6 Female-fronted acts from south of Boston that are heating up the local live music scene.
By Kellie Speed
Whether recording music and winning awards or rocking out at local venues and music festivals, these inspiring music-makers are just a few of the incredible acts bringing live music to the South Shore community, and beyond.
Local Roots
Latoria Boyd, better known as ToriTori, is a Brockton-based singer/songwriter and producer who has been performing professionally since the age of 13. The Berklee College of Music graduate credits her music-loving parents and five siblings for providing steadfast support for her musical pursuits and she loves that she is now able to share music that resonates with her fans.
Awards/Accolades
ToriTori was nominated for three Boston Music Awards (BMA) and won the 2023 BMA for “R&B Artist of the Year.” She also received a 2023 New England Music Award for “New Act of the Year.” She was a featured artist on Volume 1 of the City of Boston’s Dear Summer Mixtape project and she was invited to perform at Mayor Michelle Wu’s January State of the City address. Most recently, ToriTori joined a lineup of A-list artists who performed at the 2024 Boston Calling Music Festival.
Why She Rocks
ToriTori’s music doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre. Instead, it manages to seamlessly incorporate elements of new wave R&B, hip-hop, soul and jazz. Her album “Pocket Knife,” released in 2023, features lyrics that are honest and brave, encouraging listeners to live freely. “I have the opportunity to tell my story through the gift of music,” she says. “People want to feel like they are seen, and that what they are going through isn’t abnormal. That is what makes a favorite song–being able to put something into words and have it resonate.”
Catch Her Act
Keep an eye out for ToriTori’s newest single,“You Don’t Know,” dropping this fall.
Local Roots
Established in 2020, The Lazy Susans is a rock band made up of five working moms from Milton (Joanna Weiss, Heather Shaw, Leila Mitchell, Imge Ceranoglu, and Martha Kennedy) who have been friends for more than 20 years. The women set out to start a band, despite having little to no musical background. After months of lessons and rehearsals, The Lazy Susans made their first public performance at Milton Porchfest, playing everything from pop songs to country covers. Ever since their musical debut, the band has developed a local following and they continue to book gigs, write original songs, and inspire newbie musicians to follow their dreams.
Awards/Accolades
The Lazy Susans gained national exposure in 2022 when they performed on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” The band now has a few songs available on Spotify and they hope to record more in the studio this fall.
Why They Rock
The Lazy Susans prove that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. “What makes us such a strong unit is the five of us bring different flavors and experiences together. We all have different interests, but at the end of the day, we love our families, our friendship and great music,” says lead guitarist Joanna Weiss. “We practice every week and are proud to have been able to keep the band going.”
Catch Their Act
The Lazy Susans will be performing at Milton Porchfest on September 21, miltonporchfest.com. Learn more about the band at thelazysusans86.com.
Local Roots
Accomplished violinist Rozita Fishta grew up in Albania and moved to Boston in 2013. Now a Quincy resident, she delivers dynamic electric violin performances across New England and is pursuing a career in music production at Berklee College of Music.
Awards/Accolades
At age 18, Fishta won a full scholarship for violin performance to the Conservatory of Music Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy. Locally, she has performed with the New England Philharmonic and Kendall Square Orchestra.
Why She Rocks
An electrifying virtuoso who got her start playing violin at just 6 years old, Fishta has become known for entertaining audiences with exciting renditions of recognizable pop, rock, and jazz songs at fashion shows, weddings and corporate events. “I love creating new music,” says Fishta. “I could be on the train or in the car when I receive inspiration. I always have an artistic urge to create new melodies. I’m working on new songs right now and once my album is complete, I plan to bring the songs to life on stage.”
Catch Her Act
Rozita Fishta performs every Saturday and Sunday at Giardino, a newly opened brunch spot at Encore Boston Harbor. Follow her on Instagram.
Local Roots
Lead singer Grace Ann Ahl grew up in Scituate and now lives in Hull. She attended Roger Williams University and it was there that she started her first band, an acoustic duo called Declaration of Grace. These days she rocks out with the band Gracie Grace and All the Good Boys, at venues across the South Shore and Cape Cod.
Awards/Accolades
Gracie Grace and All the Good Boys won “Blues Act of the Year” in the 2022 New England Music Awards and Ahl was also nominated for “Female Performer of the Year.” Recently, the band was invited to perform at the 2024 Levitate Music & Arts Festival in Marshfield.
Why She Rocks
Known for its eclectic, jazzy, soulful, and bluesy style, Gracie Grace and All The Good Boys features powerhouse vocals by Ahl, backed by bassist Declan Kelehan, drummer Ken Dellot, keyboardist Josh Hamblin, guitarist Andrew Cornish and saxophone player Brian Rowe. “It has been amazing for all of us to grow as artists,”says Ahl. “We feel like the luckiest people on the South Shore.”
In addition to her vocal talents, Grace Ahl is co-founder of the South Shore Femme Fest, a community music festival that showcases a musical lineup of female musicians as well as local artists and business owners. Mark your calendar for the next Femme Fest, which is planned for April at Stellwagen Beer Company in Marshfield. “I think it’s important to shed light on women in music and give ladies a platform to celebrate, collaborate and build a community,”says Ahl. “Even though there are a lot of supportive men helping women get gigs, it’s important for women to know it’s not just a boys’ club.”
Catch Her Act
To learn more about Gracie Grace and All the Good Boys, visit graciegoodboys.com.
Local Roots
A singer/songwriter who grew up in Worcester and studied music therapy at Berklee College of Music, Cara Brindisi now lives in Plymouth, and has a monthly concert and podcast series at The Spire Center in Plymouth where she hosts a special musical guest each month for a concert and conversation.
Awards/Accolades
Appearing on the singing competition television show “The Voice” in 2022, Brindisi was handpicked for Gwen Stefani’s team and was described as “perfect” by John Legend and “hypnotic” by Blake Shelton. After her stint on “The Voice,” she ended her tour in 2022 to a sold-out performance at Mechanics Hall in her hometown of Worcester, which subsequently became an annual winter solstice/holiday performance.
Why She Rocks
Two of Brindisi’s biggest musical influences have been Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Merchant and her own original music features both pop and folk influences. Her debut album, titled “I Am Home,” was released earlier this year, thanks to a successful kickstarter campaign.
In addition to recording and performing, Brindisi works for the VNA of Cape Cod, bringing music to end-of-life patients. “It is so heartfelt, and I am so grateful to be able to do this,” says Brindisi.
Catch Her Act
Cara Brindisi’s next Music & Lyrics concert at The Spire is scheduled for September 26. In 2025, she hopes to host a summer solstice event on the South Shore or Cape Cod. To learn more about her music, visit carabrindisi.com.
Local Roots
Singer/songwriter Anna Daley Young was born and raised in Weymouth. She found early musical inspiration from spending time with her musician father, who taught her to play guitar when she was 12 years old.
Awards/Accolades
Young’s debut album, “Go My Own Way,” was nominated for “Album of The Year” for the 2023 New England Music Awards and she was also nominated for “Country Artist of the Year” for the 2023 Boston Music Awards. She was also invited to perform at the 2023 Levitate Music and Arts Festival.
Why She Rocks
Inspired by artists like Taylor Swift and Lana Del Ray, Young is an artist who pours her heart into her songwriting. Her first album had an upbeat pop-country vibe. Now in the process of recording her second album, she is creating music with a more ethereal, soulful style. She recently had the chance to perform and speak to students at Maria Weston Chapman Middle School in Weymouth (where she was once a student), and she hopes to continue inspiring young people to chase their dreams.
Catch Her Act
Young is embarking on her “Queen of Chaos” tour in September, making stops in Raleigh, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, and ending with a South Shore show on September 28 at Safford Park in Quincy. You can also see her perform at many local venues and events across the South Shore, including on September 14 at Hull PorchFest and October 10 at Madre Osteria in Milton. To learn more about her music, visit annadaleyyoung.org.
