Ben McElroy
@benmcelroy.bsky.social
Folky scraper, very amateur puppeteer.
"A shivering seabed of sound." The Guardian
“Wonderfully weird.” Songlines
benmcelroy.co.uk
"A shivering seabed of sound." The Guardian
“Wonderfully weird.” Songlines
benmcelroy.co.uk
Gig Announcement. My first show of 2026 will be a hometown one, at one of my favourite spaces By Our Hands @wemakeourway . I’ve played with Boci before in Birmingham, she was ace. Looking forward to playing with Sophie (Strange Loop) from faves Haiku Salut. Information is in all the usual places
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Gig Announcement. My first show of 2026 will be a hometown one, at one of my favourite spaces By Our Hands @wemakeourway . I’ve played with Boci before in Birmingham, she was ace. Looking forward to playing with Sophie (Strange Loop) from faves Haiku Salut. Information is in all the usual places
Tour goodies! Thanks to all who came along to the Autumn shows and the artists I had the pleasure to share a stage with. And of course the promoters who make touring like this possible. One or two surprises coming up before the year is out, then see you down the allotment in January!
November 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Tour goodies! Thanks to all who came along to the Autumn shows and the artists I had the pleasure to share a stage with. And of course the promoters who make touring like this possible. One or two surprises coming up before the year is out, then see you down the allotment in January!
Just wanted to share a bit of exciting news from Whitelabrecs who released my first album Bird-Stone way back in 2016. To celebrate the labels 10 year anniversary they are releasing some albums on vinyl and asking people to vote on their faves, Bird Stone is on the list! 1/2
November 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Just wanted to share a bit of exciting news from Whitelabrecs who released my first album Bird-Stone way back in 2016. To celebrate the labels 10 year anniversary they are releasing some albums on vinyl and asking people to vote on their faves, Bird Stone is on the list! 1/2
Thank you to everyone who came out to see me on my autumn tour dates, and to the various promoters and musicians who made it all come together. There is some new music coming from me soon, and a very exciting new project to share...
November 5, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Thank you to everyone who came out to see me on my autumn tour dates, and to the various promoters and musicians who made it all come together. There is some new music coming from me soon, and a very exciting new project to share...
Last call for the last show of the tour! Come to Zapato Tap on Sunday to see things like this... Filmed in Derbyshire with Ben Wigley, supported by Help Musicians.
Extract from Last Years Ghost, available NOW on Bandcamp
Extract from Last Years Ghost, available NOW on Bandcamp
October 31, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Last call for the last show of the tour! Come to Zapato Tap on Sunday to see things like this... Filmed in Derbyshire with Ben Wigley, supported by Help Musicians.
Extract from Last Years Ghost, available NOW on Bandcamp
Extract from Last Years Ghost, available NOW on Bandcamp
Popped into the fabulous Running Circle Records here in Notts to see if they’d sold any of my records and they had! I've restocked both Beacons Of The Wilderness and Elkwort … do pop in for a browse if you’re down that way.
October 29, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Popped into the fabulous Running Circle Records here in Notts to see if they’d sold any of my records and they had! I've restocked both Beacons Of The Wilderness and Elkwort … do pop in for a browse if you’re down that way.
Last gig of the tour for me on SUNDAY, 2nd November. It's been great to get out and about this autumn. I'll be rounding off at Zapato Tap in Marsden, for a show with Sun Drawings. Thanks to Red Deer Club for having me.
October 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Last gig of the tour for me on SUNDAY, 2nd November. It's been great to get out and about this autumn. I'll be rounding off at Zapato Tap in Marsden, for a show with Sun Drawings. Thanks to Red Deer Club for having me.
I really enjoyed playing with Frankie Archer recently, a great mix of authentic North East songs and fun electronics! I'm supporting Me Lost Me TOMORROW night in Sheffield, still time to grab a ticket and get down there...
October 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I really enjoyed playing with Frankie Archer recently, a great mix of authentic North East songs and fun electronics! I'm supporting Me Lost Me TOMORROW night in Sheffield, still time to grab a ticket and get down there...
What a treat it is to see these brilliant sketches documenting my recent gig at The Grove Nottingham. I'm back out on the road this week at Bishops House in Sheffield. Still a few tickets but they won't be there for long... Thanks to Grace Joyram and Izzy Thomlison for the drawings
October 20, 2025 at 9:02 AM
What a treat it is to see these brilliant sketches documenting my recent gig at The Grove Nottingham. I'm back out on the road this week at Bishops House in Sheffield. Still a few tickets but they won't be there for long... Thanks to Grace Joyram and Izzy Thomlison for the drawings
Excerpt from MIRRORLAND, filmed in Derbyshire with Benjamin Wigley, supported by Help Musicians, Visit my website for the full video, where there are also tickets for the last couple of tour dates. Next up for me is Bishops House on 24th October, supporting Me Lost Me.
October 16, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Excerpt from MIRRORLAND, filmed in Derbyshire with Benjamin Wigley, supported by Help Musicians, Visit my website for the full video, where there are also tickets for the last couple of tour dates. Next up for me is Bishops House on 24th October, supporting Me Lost Me.
Strange type of mushroom, I think. Can anyone help identify?
October 13, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Strange type of mushroom, I think. Can anyone help identify?
Tomorrow night I continue my tour with a hometown show at The Grove in Nottingham. Thanks to Folkrooms for inviting me. Looking forward to seeing Frankie Archer. There will be tickets on the door or you can book via bemcelrory.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Tomorrow night I continue my tour with a hometown show at The Grove in Nottingham. Thanks to Folkrooms for inviting me. Looking forward to seeing Frankie Archer. There will be tickets on the door or you can book via bemcelrory.co.uk
Some pics from my Hereford gig last week, and a lovely review from Jude Rogers on her always excellent Substack. You should sign up if you haven't already. Next for me is 8th October in Nottingham at The Grove, supporting Frankie Archer for Folkroom. There's still time to grab a ticket,
October 2, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Some pics from my Hereford gig last week, and a lovely review from Jude Rogers on her always excellent Substack. You should sign up if you haven't already. Next for me is 8th October in Nottingham at The Grove, supporting Frankie Archer for Folkroom. There's still time to grab a ticket,
Next up for me is a very special hometown gig, supporting Frankie Archer at The Grove here in Nottingham. Thank you to The Folkroom for inviting me, hoping to see lots of friends in the crowd.
September 29, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Next up for me is a very special hometown gig, supporting Frankie Archer at The Grove here in Nottingham. Thank you to The Folkroom for inviting me, hoping to see lots of friends in the crowd.
TOMORROW NIGHT! I continue the tour with my stop at The Jam Factory in Hereford. Thanks to the Weirdshire gang for inviting me. There's still time to get tickets, links in all the usual places.
September 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
TOMORROW NIGHT! I continue the tour with my stop at The Jam Factory in Hereford. Thanks to the Weirdshire gang for inviting me. There's still time to get tickets, links in all the usual places.
One week to go until I'm in Jam Factory in Hereford with good friends Weirdshire. Really looking forward to being back. All the links for this and the other tour dates are here benmcelroy.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
One week to go until I'm in Jam Factory in Hereford with good friends Weirdshire. Really looking forward to being back. All the links for this and the other tour dates are here benmcelroy.co.uk
Due to unforeseen circumstances my show at Green Note, Camden has been cancelled. All ticket holders will be refunded and we are working to reschedule.
September 17, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Due to unforeseen circumstances my show at Green Note, Camden has been cancelled. All ticket holders will be refunded and we are working to reschedule.
The final video in my series supported by Help Musicians, filmed with Benjamin Wigley in Derbyshire
MIRRORLAND… inspired by Naomi Kleins (as ever) on point and fascinating/terrifying/bleakly hopeful book Doppelgänger.
Watch the whole film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4sn...
MIRRORLAND… inspired by Naomi Kleins (as ever) on point and fascinating/terrifying/bleakly hopeful book Doppelgänger.
Watch the whole film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4sn...
September 15, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The final video in my series supported by Help Musicians, filmed with Benjamin Wigley in Derbyshire
MIRRORLAND… inspired by Naomi Kleins (as ever) on point and fascinating/terrifying/bleakly hopeful book Doppelgänger.
Watch the whole film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4sn...
MIRRORLAND… inspired by Naomi Kleins (as ever) on point and fascinating/terrifying/bleakly hopeful book Doppelgänger.
Watch the whole film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4sn...
Another offering to the great petrol headed god… Amazing how nature moves in so quickly, the smell of smoke still in the air and the back seats have already been ‘colonised’ by a couple of poo bags.
September 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Another offering to the great petrol headed god… Amazing how nature moves in so quickly, the smell of smoke still in the air and the back seats have already been ‘colonised’ by a couple of poo bags.
Less than two weeks until the tour kicks off in Sowerby Bridge! You can find all the information and links on my website or via the link in my bio. Really excited to take ELKWORT out on the road
benmcelroy.co.uk
benmcelroy.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Less than two weeks until the tour kicks off in Sowerby Bridge! You can find all the information and links on my website or via the link in my bio. Really excited to take ELKWORT out on the road
benmcelroy.co.uk
benmcelroy.co.uk
One of my favourite things about gigging is getting to share a stage with some fantastic other artists.. like these folks who I'll be playing with on my tour in just a few weeks now...
21/09 Andrew Metheven
24/09 Mit Hiss
08/10 Frankie Archer
24/10 Me Lost Me
02/11 Sun Drawings
benmcelroy.co.uk
21/09 Andrew Metheven
24/09 Mit Hiss
08/10 Frankie Archer
24/10 Me Lost Me
02/11 Sun Drawings
benmcelroy.co.uk
September 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
One of my favourite things about gigging is getting to share a stage with some fantastic other artists.. like these folks who I'll be playing with on my tour in just a few weeks now...
21/09 Andrew Metheven
24/09 Mit Hiss
08/10 Frankie Archer
24/10 Me Lost Me
02/11 Sun Drawings
benmcelroy.co.uk
21/09 Andrew Metheven
24/09 Mit Hiss
08/10 Frankie Archer
24/10 Me Lost Me
02/11 Sun Drawings
benmcelroy.co.uk
Get it today benmcelroy.bandcamp.com/album/wrens-...
September 5, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Get it today benmcelroy.bandcamp.com/album/wrens-...
NEW RELEASE. Out today for Bandcamp Friday, WRENS IN THE WALL is a new live LP featuring tracks recorded at a disused quarry in Derbyshire, and Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre in Glasgow. Listen closely for the wrens nesting in the walls on the first three songs... Thanks @helpmusicians.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 8:02 AM
NEW RELEASE. Out today for Bandcamp Friday, WRENS IN THE WALL is a new live LP featuring tracks recorded at a disused quarry in Derbyshire, and Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre in Glasgow. Listen closely for the wrens nesting in the walls on the first three songs... Thanks @helpmusicians.bsky.social
Stones ‘n’ bones ‘n’ stuff in trees - a bit of a break from all the tour planning! A Neolithic stone circle and a tiny bit of family fun tresspassing to get there.
August 25, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Stones ‘n’ bones ‘n’ stuff in trees - a bit of a break from all the tour planning! A Neolithic stone circle and a tiny bit of family fun tresspassing to get there.
NEW VIDEO. Some stills from my new live performance video for Last Years Ghosts, filmed with Benjamin Wigley and supported by @helpmusicians.bsky.social You can watch the full version here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7n...
I'll be touring from late September if you'd like to see more of me live!
I'll be touring from late September if you'd like to see more of me live!
August 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
NEW VIDEO. Some stills from my new live performance video for Last Years Ghosts, filmed with Benjamin Wigley and supported by @helpmusicians.bsky.social You can watch the full version here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7n...
I'll be touring from late September if you'd like to see more of me live!
I'll be touring from late September if you'd like to see more of me live!