Recently The Halfway Kid toured the UK, playing a number of grass roots venues. He is exactly the kind of artist we would always look to support, and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to service his merchandise needs for this run. He even left us a testimonial, which we’re almost too shy to share! Do go give him a follow on Instagram here.
Born in West London to Sudanese parents, Saeed Gadir performs as The Halfway Kid, creating music that weaves together folk traditions, poetic storytelling, and intimate reflections on identity and belonging. As a child, he was exposed to traditional Sudanese folk songs, which later infused his musical imagination alongside influences from Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, and more contemporary sonic textures. His upbringing and heritage play a central role in his work: much of his writing grapple with the immigrant experience, family ties, and the tension between home and place.
His debut album, If I Don’t Go Home (Go To My House And Burn All My Things), came out in 2023, and was followed by Myths In Modern Life in October 2024. The latter album channels both beauty and struggle: Gadir reflects on the turmoil affecting his family in Sudan amid war, explores themes of displacement, rising living costs, and the challenges of daily life in London, interspersed with moments of tenderness, longing, protest, and hope. Musically, he favours live elements and authenticity—recording with real instruments, embracing folk‑inflected guitar, harmonica, and allowing the voice to move between vulnerability and urgency.
As a live performer, The Halfway Kid has built momentum through sold‑out shows in London, Brighton, Bristol and elsewhere, connecting with audiences through his raw emotional honesty and a sense of communal intimacy. His songs have garnered support from major UK radio figures—Radio 1, 6 Music, Radio X—and achieved notable online virality. His work is increasingly recognised as part of a growing “new folk” tradition that doesn’t shy away from personal or political truths, where the craft of storytelling is central to both message and mood.
Some of the testimonial he emailed over was as follows.
“There are merch companies and then there is Front of House. From day one an absolute delight to deal with. Paul and Katrina go above and beyond. Their guidance through the process, their expertise and knowledge as well as their wit and kindness is a beacon of light when navigating an industry that can be more about bleeding you dry, than trying to do the best you can. Their way of communicating with me was such a pleasure. I honestly can’t wait to work with them again.”
Honestly, we can’t wait to work with you again, Saeed!