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Red Molly ready to light up local stage
red molly
The trio Red Molly is performing at the Westside Theatre Saturday night. - photo by Photo courtesy of Annabel Braithwaite

Mix in one part country, one part folk, a bit of bluegrass and a splash of jazz and serve it all up in three part harmonies and you’ll have Red Molly.

The up-and-coming all female Americana trio is bringing their unique sound and engaging show to the stage at the Westside Theatre for a one-night show at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The trio will be playing songs from their previous albums and their newest release, “Light in the Sky.”

Red Molly formed in 2004 when Laurie MacAllister (guitar, banjo, bass), Abbie Gardner (dobro, guitar) and Carolann Solebello (guitar, bass) sat around a campfire at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, singing and talking about their favorite songwriters. United in their harmonies and musical ideas, the women formed Red Molly and spent the next seven years on the road.

The trio quickly started amassing fans, referred to as “Redheads,” and moved from the coffeehouses in New York City to the festival circuit. In between they found time to record three albums, “Never Been to Vegas,” in 2006; “Love and Other Tragedies,” in 2008; and 2010's “James,” which logged four months in the Top 40 on the Americana Chart, peaking at No. 4, and landing at No. 23 in the year's Top 100.

Last year, when founding member Solebello stepped down, MacAllister and Gardner asked Austin-based singer songwriter and guitarist Molly Venter to join the band.

 "Molly has a unique, edgy tone to her voice," MacAllister said. "Her sound is a bit pop-oriented, and while it hasn't changed our overall sound, I'd say it's a bit more gutsy, upbeat and modern."

“Light in the Sky” is the trio’s first release with the newest Molly and includes original songs and a few cover tunes.

"We were in an optimistic mood going into the studio and I think that comes across in the music," Gardner said.

 "The album title could be about the sun, the stars, or looking forward to a bright future." Venter said. "We're having so much fun as a band right now. We're excited to see what happens next."