CommonCulture

Common Culture are a rousing alternative folk band from Barnsley, England. Fusing traditional and contemporary elements into an upbeat and energetic sound. The gang’s songs are full of catchy hooks, driving rhythms and a party spirit.

“Where do you go when you’re onto a good thing, but it’s no longer part of who you are?” That’s what Dan Watson (vocals, guitar) found himself pondering after finding success early in his teens with The Barsteward Sons of Val Doonican. Over the years, having racked up sold out shows across the country, playing major festival slots at Glastonbury, Beautiful Days and Bearded Theory plus supporting his heroes The Levellers, something felt like it needed to shift. “I loved my time and what we did together, but I was getting a burning sensation to get out of my comfort zone, change course and find a new path. Even if from the outside it might seem crazy, given what we’d achieved.”

Dan turned to Lizzie Morris (fiddle and vocals) whom he’d regularly performed with as a duo at folk clubs around Yorkshire and garnered a plan to flip their energetic acoustic songs on the head. Armed with a set of crowd-pleasers (and a hard drive full of demos), they set out to push forwards and create a new sound with a full band. The style, loosely taking inspiration from folk and alternative musicians through the ages, from Frank Turner to Richard Thompson.

Reaching out to their circle of friends on the independent festival circuit, they searched for people who shared a common inspiration and outlook on life, but would also bring their own independent vibe and flair to the music. Asking Chris Reed (drums) and Evie Smith (bass, vocals) felt like getting the perfect people to complete the line up, comfortably melting into the dynamic of a newly formed band.

Of their inspiration flowing into the music, the band said “With the world seemingly coming at you from all angles and the state of the social contract, things can sometimes feel pretty bleak. We know that many people feel the same way and we tackle a lot of these issues in the songs. Yet we also see that a brighter future is possible. So we wrap these contrasts up into feel-good sing-along anthems. Making others feel positive and bringing all kinds of people together with a common culture, to party and have a good time.”