The Toy Hearts are a UK bluegrass and western swing group from Birmingham. The band is fronted by sisters Hannah and her sibling on guitar, with their father Stewart also in the line-up, playing multiple instruments. Their sound draws on bluegrass, country and swing, while also taking in western swing, rockabilly, jazz and blues.

Style and line-up

The Toy Hearts build their material around close harmonies, lead vocals, guitar and steel picking. Their songs combine original writing with cover versions, and their approach is rooted in American country traditions while retaining a distinct style of their own. The group’s performances centre on the family interplay between Hannah’s voice, her sister’s guitar work and Stewart’s multi-instrumental playing.

Recording and releases

The band makes its first record in 2006 and tours widely after that. Their 2010 release Femme Fatale is recorded in Nashville and receives repeated airplay from Bob Harris, leading to a live session in the BBC Radio 2 studios in 2011. Their fourth release, Whiskey, comes out on their own Wood Ville Music label and is distributed by Proper. It is recorded in their Birmingham home studio, then edited and mixed in Nashville by Grammy-nominated engineer and producer Ben Surratt. The album is the first to split evenly between original songs and covers.

Touring and appearances

The Toy Hearts tour extensively across the UK, Europe and the USA, and play festivals as well as club shows. They also open for artists including Robert Plant, Imelda May, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, The Hot Club of Cowtown, Gene Watson and Ricky Skaggs.

Recognition and influences

The band’s supporters include Bob Harris, Robert Plant, Ronnie Wood, Rob da Bank and Imelda May. Their music pays clear attention to the traditions that shape it, but they develop those influences into a style that is recognisably their own.