The Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters

Akulina Joy Shamanov plays guitar, sings lead and harmony, and serves as the bandleader of the Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters. At 15, she has performed roughly 250 shows, including appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. She started her musical journey on piano at age five, then discovered guitar, which became her main instrument. She also plays fiddle, mandolin, bass, and banjo, though guitar and fiddle are her primary instruments in the band. One of her signature fiddle pieces is “Ashokan Farewell.” Akulina performs on Gallagher Guitars and brings a Martin D-18 as backup. She uses D’Addario XS phosphor bronze strings and a BlueChip TP 60 pick, and is known for obsessively checking her instruments to make sure everything is just right before playing. She helps lead rehearsals, shape arrangements, develop set lists, and guide the band’s overall sound, focusing on timing, harmony, and making sure every performance runs smoothly. Her musical influences include Alison Krauss and Doyle Lawson. She draws inspiration from both traditional and modern bluegrass and is currently working on over a dozen original songs. Akulina strives to write music that energizes audiences, inspires creativity, and connects people through story, harmony, and feeling. Off stage, Akulina is funny, friendly, and full of personality. While she may appear focused and serious on stage, she is quick to make jokes, pull faces, and laugh at herself. She enjoys reading historical fiction and mystery, writing songs, and spending time with her sisters. She has small quirky habits—like humming while practicing, experimenting with harmonies, and sometimes overthinking details—yet she always keeps things fun. Her favorite foods include ice cream, pizza, radishes, noodles, and soups, and she enjoys drinks like mango juice and water. She loves mornings for running and productivity, afternoons for practicing music or schoolwork, and evenings for walks, baking, or watching movies with her sisters. Being homeschooled allows her to balance music with academics, though math—especially geometry—is not her favorite. Akulina’s daily routine is a mix of music, school, and creative work. She wakes early for running, posts videos from the previous day on social media, finishes homeschool lessons, practices music, selects outfits, and prepares content for upcoming performances. She also spends time writing songs, experimenting with new arrangements, and imagining ways to improve the band’s sound. If she weren’t pursuing music, Akulina would consider performing with the U.S. Navy Band’s Country Current or spending her time baking and creating in the kitchen. She enjoys bringing joy to others—whether through music, food, or humor—and loves seeing people respond positively to her performances. Her long-term goals include growing the Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters into a full-time national touring group and performing on major stages such as Red Rocks and the CMA Awards. Akulina defines success not by the number of shows, but by the connections she creates with her audience and the energy she shares through music. She wants every listener to feel inspired, energized, and entertained—one chord, one laugh, and one perfectly timed harmony at a time. 
  fun facts:  Favorite Color; Navy Blue  Favorite Instrument; guitar and fiddle Favorite guitars; Gallagher Guitars 

    
    
 

Cherylann Shamanov plays bass for the Alaskan Sunnyside Sisters and brings a steady, grounding presence to the band—whether she looks like it or not. At 12, she has already performed on stages such as the Grand Ole Opry, standing on the far right with her bass, focused and calm, keeping everything right where it needs to be. She started on piano and picked up the bass about a year ago, quickly finding her place in the band. She enjoys walking bass lines and slower, driving songs like “Blue Side of the Mountain” and “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” where she can really settle into the groove. While she may not be moving around much (because… bass), she’s always locked in, watching her sisters and keeping everything together. On stage, Cherylann is serious, focused, and has what the band calls her “bass face.” But if you look closely, you’ll catch little moments—like a quick smile, or when she laughs at herself after a mistake and immediately looks over at Akulina… who is definitely already looking back. Then she just keeps going like nothing happened. Calm. Professional. Totally planned (not really). Off stage is where things change completely. Cherylann goes from quiet and focused to talking nonstop—like nonstop. She makes funny faces, switches into random accents (including a very committed English one), and keeps everyone laughing with her chaotic energy. One of her classic moments is putting her sparkly hat on her head and then asking, completely seriously, “Where is my hat?” as if it just disappeared. She also loves startling people, acting dramatic for no reason, and being just unpredictable enough to keep her sisters on their toes. When she’s not playing music, Cherylann loves reading—especially historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery—and could easily spend all day on her bunk bed with a book. She also enjoys drawing, running, playing outside, and playing games like chess. She likes having a routine and staying organized (more than her sisters), but still manages to be one of the most chaotic people in the house when she feels like it. Food-wise, she’s all about comfort and favorites—creamy potato soup, popcorn, mango ice cream, and omelets with hot sauce. She mostly sticks to water, simple and reliable, just like her playing. Even though she may not always be the loudest on stage, Cherylann is a huge part of what makes the band work. She’s steady, observant, and always exactly where she needs to be—while somehow also being one of the funniest and most unexpected personalities off stage. Fun Facts: Favorite color; violet  Favorite instrument; Bass Favorite Bass; Kay