Features
BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne, March 2020 as one of illustrator/author Chris Riddell’s chosen tracks - LISTEN HERE
Praise for ‘After the City’ (2022)
“A richly woven dystopia - this dramatic lockdown album mixes lively acoustic folk-rock with desolate pastoral pieces…. An album of well realised ambition” ★★★★ - Neil Spencer, The Guardian & The Observer Click here for full review
“Bird In The Belly’s approach is eloquent, lovingly detailed & touched with a welcome dash of experimentalism. Judge After The City on its songs, its musicianship, its sheer ambition. Bird In The Belly are one of the most talented and unusual groups around, and here they have taken on a relatively obscure subject and made it accessible, gripping and mythical” - Thomas Blake, Folk Radio UK Click here for full review
“Whether read as a cautionary warning of climate change, a commentary on a corrupt political system or a pandemic-driven vision, the power of the musicianship, the at times otherworldy ambience and the craft with which the source material is applied, make After The City an outstanding piece of work” - Mike Davies, folking.com Click here for full review
“With the dark, bleak beginning and the softer almost Laurel Canyon sound in the rebirth this is a stunning album of deliberate contrasts. New Folks War Of The Worlds, a Concept album woven from 19th century fiction, poetry and folk song, where we are saved from ourselves. Starting with a shout for the old life and ending with a cautious nursery rhyme suite of hope this a compelling dark, disturbing folk psyche musical tale, impeccably delivered by the masterful Bird In The Belly.” - Marc Higgins, FATEA Magazine Click here for full review
It is not often that a folk album is released with such subjects as pestilence or post-apocalyptic Britain. In After the City, Bird in the Belly seize these subjects head on, delivering their unique flavour of aptly-named ’dark folk’ with utmost sincerity. The album is not afraid to rip open these topics and confront them. There are songs literally inspired by each of the four horsemen, weaving complex lines and finely-tuned soundscapes to represent each figure both lyrically and musically. Overall, the album is bleak, it is sad, it is moving, it is sublime. - Alex Turner, Bright Young Folk Click here for full review
"Folk noir? Progressive folk? No matter what you call it, Bird in the Belly have created a work of marvel & one that lingers on long after you have listened to it.” 0 Jason Ritchie, Get Ready to Rock music blog Click here for full review
Praise for ‘Neighbours and Sisters’ (2019)
“Laura Ward’s lovely voice sweetens the wilfully jagged edges of fellow singer Ben Webb, as they direct songs about executions, workhouse whistleblowers and traumatised soldiers to the heart” - Jude Rogers, The Guardian
“Beautifully produced by Tom Pryor, Neighbours and Sisters is the work of a talented and varied quartet.They can be cosmopolitan in one breath, ethereal in the next. The rapid evolution of BirdInTheBelly into one of our finest folk acts is a joy to behold” - Folk Radio UK
“These are songs performed with directness & clarity. The vocals of Laura Ward have a crystal purity;when they entwine with the gruff,grizzled delivery of Ben Webb the contrast creates something stunningly beautiful…on the basis of Bird in the Belly, English traditional music is alive and well and has a fine future ★★★★” - RnR Magazine
“A distinctive & arresting collection which rightly puts Bird in the Belly, and Brighton, back at the forefront of the English folk music scene” - David Auckland, FATEA Magazine
“Well researched, stylishly performed and delivered with authority and with a no-nonsense approach… Bird in the Belly are otherwise rather unique and utterly compelling ★★★★★” - Northern Sky Magazine
“Tales of paupers, prostitutes and condemned men fill the grooves of this beguiling 2nd album from Brighton's Bird in the Belly,breathing new life into long-forgotten folk songs ★★★ - The Big Issue
“Riveting, bleak social history with a modern resonance and a folk album of stone-heavy heft. Intense, hypnotic and true-hearted” - From the Margins
“Delightfully dark. Quite remarkable” - Dai Jeffries, Folking.com
“An album of character, presence and purpose” - Darren Johnson’s music blog
“weird name that reflects the other worldly sound- a haunted selection which has quite an impact. Strong stuff, singular & idiosyncratic, but an offering you should not ignore” - Spiral Earth
'A soulful and hypnotically entrancing collective; haunting and ethereal melodies to both chill and warm your soul- a mesmerising performance that is both raw and powerful’ - Artree Music
' If you’re looking for hard-hitting folk music that’s uncompromising,chilling & occasionally uncomfortable, then look no further. 'Neighbours And Sisters' pulls no punches’ - At The Barrier
Praise for ‘The Crowing’ (2018)
"Hypnotically original compositions" - fRoots Magazine
"A musically diverse, fresh and compelling set of songs [...] a fascinating debut from a distinctive new group" - Songlines Magazine
"Folk album of the year so far." ★★★★★ Martin Townsend - Editor, Sunday Express
"Strong folk a-cappella singing - distinctively contemporary and earthy vocalising - haunting fiddle playing - timeless acoustic guitar picking - and classic rocking rhythms" ★★★★ - Colin Bailey, R2 Magazine (print)
"A fabulous band" - Genevieve Tudor, BBC Radio Shropshire
"Bird in the Belly come to shake up folk music - and succeed." 8/10 - Jonathan Aird, Americana UK
"Superb album, finely balanced voices and instruments create an effortlessly beautiful sound that just carries you away" - Marc Higgins, Northern Sky Magazine
"Occasionally stark and raw both musicially and lyrically, they boldly go where few artists dare to tread." - Mike Ainscoe, Louder than War
"if a better traditionally inspired folk record is released this year – I’d be amazed. This album is THAT good." - Artree Folk and Roots
"A fantastic band" - Readifolk Radio
Fans of the vocal folk tradition will love the opening minute of this track, a mournful a cappella duet. The rest of the track is sprightly folk of the British Isles–some Irish rhythms and some English melodic vibes power the (still-sad, but fast-sad, not slow-sad) song. - Independent Clauses
"Their songs are akin to being huddled around a campfire listening to gothic folklore" - "raw and visceral songs with a 60’s folk revival feel around them. A sound that straddles contemporary folk but with a charming and distinctive echo of more ancient times" - "We strongly recommend you catch them live" - Folk Radio UK
"the charming, engrossing lead female vocal performance will. And if that doesn’t prove it, they use the word “pantaloons.” The folk tune that supports these vocals is lithe and strong." - Independent Clauses
Radio Play
BBC Radio 3 ‘Music Planet’
BBC Radio Lincolnshire ‘Thursday Night Folk’
BBC Radio Merseyside ‘FolkScene'
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire ‘The Folk Show’
BBC Sheffield ‘New Tradition’
BBC Shrops/Stoke/Hereford &Worcs ‘Sunday Folk’
BBC Wales ‘Celtic Heartbeat’
Folk Radio UK
Classic Folk Show (EFDSS)
fRoots Podwireless
WJFF Radio, NY