Noah and the Whale is an alternative/folk group formed in Twickenham, London, England in 2006. They consist of Charlie Fink (vocals, guitar), Tom Hobden (fiddle), Matt "Urby Whale" Owens (bass), Fred Abbott (keyboards) and Jack Hamson (drums). Doug Fink (drums) and Laura Marling (vocals, guitar) are former members of the band. According to Songfacts, the band's name is a marriage of the title of one of their favorite films, The Squid and the Whale and Noah Baumbach, who directed the movie.