The Commoners

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.

The band is a culmination of like-minded musicians who have bonded over their love of the classics. All being seasoned performers in the Canadian music scene, Chris Medhurst (lead vocals/guitar), Ben Spiller (bass/vocals), Ross Hayes Citrullo (lead guitar), Adam Cannon (drums/vocals), and Miles Evans-Branagh (keys/vocals) have united under a shared dream: to write, perform, and share music that is an authentic nod to the greats who paved the way before them.

“The Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin are big influences for us. Derek Trucks, Marcus King, and the Allman Brothers, of course, as well. These are the bands that we wear on our sleeves as we continue to evolve our sound and create our own music.”

Channeling their deep respect and admiration for Roots/Rock trailblazers, The Commoners also incorporate rhythmic stylings inspired by Motown and Soul’s groove masters. The keystone of their unique blend is lead singer, Chris Medhurst’s emotive vocal style, akin to Burton Cummings and Paul Rodgers with a dash of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.