The Joy Formidable

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 band run their own club night, entitled "Club Joie De Vivre", in Kilburn, London.

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 [http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=3463&type=Interviews 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