Grapevine Music Agency - representing some of the finest roots musicians from the UK and North America. Folk, Blues, Country, Americana.

 Released April/May 2012 - 4th Studio Album: ‘Whiskey’ (see press release below)

We are delighted to announce that we are now representing The Toy Hearts, bluegrass/ western swing band who are undoubtedly one of the country’s finest live groups. Led by three members of the Johnson family The Toy Hearts are completely immersed in the magical music of the American south, so much so, in fact, that they recorded their most recent CD in Nashville under the watchful eye of Grammy nominated producer David Mayfield. It’s a triumph but doesn’t really prepare you for the full-on experience of a Toy Hearts show. Brilliant musicianship and stunning stagecraft combine to leave audiences gasping for more.   

The Toy Hearts have been making music together for over ten years, partly because the core trio of the band is made up of family members, and partly because they are old school when it comes to music. They have honed their skills the hard way by gigging across the UK, USA and Europe the result being that they deliver an exciting, energetic and dynamic live show, packed with just the right amounts of sweetness, sass and style.

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 October 2010 The Toy Hearts released their third album Femme Fatale, which was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee earlier that year and produced by Grammy nominee David Mayfield. Certainly their most significant recording to date, Femme Fatale aptly demonstrates their song writing maturity and a further honing of their now identifiable sound that draws influences from bluegrass, gypsy jazz, western swing, country and blues.

Two download singles, ‘Femme Fatale’ and ‘The Captain’ have been released from the album both with accompanying music videos to the delight of an ever increasing online fanbase. The Toy Hearts continue to get great coverage in the specialist press, Guitarist, Acoustic, R2, Country Music People but have also had extensive features in the more mainstream national Press such as, The Independent, The Sunday Express and The Star on Sunday. 2011 sees The Toy Hearts profile going from strength to strength as they perform at major UK festivals, amongst them Cornbury, Bestival, Shambala and Moseley Folk. Also in the pipeline is a live BBC session with Bob Harris airing the first weekend of September and a feature in the Daily Mail.

 “As well as producing quite possibly the finest and most authentic-sounding blend of Americana of any UK act, The Toy Hearts possess a trump card in the heart-melting voice of Hannah Johnson... With 'Femme Fatale' as a calling card, the UK Americana crown is The Toy Hearts' for the taking.”  Sean McGhee, R2 Rock and Reel Magazine

“They fully deserves to be the first British act nominated for a bluegrass Grammy. We should consider ourselves lucky, Nashville didn't confiscate their passports so they couldn't ever leave!”  Mike Davis, Net Rhythms

“Fronted by sisters Hannah and Sophia Johnson, these are sweet harmonies and commendable forays into hot jazz and old-time swing”  Duncan Warwick, Uncut Magazine

'Influenced by the Nashville guitar pickers and singers, they are two very sweet girls' - Ronnie Wood, Rolling Stones

(On Femme Fatale) 'It's a really lovely album, I like it very much' - Bob Harris

'It's unusual to think that really great bluegrass music would come out of the Midlands from this country, but it's true' - Bob Harris

“Sisters Hannah (mandolin) and Sophia (guitar) were a delight, highly personable, and proved they have what it takes for some serious cross over potential without compromising their music.” - Michael Hingston, Live Review for Country Music People

“Style and substance are admirable attributes for any band. But couple them with hard work and commitment and you're onto something good. The Toy Hearts have all the bases covered and Femme Fatale, recorded in Nashville, is a fine document of the Johnson family's winning formula.” David Kushar, Spiral Earth

“The vocals are pure and the musicianship is top-class... This group is going from strength to strength and I would recommend this album to all bluegrass fans”  David Knowles, Maverick Magazine

“The overall sound is excellent, Hannah's vocal's quite superb and Sophia's guitar playing stunning. The album has a tremendous vitality about it and the elements of western swing that creep in here and there only add to the variety of a band who are as good to look at as they are to listen to.” Venue Magazine

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The Toy Hearts release 4th Studio Album: ‘Whiskey’

The Toy Hearts continue to break the rules, after three completely acoustic bluegrass albums the band have decided to do something a little bit different for their 4th studio release this spring…

 Birmingham based, sister fronted band the Toy Hearts have a reputation for delivering some of the most authentic performances of American Roots music this side of the Atlantic, and their forthcoming album “Whiskey” is set for release Spring 2012. It is in part homage to their influences and inspirations from Western Swing, Rockabilly, Jazz and Blues, and also a collection of original new material steeped in Country and Americana sounds. Mixed in amongst their own compositions are songs by artists such as Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Wayne Hancock, Bessie Smith and Ronnie Self. The album was recorded in their home studio in Birmingham UK, but was edited and mixed by Grammy nominated engineer/producer Ben Surratt in his studio The Rec Room, Nashville TN.

 “Whiskey” shows The Toy Hearts continuing to develop their own signature style of songwriting; catchy choruses, blood harmonies, hot guitar picking and as the album title suggests a healthy dose of good Country drinking songs. Multi instrumentalist Stewart Johnson really gets to exercise his talents, playing Banjo, Dobro, Pedal and Consol Steel Guitars on the record, while Sophia handles harmony vocals, electric and acoustic guitars. Hannah continues with the mandolin work, while also displaying a depth and maturity to her vocal style that is a significantly more assured than even the sultriness of the last record “Femme Fatale”. The Johnson family have also drafted in some musician friends to help complete the record’s line up: “Whiskey” features John Potter on double bass, Dean Beresford on drums (drummer for Richard Hawley) and Eamon McLaughlin on fiddle and harmony vocals (formerly of The Green Cards and now fiddle and harmonies for Nashville star Josh Turner).

 The Toy Hearts have a growing fan base that now includes Bob Harris, Ronnie Wood and Imelda May and their previous work has won them accolades across the UK, Europe and the USA. Their forthcoming release is further evidence that they are successfully paving a path that no other UK act dares to tread.

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Discography

Whiskey - - Wood Ville Records - 2012

If the Blues Come Calling - Wood Ville Records - 2006

When I Cut Loose - Wood Ville Records - 2008

Femme Fatale - Wood Ville Records - 2010

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Selected Appearances  

19^th Appalachian Music Festival, Omagh NI

Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, IE

The Cornish Bluegrass Festival

Wolverstock Festival

Americana International Festival

Shetland Folk Festival

SXSW in Austin, TX

International Bluegrass Music Association, Nashville, USA

The Transatlantic Bluegrass School, Wales

The Acoustic Festival of Great Britain

East Anglian Bluegrass Festival

Moseley Folk Festival

European World of Bluegrass in Holland

The Koko Club, Camden

Maverick Festival

Ely Folk Festival

Berck Country Rock Festival, France

Country Rendez-vous Festival, France

French Bluegrass Music Association Festival

Dives-Sur-Mer, France

The Tri-State Bluegrass Festival, North Indiana, USA

Byron Berline’s Double Stop Fiddle Shop, Guthrie, USA

The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation Festival, Texas, USA

IBMA in Nashville TN, USA

Picnic Festival, Belgium

Hamawe Roots Festival Belgium

The 9th Annual Buhl Bluegrass Festival, Germany

Cornbury Festival

Shambala Festival

Moseley Folk Festival

Bestival