To celebrate the launch of The Second EP on Monday, Kid Harpoon treated the select audience gathered in Pure Grooves record shop on Holloway Road, to an intimate acoustic set. Accompanied by only his own guitar and a violin, Kid Harpoon showcased half an hours worth of his 200 song strong catalogue, paying special attention to not only the tracks from The Second EP, but also to audience requests.

Ordinarily supported by his band The Powers That Be Kid Harpoon's sound was a lot more stripped down than usual. This did not however hinder the songs in any way. Whilst strumming his acoustic guitar like a madman, Kid Harpoon belted out his vocals with fluency and power. This allowed the electrified, razor-tinged guitars that appear on the studio recording of Riverside, to become no less brisk and upbeat, but rather to create an almost organic, powerful, acoustic, rock style.

Despite being essentially more of an indie act, Kid Harpoon's rise to fame through playing at gigs like Blue Flowers, an acoustic night hosted once a month is Chiswick, had meant that the gemstone laden finger of folk has often been pointed in his direction. Indeed, Kid Harpoon is not a folk act, but the presence of the violin at Pure Grooves, and the expertly picked guitar on the reflective Lay of the Land showed folk leanings that certainly add fuel to this particular fire. This does not mean however, that Harpoon should be pigeon-holed into this category. Instead it adds further depth to his sound and sets him aside from every other generic indie act polluting the airwaves at the moment.

If you missed Kid Harpoon on Monday, or were there and would just like to hear the pumped up full band version of his set, he kicks off his UK tour at the end of this month. If you can't wait till then, here's the man himself performing Lay of the Land from The Second EP.

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