Hello!

  Well three months into 2009 and there is much to report from Toy Hearts Headquarters.  It is with great pleasure to announce that Bradley Blackwell will be taking over on Upright Bass from Lauren Rogers who unfortunately had to leave the band due to her commitments as a teacher.  Bradley successfully completed a small tour opening for Imelda May across the country and will be appearing at forthcoming Toy Hearts shows for later in the year both nationally and internationall. A big thanks to Brad for all his hard work so far, for learning all of the material and being good, fun company on the road!

   Fresh into February and Hannah attended the first ever European Bluegrass Summit meeting in Buhl, Germany, fulfilling her position as West Midlands Area Representative for the British Bluegrass Music Association, GB Representative for the European Bluegrass Music Association and member of the International Committee for the International Bluegrass Music Association.  The meeting, which was facilitated by the esteemed Fred Bartentein, was a huge success and many thanks go out to John Wirtz, John Sheldon, Richard Hawkins and Reink Janssen for their hard work organizing the event.  The following information has been published about the European Bluegrass Summit:

European Bluegrass Summit in Bühl, 7-8 February 2009
For the attention of those involved in European Bluegrass Music:

A successful two-day International Bluegrass Summit took place in Nashville as part of the 2008 IBMA World of Bluegrass. This meeting was ..facilitated’ by a professional mediator whose method of running the meeting guaranteed constructive discussion and outcomes. A summary of issues raised from this discussion can be seen here.

One very positive outcome was the formation of a new European Summit Steering Committee as a sub-committee of the IBMA International Committee. This Steering Committee includes IBMA International Committee chair Richard Hawkins, IBMA International Board representative Rienk Janssen, British Bluegrass Music Association chair John Wirtz, and Scottish Bluegrass Association secretary John Sheldon.

Following up on this success, bluegrass associations, event organisers, promoters, and activists within the European bluegrass community are now invited to take part in a two-day EUROPEAN BLUEGRASS SUMMIT. This summit meeting will use the same professional mediator and methods of ‘facilitation’ as used in Nashville, and is supported by the IBMA.

Aims of the EUROPEAN BLUEGRASS SUMMIT 2009 are summarised as follows:

* To provide an opportunity for a wide audience of up to forty participants to meet face to face, bond, and get to know each other,

* To highlight some of the issues affecting the promotion of bluegrass music in Europe,

* To explore the issues facing different countries and different cultures in Europe,

* To motivate people to work together more closely and to communicate more effectively.



he above photo, taken at lunchtime on Saturday 7 February, shows:

Front row: Lilly Pavlak (Czech Republic/Switzerland), Lili Drumeva (Bulgaria), Angelika Torrie (Switzerland), Hannah Johnson (GB/England), Hannie Lamers (Netherlands)
Second row: Richard Hawkins (Ireland), Fred Bartenstein (US), Ruth-Ellen Gruber (US/Italy), Christopher Howard-Williams (France), Loek Lamers (Netherlands)
Third row: Olaf Glaesmer (Germany), Regine Maier (Germany), Moira Wirtz (GB/England), Joel Espesset (France)
Fourth row: Peter Wroblewski (Germany), Alexander Gubanov (Russia), Peter O. Ruby (Czech Republic), Rosi Miller (Switzerland), Michael Zumstein (Germany), Kent Miller (Switzerland), Harald Harland (Germany)
Back row: Rienk Janssen (Netherlands), Chris Keenan (Republic of Ireland), Richard Hurst (Northern Ireland), John Wirtz (GB/England), John Sheldon (Scotland), Dagfinn Pedersen (Norway)  

   The Toy Hearts would like to express there sincere gratitude to Imelda May and her fantastic band, crew and management for having them on tour!   The band had the most amazing time and are very much looking forward to the re-scheduled Leicester show at the Y Theatre, which has been confirmed for Sunday 17th May 2009…. It should be a great show.  On behalf of Hannah, Sophia, Stewart, Howard and Bradley a HUGE thanks to Imelda, Darrel, Al, Steve, Dave Coff and Emily for all the laughs and making the band feel so very welcome and at home!

  Other news, Hannah has now completed her course at IBMA’s 2009 Leadership Bluegrass course in March and had a fantastic trip in Nashville, Tennessee.  The Toy Hearts are all very proud of her achievements so far and for her constant dedication and efforts representing the UK in world bluegrass affairs! IBMA published the following about the graduating class:

IBMA Announces Leadership Bluegrass 2009 Graduates

The International Bluegrass Music Association is pleased to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2009, listed below.  Leadership Bluegrass, now in its tenth year with more than 225 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing our music along with related leadership issues.

Leadership Bluegrass 2009 was hosted March 10-12 at BMI in Nashville, Tenn., and was facilitated again by Fred Bartenstein, a noted bluegrass historian and professional meeting facilitator.

Each year approximately 25 individuals are selected to participate in Leadership Bluegrass, a program designed to build commitment, motivate talents and instill enthusiasm for addressing the future of the bluegrass music industry.  Class members represent a cross section of current and future leaders from various facets of the industry, as well as diverse regions of the country and world.

Congratulations to the following graduates:   
•    John Abrams; The Abrams Brothers; Gananoque, Ontario, Canada
•    Danny Clark; MTSU student/ The Bluegrass Bus Museum; Goodlettsville, Tenn.  
•    Larry Cordle; Lonesome Standard Time; Hendersonville, Tenn.
•    David Crow; Milom, Joyce, Horsnell & Crow PLC; Nashville, Tenn.
•    Lee Michael Demsey; WAMU-FM, Bluegrasscountry.org, Bluegrass Unlimited; Washington, D.C.
•    Brandi Hart; The Dixie Bee-Liners; Abingdon, Va.
•    Hannah Johnson; The Toy Hearts, Birmingham Univ. student; West Midlands, U.K.
•    Becky Johnson; WMMT-FM/ The Appalshop, Inc.; Whitesburg, Ky.
•    Gary Jolicoeur; WNRV Bluegrass Radio; Narrows, Va.
•    Karl Kersey; Fiddle and Pick; Pegram, Tenn.
•    Barry Mazor; Journalist/Author (No Depression, The Wall Street Journal); Nashville, Tenn.
•    Penni McDaniel; Hope River Entertainment, Rural Rhythm Records; Lawrenceville, Ga.  
•    Janet McGarry; Diamond Productions PEI, Janet McGarry & Wildwood; Stratford, PE, Canada
•    C. Roger Moss; Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival; East Hartford, Conn.
•    Tom Mueller; The Muellers; Waterville, Me.
•    David Preston; BMI; Nashville, Tenn.
•    Ronnie Reno; BlueHighways TV, Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition; Hendersonville, Tenn.
•    Leah Ross; Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion; Bristol, Va./Tenn.
•    Sammy Shelor; Lonesome River Band; Meadows of Dan, Va.
•    Tommy Sivert; Gold Tone Musical Instruments; Titusville, Fla.
•    Tom Thorpe; Dyer Switch Bluegrass Band; Albany, N.Y.
•    Alan Tompkins; Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, Acoustic Music Camp; Dallas, Texas
•    Jim Van Cleve; Mountain Heart; Producer/Songwriter/Session Musician; Hendersonville, Tenn.
•    Joe Weed; Musician, Music & Video Producer; Los Gatos, Calif.
•    Pete Wernick; Dr. Banjo, Pete Wernick & Flexigrass; Pete & Joan Wernick, Hot Rize; Niwot, Colo.
•    Dwight Worden; San Diego Bluegrass Society, IBMA Board of Directors; Del Mar, Calif.
Thanks to the following sponsors of Leadership Bluegrass 2009:
Presentation Sponsors: BMI, Fred Bartenstein & Associates
Silver Sponsors: Katy Daley, WAMU’s BluegrassCountry.org; Brian Smith, Value Music Concepts     Inc.; Trisha & John Tubbs, SoftResources LLC;
Patrons:.Becky Buller, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike; Deb Durant, Brandywine Friends of Old     Time Music; Arnie Fleischer, The Emelin Theatre; Bill Foster, Bluegrass Unlimited;     Richard Hawkins, Bluegrass Ireland; Dan Keen, ASCAP; Pete &     Kitsy Kuykendall,     Bluegrass Unlimited; George McKnight, Uptown Bluegrass Radio & IBMM’s Banks of the     Ohio; Lorraine Short, PrymeTyme Solutions; A/WWW Enterprises (Archie & Priscilla     Warnock)
Additional support: Nick Barr, WAMC; Louisa Branscomb, Ph.D.; Jessie Law, Belmont Univ.     student/The Andrea Roberts Agency; Roger Ryan, Country Music Association of Ireland;     Joe Steiner, WFLC Blue Ridge Breakdown; Jeanette & Johnny Williams, The Jeanette     Williams Band

The Leadership Bluegrass Planning Committee this year included Archie Warnock (chair), Brian Smith (vice-chair), Trisha Tubbs, Holly Tashian, Larry Shell, Stephanie Taylor, Ron Cox, Fred Bartenstein and Nancy Cardwell (staff liaison). Smith, Tashian, Don Tucker and Kitsy Kuykendall served on the Selection Committee.
 
For information on the next Leadership Bluegrass class scheduled for 2010 in Nashville, contact Nancy Cardwell at (615) 256-3222, 888-GET-IBMA or nancyc@ibma.org.



Photo Caption: The International Bluegrass Music Association is pleased to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2009, pictured here at BMI in Nashville on March 12. Row 1: Larry Cordle; Row 2, L-R: Brandi Hart, Becky Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Joe Weed, Pete Wernick, Tom Mueller, Leah Ross, Barry Mazor, Sammy Shelor; Row 3: Gary Jolicoeur, Jim Van Cleve, John Abrams, Janet McGarry, Karl Kersey, Tom Thorpe, David Crow, Penni McDaniel, Lee Michael Demsey, Ronnie Reno; Row 4: Alan Tompkins, Dwight Worden, Tommy Sivert, C. Roger Moss, Danny Clark, David Preston (photo by Priscilla Warnock)

Stay tuned for more news from the band coming soon!

Warmest Wishes,

The Toy Hearts