The Band

Since the release of their first album, 'If the Blues Comes Calling' in 2006 Birmingham based bluegrass and swing outfit, The Toy Hearts, have gained an enviable reputation as one of the UK's hottest acts on the emerging acoustic scene; with a loyal ever-growing fan base who attend Toy Hearts concerts expecting an original, dynamic and innovative performance of modern bluegrass music.
Sisters Hannah (lead vocal/mandolin) and Sophia (guitar/harmony vocals) front the band, and along with their father Stewart (banjo/dobro) they carry on the established tradition of the family aspect within country music. Blood harmonies, original songwriting and arrangements, instrumental virtuosity and a deep love for that high lonesome sound means that despite being geographically removed from the bluegrass state, the Johnson family have successfully created their own kind of sound that encompasses both Bill Monroe in Kentucky with a dash of hot club straight from the Continent. In 2007 the band played across the UK at, the 16th annual Appalatian Music festival in Omagh Northern Ireland, Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, The Cornish Bluegrass Festival, Wolverstock Festival, Americana International, The Shetland Folk Festival and opened for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.

The Toy Hearts went on to have a fantastically successful 2008 following the completion and release of their critically acclaimed second album. This time comprising of entirely self penned material; 'When I Cut Loose', recorded in Leamington Spa, UK and mastered in Nashville TN, and shows a significant development in songwriting that more firmly establishes their own individuality as writers and performers. The Toy Hearts were thrilled to make their mark on the international touring circuit; attending European World of Bluegrass in Holland in May, and then winning second place at the French World of Bluegrass in August. 2008 also included two trips to the USA, a tour of Texas, showcases at SXSW in Austin, in March and showcases at the International Bluegrass Music Association's week long conference in Nashville, Tennessee in October. As well as performing at The Transatlantic Bluegrass School, The Acoustic Festival of Great Britain, East Anglian Bluegrass Festival and Moseley Folk festival. The band were also very busy raising their profile and increasing their fan-base across the UK and beyond, by opening for great acts such as Peter Rowan, Jack Lawrence and Tim O'Brien.

2009 saw the band’s reputation and popularity grow as they toured across the UK in the early spring, opening for Dublin born Rockabilly singer Imelda May, including a performance at super hip London venue, the Coco club in Camden. This was followed up by a short tour of Germany in May, back in the UK they played series of national summer festivals including Maverick Festival and Ely Folk festival. July saw another jaunt across the channe,l this time to play in France at Berck Country Rock Festival, the Country Rendez-vous festival and the French Bluegrass Music association’s Festival. Perhaps due to their hectic touring schedule, The Toy Hearts also had a good summer in the press. They graced the covers of several British and European Bluegrass magazines, as well as having features in UK, European and USA newspapers. Sophia’s hot guitar work was even featured in prestigious American guitar publication, Flatpick Guitar Magazine.

During the Fall of 2009 the band undertook their most significant and lengthy tour of the year: a five week stint in the USA, starting off at The Tri-State Bluegrass festival in North Indiana, then onto Byron Berline’s Double Stop Fiddle Shop in Guthrie OK. This was followed by a week of gigs in Austin, with further performances across TX including San Antonio, Houston and The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation Festival near Dallas. The tour was concluded with a week of bluegrass mayhem at IBMA in Nashville TN, where the band performed at seven showcase events. Most recently, in December, The Toy Hearts were part of the ‘Bluegrass Jambouree’ tour, performing across 16 major German cities with IBMA award winners The Steep Canyon Rangers, the tour marking the first of its kind as the only travelling bluegrass show in Germany.

Its onwards and upwards in 2010, beginning the year in style recording their third album of original material in Nashville TN with the uber talented David Mayfield from Cadillac Sky as producer. Watch this space…