Dark Shadow Recording has officially welcomed The Sullivan Sisters to its family of artists, a move that feels like a natural next step for one of bluegrass music’s most exciting young bands. The announcement comes as the group makes its debut as an official Showcase Artist at this year’s IBMA World of Bluegrass in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
For label founder Stephen Mougin, the signing was an easy decision. “I’ve been watching the Sullivan Sisters over the last few years and have been impressed with their musicianship, work ethic, and values,” Mougin shared. “They represent the future of our music, and it is in GREAT hands! I’m looking forward to getting in the studio and working up some fantastic new music.”
The sisters, Soraya and Luciya, echo that excitement. “We are so honored to be joining the wonderful musical family at Dark Shadow Recording,” they said. “Stephen and Jana have always been incredibly supportive of us and of our music, and we are so excited to be a part of this unique and vibrant record label they have created.”
Born and raised in North Carolina, the Sullivan Sisters grew up surrounded by the bluegrass community, picking up instruments before most kids their age had even discovered them. Soraya took to guitar at just eight years old, while Luciya was already exploring the banjo at six. Their early start laid the foundation for a sound steeped in tradition yet lit with youthful fire, and when the family relocated to Chicago, the sisters carried their passion for the music with them, planting roots in a new city while continuing to tour nationally.
Over the past decade, The Sullivan Sisters have grown from prodigious talent into a polished, road-tested act. Their résumé includes appearances 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. Along the way, their instrumental prowess has earned national acclaim, with multiple top finishes at RockyGrass competitions — including First Prize in Banjo, First Prize in Fiddle, and Second Prize in Guitar — as well as honors from the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention. In 2025, they added another milestone with a Third Place finish in the RockyGrass Band Competition.
This year also marked the formation of the sisters’ new five-piece band, rounded out by mandolinist Oscar Caudell, fiddler Finn McGuinness, and bassist Sammy Mougin. The expanded lineup debuted to a sold-out, standing-room crowd in Chicago this January, an emphatic start to what promises to be a busy touring schedule in the year ahead. Together, the quintet blends youthful energy with seasoned skill, their sound ranging from lightning-fast instrumentals to soulful original songs and timeless folk standards.
Now, with Dark Shadow Recording behind them, the future looks even brighter. The Nashville-based label has built a reputation for nurturing some of the most dynamic voices in the genre, with artists like Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, and the Henhouse Prowlers among its roster. Adding the Sullivan Sisters to that lineup feels like both a bold step forward and a continuation of the label’s commitment to artistry rooted in tradition but unafraid to push boundaries.
Fans heading to IBMA in Chattanooga this week will have plenty of chances to catch the Sullivan Sisters in action, with showcases scheduled across multiple stages and events, including Wednesday in the CCC Exhibit Hall and Boston Bluegrass Union Room, Thursday at the Industry Awards Luncheon, Friday at the Acoustic Booth, and Saturday on the Youth Stage.
For a band that has grown up in the heart of bluegrass, earned their stripes on the contest stage, and now found a home with one of the music’s most respected labels, this moment feels like both a celebration of how far they’ve come and the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
