Local band Bryony Dunn & The Forest are home for Christmas, with their first headline show in Guildford since Bryony and Jake played as The Choco La's in 2022. The Christmas party is a fundraiser for their upcoming recording and will have all the hallmarks of a local town Christmas concert with raffles, catching up with familiar faces and maybe even some carol singing!! Bryony Dunn & The Forest are a band worth attention, making music that continues the rich tradition of British folk songs while also tapping in to harmony-rich, country sounds of the unassailable Laurel Canyon scene of the 60s and 70s.
Fronted by Leith Hill born sisters Bryony and Gina Dunn, alongside Jake Andrews (guitar, Vinyl Staircase/The Choco La's/Deluxe Deluxe), Emma Taylor (drums) and Cat Lawler (bass), Bryony Dunn & The Forest have built a powerful live presence over the past few years, playing festivals most weekends this summer and recently selling out The Lexington in London.
Inspired by the natural world and mythology, their music provides them an escape from the cityscape of their everyday lives. Taking the listener on something of a journey, the band liken their songs to a river that “flows over rocky friendships and cascades into pools of love before eddying at the anxieties of modern life.”
In line for a big 2026, they’ve signed to Dalliance Recordings (lilo, Francis of Delirium, Gia Margaret, Rowena Wise) for their EP, Soft As Ash (October 24th).
Riding high off the strength of their previous release, Find A Better Way, the last two years have been a whirlwind for the band. From a UK tour with Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton in the fall of 2023, to numerous headline dates across Europe and Britain this year, The Commoners have earned their status as a must-see act and are “definitely a band to watch out for in the future” (CGCM Radio Glasgow).
Possessing a sound tapped from the oaken belly of a whiskey barrel, The Commoners are a five-piece Roots/Rock outfit from Toronto, Canada. Offering their own blend of a tried and true musical mixture, the group pepper their sound with high-energy riffs, soulful vocals, and rich harmonies that combine to take the listener on a journey through a Southern-style rock experience.