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, and played In The City in 2006 under that name. In 2007, they dropped their bassist, and changed their drummer and their name. The Guardian cited them as "one to watch" in 2008, and the NME described their music as "Epic, melodic, hand-shandy pop from a band who understand the true joys of life".
In 2008, The Joy Formidable – composed of girlfriend–boyfriend lead duo Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd, and drummer Justin Stahley – appeared at both the Latitude Festival and the Reading and Leeds Festivals (on the BBC Introducing Stage). 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", and the track appeared on trailers for Channel 4's Skins. The second single release "Cradle" was released in February 2009 on Try Harder Records. It was a limited edition double 7" vinyl. 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 and was released as a single on Friends Vs Records.
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'.
The Joy Formidable finished off 2009 with several high profile support slots in the UK, most noticibly Editors and Passion Pit, they also released an internet only download single free of charge called "Greyhounds In The Slips" (featuring Paul Draper) and a live album recorded at their headline London Garage gig on September 30th, the album, entitled "First You Have To Get Mad", was released late November 2009.
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