Fresh off the back of the release of their fourth album, Fearless Nature, Kid Kapichi showcased their new two-man line up at Rough Trade, for an intimate performance and signing. With a small 150 capacity space in the attic, vocalist and guitarist Jack Wilson and bassist Eddie Lewis played to an adoring crowd filled with people of every age and walk of life...
The Rough Trade show was part of a small run of special release shows, with Kid Kapichi hitting Nottingham on a rainy Monday night. Introducing the crowd to their touring guitarist and drummer early on, the band cracked on with the show, performing a thorough selection of new songs from Fearless Nature, including Leader of the Free World, Intervention and clear crowd favourite Dark Days Are Coming, as well as fan favourite Working Man's Town from their 2021 debut This Time Next Year.
Speaking to the crowd between songs, front man Jack Wilson entertained with stories of the negative reviews they’ve received since releasing the new album; however, he wasn’t letting them get to him, as he told the crowd that Fearless Nature is the sound of a transition to a more authentic iteration of Kid Kapichi. Since half of the album was written before guitarist Ben Beetham and drummer George Macdonald left the band in May 2025, and half of it after their departure, it was easy to see that this was no lie and that the word of the evening was "catharsis". Wilson is a front man who doesn’t polish up his accent when he sings, he lets it surface as naturally as ever, a genuinely endearing choice that more artists should make.
With new tracks Stainless Steel, If You've Got Legs and Rabbit Hole also gracing the relatively short set, it was Patience that warranted the most heartfelt and honest story from Wilson; a song with an anthemic chorus, written before the amicable departure of the previous guitarist and drummer, which end up being an unofficial written goodbye to each other. This song stood the test of whether fans would enjoy the new direction the band were looking to take with their new line up and delivered what the people wanted.
The short but sweet set was followed by a meet-and-greet / signing, with the queue for the desk snaking its way from the front of the attic back to the bar; fans had clearly been waiting a while for this chance to chat, and after a quick break (and no doubt downing of his signature glass of Guinness) Jack, accompanied by Eddie, returned to wax lyrical with those who were waiting.
The show at Rough Trade was a shining example of how Kid Kapichi are moving forward as a two piece, celebrating their new sound and a new chapter. The band promised a return to Notts again later in 2026 and you can guarantee a huge crowd will be waiting for them.
Kid Kapichi performed at Rough Trade Nottingham on 19th January 2026.
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