Meet Josie Toney

Accomplished fiddler and Berklee College of Music student Josie Toney will be hitting this stage this Thursday for City Girls/Country Music's first Boston show! 

CGCM: How do you balance playing fiddle and singing? 

Josie: It's tough! My work with legendary old time fiddler and vocalist Bruce Molsky, who teaches at Berklee a couple of days a week, has really helped me with literally balancing the fiddle and voice when I am doing them at the same time, which is really difficult.  The rest of the time, I'm switching back and forth between the two, and sometimes it's a discombobulating transition. I am also a guitarist, so for country shows where I am leading all of the material, I will often play guitar and hire one of the many amazing fiddle players to be found in Boston to play with me.  This is always a special treat because as a fiddler myself, I don't often get to perform with my fiddle playin' friends, plus we always break out a few "twin fiddle" numbers during a set, where we both play, and this is a total blast!

CGCM: Do you write your own music?

Josie: Yes! I play a mix of traditional music, covers, and originals, all of which will be represented in my set at Loretta's this Thursday. I write in an older style than most modern audiences may be used to, and I'm very picky about what songs I release into the wild.  I've been working with accomplished songwriter and Berklee songwriting faculty member Mark Simos on some new songs that I'm excited to record in the spring.  I also write instrumental music, "fiddle tunes," which I've been doing since I was a kid. I've been studying the art of tune writing with Joe K. Walsh, and found that to be a really rewarding part of my time at Berklee.

CGCM: What are your plans after graduation?

Josie: I'm going to continue being based in Boston through at least the summer, but I'm looking at relocating in the fall.  Starting in 2020 I'll be really working to promote two projects, Josie Toney and That Old Time Religion, which is an old time string band, and Josie Toney and Her Honky Tonk Heroes, which is the country band that will be playing at Sally O'Brien's on the 21st. It hasn't been announced yet, but we have a residency for a honky tonk night at the Burren beginning in January, so keep your eyes open for that! I also teach private lessons, as well as classes at The Passim School of Music, which is a part of Club Passim. In the spring I am planning at least one recording project, so please go ahead and like my brand new Facebook page. 

See Josie this Thursday, November 7th, at our free show at Loretta's Last Call on Landsdowne Street in downtown Boston!  RSVP here. 

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