MUNCIE, Ind. - On Thursday, Feb 12, at 7:30 p.m., the GRAMMY-nominated country-folk band, Sister Sadie, hit their first stop on their nationwide tour. The band performed at Ball State University’s Pruis Hall, playing a variety of their award-winning songs.
What started as a spontaneous jam session at the Nashville Station Inn sparked the start of the all-female International Bluegrass Music Association sweeping, Grand Ole Opry starring, bluegrass band, Sister Sadie. Don't let the label fool you, these six women are constantly pushing the boundaries within their genre by not letting labels compartmentalize their music and their message
“I think being true to yourself in the industry has only grown more and more,” Katie Blomarz-Kimball, bass and vocals in the band, said. “You kind of get to a point where you're like, ‘I need to write these songs’ and ‘I need to express myself,’ and I think sometimes that genuine, true, raw nature of a song or lyric is kind of what makes yourself so relatable to the audience."
While life on tour may seem very glamorous, there is a very human aspect of traveling in a tour bus, exploring new cities every day.
“Right now we're exhausted,” Deanie Richardson, one of the band members, said. “We’ve been up driving since 3:00 a.m., so it can be pretty exhausting and trying, but once we hit that stage, it is just pure fire and energy, and it's all worth it at that point. There's a lot that goes into the behind-the-scenes getting ready for a tour.”
While the music is a huge component of a tour, there are a lot of logistics that go into it.
“Mapping out the travel, booking hotels, finding decent places to eat on the road so you don't get burnt out and bored quickly, planning setlists and making the shows exciting and interesting for the audiences every night, but also for us on stage who are performing these shows night after night,” Richardson said.
Sister Sadie is a band that prides itself on its differences, while many presume them as a bluegrass band. There is so much more that goes into their music than just the genre. The band's main focus when making music is the story, the unrelenting drive to speak their truth through a tradition that has not always made room for it.
Their newest album, “All Will Be Well,” released in 2025, marks a new chapter in this band’s ongoing legacy. It showcases real raw emotion that these women, as well as other listeners, can relate to. From gut-punch ballads to high-octane instrumental parts, this album showcases so much of the band's spirit and talent.
To keep up with the band's music, tour, and members, you can visit their website at www.sistersadie.com
Contact Brianna Baariu with comments at brianna.baariu@bsu.edu
