The Toy Hearts are preparing for the UK release of their new CD, Femme Fatale, and a busy summer touring across Britain, Europe and the USA. The CD features the singing Johnson sisters, Hannah and Sophia, along with Stuart, their dad.
Hannah is on mandolin and most of the lead vocals, Sophia plays rhythm and lead guitar, and pop Johnson handles banjo and resonator guitar. The ladies write nearly all of the material the band records.
Femme Fatale was recorded in the States following the 2009 IBMA convention in Nashville, with help from Missy Raines, Jesse Cobb, Ross Holmes and Bryan Simpson. David Mayfield produced.
The girls have been taking a turn towards swing music of late, which shows in this first single release from the new CD, Tequila and High Heels.
Sophia is handling arrangements for their fall US tour, and she says that they are planning a 3-4 week stint traveling through the south central and southeastern states. She said that the band is also psyched about doing a couple of shows with The Quebe Sisters when they visit England in July
“Our bands are actually remarkably similar. In the UK we gig with Howard Gregory on fiddle and Bex on bass so, we both have, 3 younger girls and 2 older guys, including family members, playing a mix of bluegrass and western swing!”
You can find out more about The Toy Hearts on their web site, including more audio, video and show dates. Sophia can be reached by email if you would like to have them for a show while they are touring in the US.
