“Shannon Delores [Sister Ghost] is an independent force. A defiant, outspoken artist, the Belfast based songwriter has carved out her own lane”
— Clash
Sister Ghost, aka Shannon Delores O'Neill, has a background playing in bands from the age of 12. In early 2014, she saw an opportunity to do things her way for the first time. She began writing and demoing – singing and playing everything herself – before enlisting a band to bring Sister Ghost to completion.
Playing noisy, spectral art-rock with a pop heart, O’Neill marshals a diverse set of influences in a singular way – from Seattle legends The Gits and her guitar hero, Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, to Kate Bush and L7.
She has been recognised for mentoring and encouraging other female-identified musicians to perform in the Northern Irish scene, having also set up the Girls Rock! NI chapter in 2016. Sister Ghost has garnered high profile support slots with Shellac, Pussy Riot and Le Butcherettes as well as airplay on BBC 6 Music and a Next Wave Artist slot on BBC Radio 1.
As of Spring 2019, O’Neill has teamed up with producer Cahir O’Doherty (Frank Turner, Fighting With Wire, New Pagans) to work on the debut Sister Ghost album, set for release in 2020. Equal parts emphatic and earworming, Sister Ghost’s new material is her most vital to date.
"An independent force; a defiant artist" CLASH Magazine
"Like Joan Jett, Donita Sparks, and Joe Strummer rolled into one"
Pure M Zine
"Tense yet hook filled, Sister Ghosts sound is a breath of fresh air on the garage/punk scene. A blistering meld of Sonic Youth meets Sleater-Kinney and that’s something to be very excited about.''
The Last Mixed Tape
"With Sister Ghost you can hear echoes of Sonic Youth, early nineties discord stuff. It’s just classic indie rock with no mucking about."
Steven Rainey, BBC Radio Ulster
Photo by Carrie Davenport
Photo by Chordblossom