The Joy Formidable

The Joy Formidable play The Great Hall in Toronto on March 11, 2026. Formed in 2007 in Mold, North Wales, the trio — singer-guitarist Ritzy Bryan, bassist Rhydian Dafydd and drummer Matt Thomas — moves between alternative rock, shoegaze and noisy pop. Their sound leans on dense guitar layers, slow-burn builds and a melodic vocal that slips between English and Welsh.

From the first EP A Balloon Called Moaning to the albums The Big Roar, Wolf’s Law and Hitch, the band shaped long forms, sharp contrasts and textures close to post-rock. With AAARTH and Into the Blue, they edged toward more psychedelic and contemplative moods while keeping a direct rock backbone. On stage, that mix turns into a steady push-and-pull: layered riffs, grounded rhythms and passages that stretch before locking into clear hooks.

This date at The Great Hall draws across their catalogue, linking early material with newer songs and leaving room for extended instrumental moments from a group built for the live circuit.