Album review: BIRD IN THE BELLY – Only Dogs as Friends

October 25th, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 30.10.26]

Bird in the Belly comprises Laura Ward and Adam Ronchetti of duo Hickory Signals together with Ben ‘Jinnwoo’ Webb and multi-instrumentalist Tom Pryor. As the press releases states, ff the members of Bird in the Belly had not been musicians they would surely have made good cold case detectives, so adept are they at unearthing ‘bodies’ of true, grisly and chilling tales from their native Sussex and beyond.

The album is indeed chock full of criminals and outsiders. As Ben explains further: “We wanted to focus on the stories of outsiders – people who have been feared or were fearful. As always, we tried to find overlooked stories and songs and this album is very character driven.”

The stories behind the songs are as interesting and intriguing as the music itself. Take ‘Hen’s Egg’ as an example, based on child murderer Amelia Dyer, who in the 19^th century advertised in local papers to take in unwanted children from unmarried women for a fee. Instead of raising the children as promised, she drowned them and believed she could have killed as many as 400 children. The music has a suitably harrowing sound as befits the lyrics, with the vocals of Ben Webb perfectly suited to this song. Similar at times to Steeleye Span’s Bob Johnson.

‘40 Elephants’ tells the story of the all-woman crime syndicate that operated in the Elephant and Castle area of London from the 1870s-1950s. Definitely one of the album’s stand outs.

‘Fairweather MacGregor’ is a perfect song to be sung live, with a memorable chorus and a good folk staple at the song’s lyrical heart, a fraudster!

Bird in the Belly go down the traditional folk sound route, with plenty of traditional sounds and lyrical topics. The dual vocals of Laura Ward and Ben Webb are a key part in both the sound and enjoyment of the band. Worthy of your precious listening time. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

2026 GIGS

Oct 28 – Folk in the Jar, Harringay, London N8 0RE

Nov 22 – Shoreham Ropetackle, Sussex

Dec 10 – Loughton Folk Club, Essex

2027

Jan 19-Bracknell Folk Club

Jan 20 – Eastbourne Folk Club

Feb 18– The Sound Lounge, Sutton, Greater London

Feb 23 – Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, Southend-on-Sea

April 19 – Tonbridge Folk Club, Kent

May 20 – Islington Folk Club, London

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

Josh now hosts “Taerk’s Tracks” as part of the Singer Songwriter Sunday sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.

This is the first show broadcast on 27 September. Josh presents some of his inspirational artists and tracks.

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast 27 September 2026.

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Power Plays w/c 12 October 2026

TAKIDA – Lion’s Den (Drongo Records)
SCARDUST – Symphony (Frontiers)
ANBERLIN – Gravity (Rude Records/Equal Vision Records)
MISSING TOYS – Lifeline (Pride & Joy Music)
SWEET GORILLA – It’s Your Life (5000 Records)
ROYAL BLOOD – Dead Company (Warner Records)

Featured Albums w/c 12 October 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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