The lowdown on Druidess…
Our first encounter with Druidess was back in 2024. The quartet were about to enrapture Rosalie Cunningham’s fans, who’d ventured out to see the whimsical prog troubadour… and probably weren’t expecting to see a guy playing sax over Iommian doom and mythical proto metal. Charm, stage presence and songwriting suss were there in abundance. The quartet were ones to watch.
Back then, Druidess were releasing the Hermits and Mandrakes EP and making their first forays into touring with the likes of Smoulder. A full line-up had formed around the founding nucleus of vocalist/bassist Shonagh Brown and guitarist/saxophonist Danny Downing, who’d met at a stoner rock show. Sam Armstrong brought the beats, James Hill the keys.
The next two years saw the Tyneside outfit become a staple in the Newcastle scene, and sow their Sabbathian psych across the UK, with appearances at Tonehenge, Cosmic Vibration Festival and Fuzzness.
Now Druidess are set to release their full debut album, Trip Meadow.
The song
The Forest Witch’s Daughter was originally found on Hermits and Mandrakes, but it’s been re-worked, re-recorded and repackaged with the help of Mixing Engineer Chris Taylor and Mastering Engineer Chris Fielding, of Conan fame.
The video? It’s the work of Loyd’s Trip vocalist Daniel Brown – aka Eeerie Fortress – and drummer Tom Jones.
The story behind The Forest Witch’s Daughter
“The Forest Witch’s Daughter explores how gossip and social judgement have long shaped the way women are perceived – especially when they step outside the roles expected of them,” says Shonagh.
“For centuries, independent women, healers, and thinkers were branded as witches, their knowledge feared and their lives often cut short. The song’s character comes from this lineage of women who understood the natural world, passing down plant lore and quiet wisdom through generations. Their only ‘crime’ was curiosity and autonomy.
“Although the witch trials are behind us, their echoes remain. A woman who speaks her mind is still called ‘bossy’, while a man is praised as ‘assertive’. Even the cartoonish Halloween witch – crooked nose, twisted hands, hunched back – comes from the torture inflicted on real women. And the suspicion cast on older women still lingers in parts of today’s media.
“At its heart, the song tells the story of a girl whose mother lived near the forest. But through the villagers’ eyes, she becomes “the forest witch’s daughter” – a label born from fear, misunderstanding, and the stories people choose to tell.”
The verdict on The Forest Witch’s Daughter
Riffs as thick as English oak, gargantuan grooves to shake your locks to, lyrics that burn with defiance and a spell-weaving chorus… yep, it’s no surprise that The Forest Witch’s Daughter has become a live fave for Druidettes.
And with James Hill – also of Kylver fame – adding punchy keys to the song’s retro rock-out, The Forest Witch’s Daughter shines even brighter than the original version.
What’s next for Druidess?
Trip Meadow is set for a June 26 release.
You can catch the band live at: The Juggernaut Brew Co in Ashton-Under-Lyme on June 6; Zerox in Newcastle (supporting Child) on June 11; The Gryphon in Bristol (supporting Child) on June 12; Psych’O’Tick Festival at Blondies Brewery in London (June 13); and Silverburn Festival in Fife (June 20).