The Joys in London

Don't be put off by Lamacq's hype or buzz from the NME, The Joy Formidable's dreamy indie pop demands your attention. And they're really nice to boot. They show us their London...

We’re lucky enough to be stood on a sofa at the back of the room as The Joy Formidable blow the ears of just about everyone in venue. They are playing a secret gig in a garage by some woods in North London. In October the band is going on their first UK tour supporting White Lies through Norwich, Newcastle and Southampton via a few other British towns, including right here in London where they play a sold out show at the rather lovely ICA.
 
We took Ritzy, Rhydian and Justin plus manager Joel De’ath (it’s Belgian he claims) and girlfriend to Hyde Park for a muffin, some swan feeding and an argument with a deck chair boy. So, money and tiredness is no object, we want to know how The Joy Formidable would spend a day out in London...

Wake up in our attic/studio in Souff Laandan’s West Norwood Head for breakfast at our local cafe, which is originally named CAFE (they thought long and hard about that one) on West Norwood High Road. They do the best tea and poached eggs in the country. We like the simple life, so a stroll to Brockwell Park to take in the scenery and the panoramic view of London followed by a cheeky ride on the miniature railway before feeding the ducks with left over breakie. Pay special attention to the grebe who lives there. We like grebes.

Hop on a train at Herne Hill and disembark at Blackfriars, stroll over the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern. We've only been in London seven months, so we’re still allowed to be tourists.

Level two is great at the moment because it’s got surrealist paintings, The Elephant of Celebes and lewd poem. Around the back of the Tate is CRUSSH where we restock our energies with a multi vitamin extravaganza. Ritzy feels like spewing after a Green Goddess, but the tuna nicoise salad is delicious and counter balances the weird stuff in the drink.

Walk along the Thames in the direction of Westminster. Love love love the Royal Festival Hall, so if money was no object we'd have a box in there to see Verdi's Requiem.

Continue on past the mime artists and street entertainers near the eye. Put money in all boxes so they're all moving at once, that would be great.
A trip on the Eye, one of those special trips, where you get the box to yourself and champagne. Good for calming Justin's nerves (who's claustrophobic). Probably late afternoon by now, so time for a few drinks.

Wander over to the Phoenix Theatre Bar on Charing Cross Road for a few atmospheric drinks and nibbles, then onto a gig at the Borderline. Followed by pudding at Mario's on Brewers St, Soho and a cigar in Hyde Park.

Suck and see the epic, jangly pop at The Joy Formidable's myspace page. www.myspace.com/thejoyformidable