The London Contingent no2 - Eugene McGuinness

With ‘The Early Learning Of Eugene McGuinness’, you could tell that there was something special to come with this young singer/songwriter.
With influences from John Lennon to Shane McGowan, it’s easy to pin down his sound, but it’s his melodic, tales of the cultures of the world are where this young talent shines.
Having attended the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Eugene McGuinness met everyone from The Wombats to Paul McCartney. Now having released his self titled debut full-length record on Domino Records, home of the Artic Monkeys and Wild Beasts, his take on a very English way of looking at folk music has got a lot of people very excited.

His story’s of monsters under bed’s, kids getting lost in super-markets and surfing the internet late at night are things that keep his sound very contemporary, but the poetic nature of songs are what makes this 20 something troubadour an interesting prospect for this year and next.

The London Contingent no1 - Kid Harpoon

Now days, the name Bob Dylan is name checked by every singer/song writer this side of Greenwich Village. The psychedelic folk sound crafted by Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett is someone a bit better described as a sound Chatham’s Kid Harpoon plays.
Kid plays a sometimes-aggressive take of folk, but that isn’t to say he hasn’t got the melodic side that some folk singers only use. With songs such as ‘Her Body Sway’s’ you can hear the Americana sound coming through, but with an English edge. Debut single ‘Riverside’ is a strong part of the set Kid Harpoon plays, now with backing band ‘The Powers That Be’ the frantic singer style of young Tom Pritchard comes threw strong and powerful.
Folk music in Britain is at a high with many a young minstrel touring the country back and forth. Having played the Medway towns and Kent to death, Kid Harpoon moved to London where he is now a main player on the solo circuit. Gaining support slots for artists such as the Kooks and Mystery Jets.