radio chart, named #23 on the American Chart's Top 100 Albums and charted as Folk DJ's #3 Top Album of 2012.

The band has appeared in festivals and toured all over the world from Australia to Denmark and all throughout the U.S. In an unprecedented fourth appearance at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, the Bristol Herald Courier dubbed Red Molly "The Twin City's sweethearts", saying the band "lit up the stage, as a massive crowd of adoring fans sat mesmerized by their silky smooth harmonies and superb musicianship."

The band's fans, referred to as "RedHeads", have always responded to the sense that the band is a group of friends, sharing songs in their living room.

The trio moved quickly from NYC coffeehouses to the festival circuit in less than two years, winning notices for their performances at Merlefest, the Philadephia Folk Festival, and NPR's Mountain Stage. Between knocking out audiences from coast to coast, the trio found time to record three albums: "Never Been to Vegas" in 2006; 2008's "Love and Other Tragedies," which spent ten weeks in the Top 15 on the Americana Chart, and 2010's "James" which logged four months in the Top 40 on the Americana Chart, peaking at #4, and landing at #23 in the year's Top 100. Red Molly is currently gathering material for their next CD, to be released in 2014.

Singer/ songwriter Laurie MacAllister had a passion for singing at a very young age. After releasing her own albums, "These Old Clothes" and "The Things I Choose to Do", Laurie formed Red Molly and all of her dreams came true. In 2010, Laurie landed her first national television spot, singing a jingle in a Folgers Coffee commercial.

Abbie Gardner grew up with a swing jazz and stride pianist and Dixieland trombonist as a father introducing her to a lifetime of wonderful jazz. Abbie has recorded three of her very own CDs, one of which, "My Craziest Dream," earned her an entry in the 2009 Hal Leonard book "The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide." She has also had the honor of being part of the songwriting faculty at the 2010 and 2011 Swannanoa Gatherings and assisting at Reso Summit, Nashville's Resonator Conference, for the past three years. In the spring of 2011, Abbie released her solo CD "Hope."

The newest addition to the group, Molly Venter, is known for her powerful, nuanced voice. While traveling many years throughout the country as a solo artist, Molly has had many of her songs featured in indie films as well as marketing campaigns by Jeep and Apple. Her most recent project, "Venter's Goodnight Moonshine" - a duo album with singer-bassist-guitarist Eben Pariser of Brooklyn quartet Roosevelt Dime - landed at #12 on the Folk Charts.

Opening for Red Molly is an American singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and touring folk musician Mark Erelli. Erelli has released nine solo albums on his own and three collaborative albums.

Red Molly is sponsored by Millersville University, Rodgers & Associates, Ann B. Barshinger, Aussie and the Fox, Fine Living Lancaster, Hagelgans & Veronis, Dr. Mary Kearns & Dr. Jon Walker, Peggy Neff, 12:34 Microtechnologies, Hotel Lancaster, Linda Holman Marcks, and Pam & Hugh McGettigan.

Tickets: $20 | $18 seniors | $5 students. Reserved seating. Call 717-872-3811 or 717-871-2308. Online at www.artsmu.com. In person at the Ware Center Box Office (42 N. Prince St., Lancaster) or the SMC building on the MU campus. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged. If tickets are still available tickets may also be purchased the day of the show, one hour prior to the performance. Discount parking vouchers are available for the Prince Street Garage, located at the corner of North Prince Street and West Orange.



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