The Joy Formidable

Ritzy performing at Cardiff Big Weekend August 2009

The Joy Formidable band, aka Ritzy Bryan, Rhydian Dafydd and Justin Stahley from Mold and Rhosesmor, are being tipped for big things, writes Nick Bourne.

For the last few years they've been playing the festivals [Leeds and Reading], have become well known in London, they've done live sessions for Steve Lamacq and others, chatted with BBC Radio 1's Bethan Elfyn and BBC Radio Wales's Adam Walton from everything linke 'gorse-hopping' in Rhosesmor and watching bands at the Tiv, Buckley, and received an endorsement from music magazine NME as a band to watch.

Here, you can listen to Ritzy chatting with Adam on his show which was ahead of the release of the band's single, Cradle, and eight track album in early 2009.

Ritzy, who calls herself a "gorse hopper" [an affectionate term for someone from Rhosesmor, near Mold] explains more about the band's origins.

In fact, the blurb on their website says Ritzy and Rhydian had the idea for their band when they chatted on a night out in Mold. They began meeting at Buckley's Tiv nightclub which they call a 'North Walian mecca for local and touring bands' and Ritzy says it was a source of inspiration too!

"Whilst their material still has its roots in the vast, lonely countryside of the Clwydian borders, London has roused offshoots from the TJF bough", says their site.

That was inevitable as the band is well known on the London music scene, even running their own club night.

Use the links (right) to find out more.