August 27, 2011 17:36

The Joy Formidable play surprise Reading Festival acoustic show

Band also tell NME Reading has been 'the highlight of festival season'

The Joy Formidable's surprise Reading Festival show, August 27, 2011
Photo: Amy Brammall/NME

The Joy Formidable played a surprise set on the BBC Introducing Stage this afternoon (August 27) at Reading Festival - shortly after they'd opened the Main Stage.

The band played a short set, airing stripped-down versions of 'The Greatest Light' and 'Whirring' as part of the show, which took place on the small stage normally reserved for unsigned bands.

Speaking to NME after the show, bassist Rhydian Dafydd explained why they'd decided to play the gig. He said:

Playing on the BBC Introducing Stage felt quite nostalgic, they supported us from early on, so it was just a nice thing to do. They [BBC Introducing] were a big part of us starting off at Reading Festival, back in the day, and it was a nice change to get up close with people, up in their face.

Singer Ritzy Bryan added that the band weren't fazed about the possibility of stripping down their distortion-heavy guitar sound for the set. She said:

I think it's the test of a good song whether it sounds good acoustically, if it translates in its simplest form, then it works. You hear the lyrics, you hear the form, you hear the melody, it's great.

Dafydd added that their acoustic set and earlier performance on the Main Stage (pictured right) had been "the highlight of festival season".

The Strokes and Pulp co–headline the Main Stage this evening, with Crystal Castles, The National and Jimmy Eat World also set to play the bash today too.

Reading And Leeds Festivals 2011 – full coverage
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