Band made up of two groups of siblings tastes success

PALMER — These seven Sallys aren’t planning on selling seashells by the seashore to make their living; they just want to make music that gives people joy.

“We like to make people happy with our songs because it's fun when we feel good, and it’s even more fun when others feel good too,” said 11-year-old Carlie-Mae Beames before going onstage at the Glenn Massay Theater last weekend.

Carlie-Mae and her three sisters, Aria (12), Kristen (14) and Lindsey (16), along with friends and church-mates Ellie (11), Emma (14) and Maya Dinwiddie (16), performed at the theater as The Sallys, opening for the Palmer-grown country band Redhead Express. The redheads, who were in town to kick off the Alaska State Fair’s AT&T Concert Series, are a favorite of the Dinwiddie and Beames sisters, having inspired the younger singers since before they released their first album in February of last year.

“We love them, they’re like the coolest,” Kristen Beames said.

Like the Walker sisters of Redhead Express, most of the Beames and Dinwiddie girls play an instrument individually. However, The Sallys have chosen to bill themselves primarily as an a capella band, with occasional guitar and piano accompaniment by their fathers, grandfathers and “momagers” Trisha Beames and Janet Dinwiddie. In this way, The Sallys are similar to The Wailin’ Jennys, a Canadian band with the folksy, bluegrass style of the mid-1800s to early 1900s.

But the Sallys cover every genre, from hymns to Alan Jackson country to the Swedish pop of ABBA. The only requirements, they said, are that the music has strong harmonies and inspires and uplifts its listeners.

Even the band’s name reflects that mission.

“A Sally is a strong, courageous girl or woman,” Carlie-Mae said.

“A woman who’s like, beautiful on the inside and out, and has your back any time,” Aria added.

“Someone’s who isn’t gonna be bullied or let others bully her,” Kristen said.

“A Sally’s like a dear friend and a shoulder to cry on,” Ellie said.

Though the title means something a little bit different to everyone, each girl owns it as part of the group, and a larger identity. Not all the girls are sold on singing as a career — each of them have other hobbies like volleyball and 4H — but for now, it’s enough to just enjoy the music.

“My goal is just to support whatever it is that they want, to try and help them realize what their dreams are,” Janet Dinwiddie said. “We’re willing to put in as much effort … as they are.”

Dinwiddie said the girls plan to spend the summer honing their skills and filling out their portfolio on their website at 7sallys.com.

Last year, The Sallys took second at the fair’s “Alaska’s Got Talent” competition. They have at least two performances booked during the Fair this fall, and hope to open for Redhead Express on a bigger stage someday.

“We wanna put ourselves out there and just go for it,” Aria said.