Sisters of the Strawberry Moon is a folk, blues, and gospel collaborative project formed by guitarist, producer, and songwriter Luther Dickinson in 2016 for the purpose of recording the album Solstice. Its hallmark is the group's alternating cast of all-star female roots vocalists and players including Amy Helm, banjoist/clarinetist Allison Russell (Birds of Chicago; her duo partner and husband JT Nero also played guitar), multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Sharde Thomas, upright bassist Amy LaVere, and the gospel trio Como Mamas. Organist Drew Lindsay filled out the lineup, which was supported by guests who included Lillie Mae Risch, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Will Sexton. After a potluck supper on the summer solstice of 2016, the participants spent four days recording live at Dickinson's Zebra Ranch Studio in Independence, Mississippi with engineers Kevin Houston and Cody Dickinson. Luther requested each of the singers to choose her own selections; the songs included originals and covers, with the purpose of revealing the distinctive musical personality of each. Solstice was mixed in Memphis at Sam Phillips' Recording Service by Jeff Powell and issued by New West in March of 2019. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi