The Joy Formidable are a three-piece band from North Wales, now living in London. The band were originally a four-piece known as Sidecar Kisses[1], and played In The City in 2006 under that name. [2] In 2007, they dropped their bassist, and changed their drummer and their name. [3] The Guardian cited them as "one to watch" in 2008,[4] and the NME described their music as "Epic, melodic, hand-shandy pop from a band who understand the true joys of life".[5]
In 2008, The Joy Formidable – composed of girlfriend–boyfriend lead duo Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd, and drummer Justin Stahley[6] – appeared at both the Latitude Festival[7] and the Reading and Leeds Festivals (on the BBC Introducing Stage).[8] Stahley was later replaced by Matt Thomas.
Their debut single "Austere" was released on August 18, 2008, on Another Music = Another Kitchen records. The Times called it "dreamy indie pop",[9] and the track appeared on trailers for Channel 4's Skins.[10]
The band run their own club night, entitled "Club Joie De Vivre", in Kilburn, London.[11]
The band's debut album A Balloon Called Moaning was released on 19 January 2009 as a CD/poster package under Pure Groove records. The band also released the album as a free download at NME.com. "Whirring" was featured on the Radcliffe and Maconie Show on BBC Radio 2 as pick of the week on 11th of May onwards. Front lady Ritzy answered some questions in a interview with God Is In The TV Zine who called the band she fronts 'sometimes-pretty-with-twirling-melody/sometimes-corruscating-with-crashing-chords guitar and elegant but energised vocals'. (FROM WIKIPEDIA)
