Bird in the Belly is a Brighton-based Folk group consisting of folk-duo Hickory Signals (Laura Ward and Adam Ronchetti), alt-folk singer-songwriter Ben Webb (Jinnwoo, Green Ribbons), and multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Pryor. Together they collect little known and forgotten lyrics, poems and stories from around the UK, and set them to their own “hypnotically original compositions” (fRoots)..

Their sound is raw and bare-boned with “distinctively contemporary and earthy vocalising” (R2 Magazine) – and harks back to the 1960’s Folk Revival sound. Their debut album ‘The Crowing’ (March 2018, GF*M Records) was met with critical acclaim, the Sunday Express giving the album 5/5 and calling it folk album of the year.

Their debut album The Crowing was released 23rd March 2018 and the group is back with their much anticipated second album Neighbours and Sisters released October 2019.

Third album After the City was released 25 February 2022 to critical aclaim, with The Guardian & The Observer calling it “an album of well realised ambition” ★★★★
 

Their upcoming fourth studio album, Only Dogs as Friends, will be released 30 October 2026.

Rooted in a distinctive 70s folk-rock sound, the collection is at once lush, eerie, atmospheric and steeped in British folk tradition. Moving effortlessly between The Wicker Man-esque folk horror and Pogues-worthy folk anthems, the album explores the blurred line between real and imagined folk outsiders, the feared and the fearful, through Bird in the Belly’s trademark storytelling and meticulous research.”

“Bird in the Belly have cut a distinctive course, allying musical invention with the exhumation of obscure songs and overlooked texts” Neil Spencer, The Observer “Beautifully dark, ominous and atmospheric arrangements over which Ward’s and Webb’s vocals combine to startling effect” – RnR Magazine “Laura Ward’s lovely voice sweetens the wilfully jagged edges of fellow singer Ben Webb, as they direct dark songs to the heart” Jude Rogers, The Guardian

Photo: Jinnwoo