Handsome_molly

Jeff Green | Aug 17, 2006

Back toHome

Handsome Molly at the Verona Festival

The sun shone on the Verona Festival once again this year, as the annual celebration of community continued to develop. Music has always been a large part of the festival, although it is a many-faceted event. Maintaining its focus on local music, while at the same time bringing in regional talent, the festival booked Handsome Molly to kick off its Saturday afternon Bluegrass

and Gospel program.

Performing straight ahead bluegrass, from Bill Monroe to Flatt and Scruggs and beyond, Handsome Molly kept up a blistering pace, with band members taking turns delivering the vocal lines in that high lonesome style that makes bluegrass music unique among modern forms.

Handsome Molly is Gilles Leclerc on Mandolin, Peter Deachman on guitar, Peter Gioulet on Banjo (all residing in Ottawa) and Bill Lansdell from Verona on the stand-up bass. Bluegrass without the fiddle is like supper without dessert, and Handsome Molly was joined on this occasion by Shawn Kellet from Harrowsmith, who added an extra sweetness to the sound.

Handsome Molly was followed on stage by Verona’s favourite local Gospel outfit, Crimson River, who kept the crowd entertained throughout the afternoon.