The Joy Formidable

The Joy Formidable

The Joy Formidable are an indie rock group from Wales, formed in 2007. Their music is associated with indie rock, dream pop, noise pop and shoegaze, and has also been described as a form of grunge-influenced rock. The band is based in London and remains active.

Formation and members

The core of the group comes from earlier collaborations between Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd, who play vocals and guitar, and bass and backing vocals respectively. They first played together in the indie rock band Tricky Nixon, which later evolved into the new wave and post-punk group Sidecar Kisses. In 2007 they regrouped after returning to Mold in Wales and formed The Joy Formidable. The band’s line-up includes Ritzy Bryan, Rhydian Dafydd and Matt Thomas, with Justin Stahley also named among the members.

Early releases

The Joy Formidable’s debut single was “Austere”, issued on Another Kitchen Records as a 7-inch release. It was followed by “Cradle”, a limited-edition double 7-inch on Try Harder Records. The band then released the eight-track mini-album A Balloon Called Moaning on Pure Groove Records. Around this period, they also issued the single “Whirring” on Friends Vs Records, and a free digital-only single, “Greyhounds in the Slips”, produced by and featuring Paul Draper of Mansun. They also released the live album First You Have To Get Mad, recorded at a London Garage headline show.

Breakthrough and touring

The band played a number of major festivals early in their career, including Latitude Festival, Reading Festival, Leeds Festival and Glastonbury Festival. During festival appearances in that period, Matthew Thomas replaced Justin Stahley on drums. They also tour with Editors and Passion Pit, and support Paul McCartney at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. The group takes part in the 2010 NME Radar Tour with Chapel Club, Flats and Wilder.

Debut album

The Joy Formidable release their debut studio album, The Big Roar, on Atlantic Records. The album follows a reissue of “Austere” and receives very favourable critical response.