Kiran Leonard @ Portland Arms, Cambridge

I’ve not been to The Portland Arms in Cambridge before, but it’s a grand little pub venue with a relaxed vibe and maze like corridors that lead to a good sized, well designed room where tonight we’ll be seeing some brave, thoughtful live music. It's worth the trip from Norwich to see such excellence in the flesh.

The supports tonight have an air of one-off-experience to them– Irma Vep has been on the bill for this tour, supporting Kiran, but we also have an exclusive shared support set to start the evening. Singer songwriter Pete Um and guitarist C Joynes have joined forces to show us their musical talents. Pete sits on the floor in traditional lo fi fashion, surrounded by musical equipment and with a notebook open in front of him. His style is comical, almost Adam Buxton-like in delivery and with a tiny whiff of John Shuttleworth at times. Seemly creating his music with only a mini disc player, with songs about marijuana, the unique nature of sheep and other philosophical matters, this is personal stuff. With a laconic vocal style and electronic beats the music is intriguing, and his banter in between songs is funny and personable. Taking his turn to play, C Joynes plays beautifully, and I especially enjoyed his last track “about crows”, which builds and falls with fleet fingers. Confident and relaxed, he’s one of those musicians who was destined to find his instrument, and he has.

Second up is Irma Vep from Manchester, supported tonight by Kiran himself plus his band to create a huge sound. Arriving onstage in shades, bare chested and caped (as should all front men – take note George Michael), he proceeds to blow us away with his psych rock sound. It’s like the Bad Seeds mixed with Hawkwind; the set feels like it’s teetering on the edge of danger and utter abandon the whole time. With a voice that’s powerful and takes no prisoners, his presence onstage is full of verve, but mixed nicely with a sweet sense of humour and humility when he speaks. The songs are about sex and longing and life, with title like I’ll Fuck Anything and She Makes Me Wear A Saddle you can tell he’s got some frustrations, which are heard in his snarly, full on vocals. Kiran and his band play like demons alongside, filling the room with a cacophony of feedback, prog wanderings and insane rhythms. It fills me up until I can’t breathe. More please Irma Vep; in Norwich next time.

Marc Riley's fave Kiran Leonard’s second album Grapefruit has just come out, and he’s here to play us some tracks from it. He's played Norwich before, at Epic a couple years back. We already know there are some major bangers on Grapefruit (we gave the album 10/10 in fact), so are anticipating some extra special live action tonight. He’s a wonder, Kiran Leonard. A prodigy. A uniquely talented man who is still just starting his musical journey through life, leaving me so excited for what else he will produce. His voice is pretty scratchy tonight, but no surprise there as he’s been on tour for a while, and gives it his all when he belts out his vocals. His band are absolutely tight as fuck..keys, violin and bass are all incredibly well played, and the drummer in particular is a total expert, sensitive and tender when he has to be, a crazed machine when it requires it. The most impressive thing is how in tune with each other they all are, with Kiran standing almost with his back to the audience throughout in order to face his bandmates. He needs this, it’s clear. Standing in his socks with other incredible musicians and to pour out his heart and soul through the music he’s created with such passion, such intelligence and self-knowing, his body almost convulsing with the effort and emotion, this is a man who will be wowing us for decades to come, I’m sure.

The songs last forever, winding through jazz, folk, prog, pop and rock, neatly landing on their feet at every step with not one duff moment. I feel like we’re being led on a journey of discovery, an adventure through Kiran’s mind and heart which will expand our knowledge and ideas about the world. Sure, I can hear moments of Neil Young, Nick Drake, and even early Dylan but this is incredibly unique and all his own. Finishing with his best epic yet, Geraldo's Farm, it arches up, pulls us along, drags us down, moves us bodily throughout the song until the end, when we can't quite believe we have to leave this world and return to Norwich. The sizeable crowd are suitably awed, if quiet in their appreciation.

I feel like we should all be down on our knees, such is the showmanship and talent at work here tonight. I cannot wait for more.