Express & Star

Rod Stewart's daughter Ruby Stewart and Alyssa Bonagura of The Sisterhood speak ahead of Shrewsbury show

Having been born into musical families, neither Ruby or Alyssa are strangers to the limelight - and the pair say they cannot wait to play before thousands of fans in the Midlands.

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The Sisterhood: Ruby Stewart and Alyssa Bonagura

Ruby - daughter of pop icon Rod Stewart - will support him in his Shrewsbury Town concert on June 6, as part of her musical duo The Sisterhood.

The Los Angeles-born songstress and model forms one half of the act, alongside Alyssa Bonagura, whose parents made up two thirds of US country act Bailie and The Boys.

The Sisterhood describe their music as ‘an organic blend of the open melodies of classic West Coast folk and the magnetic swagger of timeless rock n' roll’.

“We love the Midlands,” said 29-year-old singer-songwriter Alyssa.

“We’ve been there on tour before with Rod, who has been so very supportive of us. And we’re so grateful to him for giving us the stage.

“We love going on tour with him. Rod is the reason we first started getting jobs.”

Ruby and Alyssa formed the band back in 2015 after meeting through mutual friends. Once the pair had written a handful of songs on Alyssa’s bathroom floor during a Nashville snowstorm, they realised their chemistry and eventually began to record their music.

The Sisterhood: Ruby Stewart and Alyssa Bonagura

Within the first 12 months, the girls recorded their first album, played Milan’s Fashion Week and joined Rod Stewart to perform at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. They even played a festival slot in Australia.

So the prospect of performing before thousands is hardly a daunting prospect for this duo - especially given that Ruby has been touring with her dad since the age of 15.

“Alyssa and I both grew up as tour babies, so we’re actually most happy when we’re touring,” said Ruby.

“Music always comes first. I can’t actually remember the day I started singing, but my mum says I was around three years old. I’d just walk around humming music.

“My dad taught me everything I know about music. And he inspired me to want to travel the world.

“When I was a kid, my dad would have to go away for months at a time. I don’t think I ever really understood when I was little.

“But now I definitely empathise with him - and just how much he loves his job.

“When I was 13, I thought to myself ‘I could do this for the rest of my life’.”

“It’s the same for me. I love touring and living out of a suitcase,” added Alyssa.

The Sisterhood: Ruby Stewart and Alyssa Bonagura

“I really think being on the road is one of the best forms of education, as you are thrown into so many different situations.

“It’s really wonderful that I’m able to travel and make music. It’s all we could have ever hoped for.”

The pair will play prior to Rod’s slot at Greenhous Meadow in Shrewsbury on June 6 - and have invited fans to meet them after their gig.

“We’re excited to be coming back to the Midlands - and we’re very excited to see everyone at the show,” said Alyssa.

“We usually go out to the merchandise stall after our performance, so we look forward to meeting everyone.”

Rod’s gig at Shrewsbury and Durham will be his only mainland UK appearances in 2017. At the show, fans are set to be treated to an array of hits, as well as material from his most recently released critically-acclaimed album Another Country.

An extra batch of £55 tickets has been made available for the show and can be purchased now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

For more information, visit the Shrewsbury Town FC website (www.shrewsburytown.com).