Sally’s Dream Oral History

Sally’s Dream formed in Bloomington, Indiana, during the early 1980s and embodied the restless, creative energy of the city’s thriving alternative music scene. Guitarist and songwriter Chrissie Dickinson (lead guitar, vocals), Cyn Hammond Jenkins (bass, keys, vocals), Emily Jackson (drums), and Jenny Davis (rhythm guitar, keys, bass, vocals) first came together in a rusty shipping container rehearsal space by the train tracks. Before long, they were rehearsing above storefronts on the square and playing beloved Bloomington clubs like Second Story, Ricky’s Canteena, Jake’s, the Bluebird, and the Crazy Horse Saloon.

Sally’s Dream’s sound carried them beyond Bloomington, where their fierce, female-driven lineup won them opening slots for major alternative touring acts of the era including 10,000 Maniacs, Romeo Void, the Smithereens, BoDeans, Lone Justice, Fishbone, Adrian Belew & the Bears, Shriekback, Drivin’ N Cryin’, and Get Smart! Touring the Midwest and South in their step van Stella, they carved out their space in a male-dominated circuit, lighting up iconic venues such as the Hoosier Ballroom, Jockey Club, Sudsy Malone’s Rock ’n’ Roll Laundry and Bar, Tewligans Tavern, and the Uptown Lounge.

In 1987, the band relocated to Boston, chasing a larger stage while continuing to sharpen their sound. There, they performed at Chet’s Penalty Box, T.T. the Bear’s, the Middle East, Johnny D’s, and the legendary Rat. Though Sally’s Dream disbanded in 1990, the deep sisterhood among Dickinson, Jenkins, Jackson, and Davis endured.

The band’s legacy deepened in 2022 with the passing of their brilliant guitarist and songwriter, Chrissie Dickinson. At her memorial, the surviving members reunited to perform several Sally’s Dream songs, sparking renewed interest in their music and history.

In September 2025, the group released Breaking Through — a collection of 13 original tracks recorded in the 1980s, digitally mastered in 2024, and dedicated to Chrissie with love.

Sally’s Dream remains a vital piece of Indiana’s rock history, a band that captured the spirit of the 1980s underground while carving a place for women in a male-dominated scene.

In this Interview Highlight, the members of Sally’s Dream reflect on the electric Bloomington music scene of the 1980s and early 1990s—a time when college-town clubs, do-it-yourself rehearsal spaces, and regional circuits fueled a thriving underground. They share memories of opening for Romeo Void, trading stages with touring alternative acts, and hauling their trusty step van “Stella” down to Louisville, Atlanta, and back, playing a string of shows that stretched their sound beyond Indiana. Through their stories, they paint a vivid picture of the camaraderie, grit, and creative momentum that shaped both Sally’s Dream and the wider Bloomington scene.

The Complete Interview offers a deeper look into the history, musicianship, and enduring friendship that defined Sally’s Dream. Chrissie Dickinson, Cyn Hammond Jenkins, Emily Jackson, and Jenny Davis revisit their early rehearsal spaces, the evolution of their songwriting, the tight-knit creative culture of Bloomington, and the challenges and triumphs of navigating a male-dominated music landscape. They discuss memorable shows with nationally touring acts, their regional trips in the band’s step van Stella, the band’s relocation to Boston, and the eventual winding down of their time together. The conversation also touches on the emotional 2022 reunion following Chrissie Dickinson’s passing and the release of Breaking Through in 2025—a testament to their lasting bond and creative spark. Together, their stories preserve the full arc of a band that left a meaningful imprint on Indiana’s alternative rock history.