The Joy Formidable will be bringing an acoustic version of the band’s hard-rock sound along with DeVotchKa’s smooth melodies to Cumberland Caverns Live this Saturday, Sept. 28, beginning at 3 p.m.
During an interview with the Joy Formidable’s Rhiannon “Ritzy” Bryan, lead vocalist and guitarist of the band, the Southern Standard discussed what the group was looking forward to the most and how it will feel to play 333 feet underground in Cumberland Caverns’ famous Volcano Room.
“This experience is definitely a first. It’s kind of funny we are playing in a cave in Tennessee because we’ve been looking for a good cave in Wales to perform in,” says Bryan. “It looks like the dream to play underground is finally happening.”
The Joy Formidable is originally from Wales and is currently on tour with DeVotchaKa. The Joy Formidable has performed in Tennessee before, but the Cumberland Caverns Live performance will be the first time the band will play in McMinnville.
“We always enjoy playing in a new place. We’ve never been to McMinnville before. Cumberland Caverns is such a unique venue so we’re really looking forward to that,” says Bryan. “We are very interested to see how the acoustics and sound are, especially while playing an unplugged set. It should be a really beautiful evening of music.”
The three-person band typically performs a full electric set with an alternative rock and post-punk sound. Band members include Rhydian Dafydd, the bassist and other vocalist, Matthew James Thomas as the drummer and percussionist and “Ritzy” Bryan.
“What we’ll be doing this time is different than what we normally do. We have a very unique and wide range of sound. We love great songwriting and the passion that comes with it,” says Bryan. “The acoustic set is quite intimate and stripped back so you can really focus on the lyrics and sounds.”
The tour is in celebration of the band’s 10-year anniversary of uniting together to create their first album “A Balloon Called Moaning.” The group is in the process of re-releasing its first EP and recording it in the band’s native language of Welsh. The album will be released Oct. 25.
“We wanted to do something forward-thinking and give the album a new life. This performance will be an unplugged acoustic show of our first record,” says Bryan. “This will create a nice connection and add a type of folk vibe. I am expecting this to be a very warm and greeting kind of night.”
DeVotchKa is on tour with the Joy Formidable and will be joining them in the Volcano Room. DeVotchKa is a four-piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble.
The quartet is made up of Nick Urata, who sings and plays theremin, guitar, bouzouki, piano and trumpet, Tom Hagerman, who plays violin, accordion and piano, Jeanie Schroder, who sings and plays sousaphone, double bass and flute, and Shawn King, who plays percussion and trumpet. The group has an indie-rock tone with a relaxing and refreshing sound.
Tickets are currently on sale beginning at $35 for general admission.
Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/devotchka-the-joy-formidable-unplugged-tickets-66348420913 to purchase tickets. Cumberland Caverns is located at 1437 Cumberland Caverns Road in McMinnville. More information can be found online or by calling 668-4396.
