Roxie Watson Brings ‘Alterna-grass’ Back to Barnes Amphitheatre

In the “boys’-clubby” bastion of bluegrass music, all-female ensembles are rarer than hens’ teeth.   

“This is where our ‘alterna-grass’ genre came from,” said Linda Bolley, guitarist for Decatur-based quintet Roxie Watson.  “We definitely have bluegrass influences, but also love to meld classic country, blues, folk, Zydeco and even a bit of rock into our music. We don’t try to fit into that club at all.”

Roxie Watson began life as a duo in 2008, with childhood pals bassist Lenny Lasater  and mandolin player Beth Wheeler teaming up to fool around with Dolly Parton songs. The name was inspired by their respective grandmothers, Roxie Johnson and Mary Watson.

 “One night at a party, I just jumped in on guitar and sat in with them,” Bolley recalled. “We were all raised on classic country and loved it. We started gigging as a threesome.”

Banjo player Sonia Tetlow soon heard about them through the grapevine and came on board, as did an earlier prospect, Becky Shaw on harmonica and accordion, who was newly freed from work obligations.

With the quintet complete, Roxie Watson quickly became the go-to gals for parties and festivals, their three-part harmonies and ever-evolving musical chops charming converts at every stop. With help from a circle of friends and supporters, the group entered the studio to cut its 2010 debut CD, “True Stories.”

The CD mixes covers and originals, with all five members contributing material.

From the ominous deep blues of “Devil Stole My Baby” to the traditional bluegrass of “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” and campy country of “Send in the Rodeo Clowns,” the release reveals a range and cohesiveness rare for a band this early in its recording career.

Roxie Watson will be back in the studio in September to record a follow-up; an as-yet-untitled effort that will benefit from some fan interaction.

“We held a ‘True Stories’ writing contest where we asked our fans to submit stories about anything that had touched their lives,” said Bolley. "We wrote a song around the winning entry and gave the writer a songwriting credit. This man had written an open letter to his grandsons and it became a song called 'Milestones.'"

The band will road-test some of this new material when it hits the in Mableton on Saturday. The free show is part of the presented by the South Cobb Arts Alliance.  This will be Roxie Watson’s second go-round at the Mable House, and Bolley couldn’t be more effusive in her praise for the facility.

“We had a wonderful time last year and are so honored they asked us back!” she said. “The ambiance is incredible and the sound quality is perfect.”

Marc Miller, Candlelite Series committee co-chair, is equally bullish on the band. “We’ve never had as many requests for a band to return to the series as we’ve had for Roxie Watson,” he said. “Five out of 10 attendees I’ve talked to want them back.”

Roxie Watson will perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The event is free at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, 5239 Floyd Road S.W. Mableton, 30126. 770-819-7765, www.mablehouse.org/amphitheatre.html