Press Kit/EPK
High-resolution press photos
Biography
The Sullivan Sisters have dazzled audiences since childhood with their unique blend of fast bluegrass picking and captivating sibling harmonies, with music ranging from lyrical originals to timeless folk classics to blazing instrumentals.
Inspired by the bluegrass community in North Carolina where they were born and raised, Soraya and Luciya began taking guitar and banjo lessons at ages 8 and 6. Their music drew influence from the bluegrass community surrounding them, and they carried their love of the genre with them when they relocated to Chicago.
Over the past ten years, The Sullivan Sisters have toured the country as featured performers at Merlefest, the Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum’s Romptober Festival, IBMA’s Bluegrass Live Festival, the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, and the Evanston Folk Festival. Their instrumental talents have garnered them national distinction, including First Prize in Banjo and Third Prize in Guitar at Rockygrass 2023, and Second Prize in the 2024 Galax Old Fiddlers Convention Bluegrass Banjo contest.
The sisters have recently formed a five-piece band by joining forces with three phenomenal teen pickers and longtime friends: Oscar Caudell on mandolin, Finn McGuinness on fiddle, and Sammy Mougin on bass. The new band launched its debut to a sold-out, standing room audience at Evanston SPACE in January 2025, and has multiple tours planned for 2025 and beyond.
The Sullivan Sisters members:
Soraya Sullivan - Guitar, Vocals
Luciya Sullivan - Banjo, Vocals
Finn McGuinness - Fiddle
Oscar Caudell - Mandolin
Sammy Mougin - Bass
When performing as a duo (‘The Sullivan Sisters Duo’):
Soraya Sullivan - Guitar, Vocals
Luciya Sullivan - Banjo, Vocals
Videos
Ruby (from Evanston SPACE)
Kentucky Borderline
At Park West (Chicago)
with the Henhouse Prowlers
Daybreak in Dixie (from Evanston SPACE)
Little Maggie
At Park West (Chicago)
with the Henhouse Prowlers
Muleskinner Blues (from Evanston SPACE)
Press
"It is rare in the world of folk and bluegrass music that we can use the word "elegant." Perhaps artists like Alison Krauss, the Quebe Sisters, Rhonda Vincent and Loretta Lynn certainly embody that. To me, The Sullivan Sisters stand in that great tradition of bringing honor, excellence and indeed class ... elegance ... to the music of America's front porch."
- Michael Johnathon, Host, WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour
“In recent years, you might have heard two young women playing hot licks on guitar and banjo while singing in glorious harmony. You heard the Sullivan Sisters – Soraya on guitar and Luciya playing banjo. These two Evanston Township High School students have achieved something improbable – they have broken into the tight community of bluegrass musicians and bluegrass fans.”
- Meet The Sullivan Sisters – Evanston’s Rising Bluegrass Stars from the Evanston RoundTable (read the article here)
The Sullivan Sisters talk music, school, and rising stardom” -The Evanstonian (Read the article here)
“Sullivan Sisters bring bluegrass to Evanston -The Evanstonian (Read the article here)
Random YouTube comments from our fans:
“Hot diggity that was good stuff”
“Insane”
“You are in a class of pickers w/very few others. Never heard this tempo on a 5-string.”
“Holy crap!” -
“Absolutely shredding that banjo”
“amazing voice!”
Random Instagram comments from our fans:
“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
“Tearin’ it up!!!”
“Slay!”
“LAWD!!!!! A good banjo player is like the best thing in the world to listen to”
“Magic.”
Stage Plot and Input List