The Joy Formidable

Formed in 2007 in the town of Mold in North Wales, The Joy Formidable centers on the trio of Ritzy Bryan, Rhydian Dafydd, and Matt Thomas, operating at the crossroads of alternative rock, shoegaze, and noise pop. After spells in London and the United States, the band forged a sound defined by dense guitars, extended build-ups, and melodic vocals in which English and Welsh intertwine. Following a debut EP, A Balloon Called Moaning (2009), The Joy Formidable released The Big Roar in 2011, establishing the project on the international indie circuit, followed by Wolf’s Law in 2013 and Hitch in 2016, continuing a songwriting approach built around long-form structures, a taste for sonic contrasts, and textures bordering on post-rock. With AAARTH in 2018 and Into the Blue in 2021, The Joy Formidable delved into more psychedelic, contemplative atmospheres while maintaining a direct rock backbone. A fixture at numerous festivals and on tour across the UK, Europe, and North America, the Welsh band has asserted itself as a steady live act, alternating club gigs, outdoor shows, and runs of support dates for other independent outfits.