Carolann Solebello
Most familiar to folk audiences as a founding member of the celebrated female trio Red Molly, Carolann Solebello returned to solo performance in August 2010 after six years of steady touring with the band. Her third solo CD, Threshold - the first since parting from Red Molly - was released in June 2011. Carolann is the winner of the 2011 Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival Songwriting Competition, and was an Official Showcase Artist at Folk Alliance International in 2012.
A New York City native, Carolann first fell in love with mountain music – and the bluegrass and country that grew out of that tradition – while working as an actor in East Tennessee and Kansas. Tunes and techniques she learned from musicians in both places fundamentally changed her approach to songwriting and guitar playing, and subsequently colored her work with Red Molly.
Produced by Fred Gillen, Jr., Threshold explores the sonic landscape of American folk music from Appalachian ballads to honky-tonk barnburners. The 12-song collection gracefully melds elements of traditional and contemporary folk music into what Gillen calls “a country, gospel, old-time, elecric guitar dance through 80 years of American music.”
In addition to Threshold, Carolann has two previous solo albums to her credit, Just Across the Water (2000) and Glass of Desire (2009), the latter also produced by Fred Gillen, Jr. She is currently at work on a new CD, also with Gillen, due for release in 2013.
Carolann recorded three full-length CDs with Red Molly. In 2006, the live CD Never Been to Vegas earned the trio Best New Artist status at WUMB Boston. Their 2008 folllow-up, Love and Other Tragedies, spent ten weeks in the Americana Top 15, and Carolann’s song “Summertime” was the #1 song on the Folk DJ chart in July 2008. James, released in 2010, peaked at #4 on the Americana chart, and was #23 on the 2010 AMA Top 100.
Red Molly toured nationally during Carolann’s tenure with the band, and was privileged to perform at numerous festivals, including: Merlefest (NC), Kerrville Folk Festival (TX), Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (NY), Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (OK), New Bedford Summerfest (MA), Musikfest (PA), and Philadelphia Folk Festival (PA).
Carolann continues to earn accolades performing her New York-inflected brand of original and traditional Americana as a solo artist. She makes her home in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young son.
100 Word Bio:
Most familiar to folk audiences as a founding member of the female trio Red Molly, CAROLANN SOLEBELLO returned to solo performance in August 2010 after six years with the band. She has three full-length Red Molly CDs to her credit, including James (2010), which peaked at #4 on the Americana chart, and Love and Other Tragedies (2008), which spent ten weeks in the Americana Top 15. Carolann’s song “Summertime” was #1 on the Folk DJ chart in July 2008. Carolann has three solo CDs to her credit, and is currently touring in support of her 2011 release, Threshold.
60 Word Bio:
Most familiar to folk audiences as a founding member of the female trio Red Molly, CAROLANN SOLEBELLO returned to solo performance in August 2010 after six years with the band. She toured nationally and recorded three full-length CDs with Red Molly. Carolann has three solo CDs to her credit, and is currently touring in support of her 2011 release, Threshold.
Carolann has played
Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, Elmer NJ
Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, Franklin MA
Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club, Fair Lawn NJ
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton MA
Kennett Flash, Kennett Square PA
Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Morristown NJ
Me & Thee Coffeehouse, Marblehead MA
Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair NJ
Passim, Cambridge MA
Six On The Square, Oxford NY
The Living Room, New York NY
The Minstrel, Morristown NJ
Tin Angel, Philadelphia PA
Towne Crier Cafe, Pawling NY
Carolann has opened for
Vance Gilbert, John Gorka, Tracy Grammer, John Hall, The Kennedys, Dave Mason, Lynn Miles, Garnet Rogers, David Wilcox, Jack Williams, Phil Vassar
Festivals
2011 Winner, Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival Songwriting Competition, Havre de Grace MD
Open Air Family Music Festival, Scarsdale NY
Black Potatoe Music Festival, Clinton NJ
Discography
Solo
Threshold (2011)
Glass of Desire (2009)
Just Across the Water (2000)
with Red Molly
James (2010)
Love and Other Tragedies (2008)
Never Been to Vegas (2006)
Red Molly (2005)
with CC Railroad
Black Horse Motel (2004)
Smile Whatever (2001)
Other Recordings
Erik Balkey Sanctuary Road (2005) vocals
Beaucoup Blue Free to Fall (2009) vocals
Marc Douglas Berardo Downhauler (2010) vocals
Mark Allen Berube Suspicious Fish (2005) vocals
Mark Berube Shut Up So I Can Play (2000) vocals
Meg Braun Tomboy Princess (2009) bass, vocals
Chicks With Dip Joni Mitchell's Blue: A 40th Anniversary Celebration (2012) vocals, guitar
Anthony da Costa Quality Time (2007) vocals
Fred Gillen, Jr. Silence of the Night (2012) vocals
Fred Gillen, Jr. Cost of Freedom (2007) vocals
Sharon Goldman Sleepless Lullaby (2010) vocals
Sharon Goldman Shake the Stars (2006) bass
Sharon Edry (Goldman) Semi-Broken Heart (2004) co-producer, backing vocals, mandolin
Molly Pitcher Watching the Rain (2001) bass
Cheryl Prashker It's All About the Drums (2007) bass, vocals
Robbie Schaefer Strange and Lovely World (2008) vocals
Pat Wictor Sunset Waltz (2008) vocals