Frank Turner

Monday 12th December. G Live. Frank Turner. After seeing Frank Turner for the first time opening the Other Stage at Glastonbury last year and enjoying it we couldn’t miss the opportunity to see him at our local

It’s a sold out show tonight and it’s a real mixture of ages in the audience. We are very much in the minority tonight being new to Frank and not be able to sing back the lyrics to every song like most of the crowd.

With no new album to promote it’s a whistle-stop blast throughout his whole back catalogue, but to be fair our small group didn’t know most of the songs.

It’s a highly energetic show and it’s clear that Turner has a strong connection with his fans who embrace the band’s enthusiasm and energy on stage. Whilst Turner dons an acoustic guitar for most of the songs it gets a little lost in the overall sound of the band that rattles down the musical track like a noisy train. There’s little dither between songs and they come thick and fast.

There’s a brief interlude when Turner invites his best friend to crowd surf around the venue, high fiving, drinking beer and having selfies with random audience members. But then we’re back on the train with ‘Photosynthesis’ and a four song encore.

It’s a breathless night and that that’s just watching. As a newbie the fast songs do sound a bit samey with the familiar crowd pleasing and singalong friendly ‘wo wo wo’ choruses. I would have liked a bit of light and shade with perhaps a proper acoustic segment but it’s a small gripe.

On the whole an entertaining evening, great light show and a genuine warmth between band and fans.

Keep on rockin y’all

The truly unique feeling about a Frank Turner gig is the feeling of community that comes with every single one of them. Frank's mission statement is to make his every show a place where everyone is an equal, where he himself is on the same footing as everyone in the audience, both united in their love of rock & roll and singing it at the top of their lungs.

He's also confident that at least half of the multitude of people who come to see him play the O2 Arena, or Wembley Arena or any of the enormodomes he currently slays on his home turf, have also seen him play in a room that holds under a hundred people.

At least half of them care enough about his music and what he represents to see him in any and every environment they can, be it the back room of a pub, a cavernous arena, a sodden festival field and everything in between. And at 1577 shows and counting Frank knows how to utterly slay any audience in he finds himself in front of.

Frank may not be reinventing the wheel with his brand of quintessentially British folk rock but it's nothing if not passionate, intelligent and emotionally honest. That passion is reflected in everything about his concerts from Frank and his backing band the Sleeping Souls to the love that comes from his audience, and for that reason a Frank Turner concert is a truly inspiring, humbling and life-affirming thing to be a part of.

Frank Turner was the only good thing about this show. It was a load of “acts” doing Clash covers, culminating with Frank.
Performances were supposed to start at 7:30 (the time we got there), but they didn’t start til 9pm!

What was even worse, was that to keep us “entertained”, some supposedly-established BBC Radio Ulster DJ forced us to endure 1.5 hrs of easily the most dreadful collection of Clash covers ever!!

We had to retire to the bar downstairs to escape, and save us from deliberately busting our ear drums; it really was truly awful.

The main band were decent, and the female bass player was very, very good, as was the female drummer. The guest artists and singers were dire!!

Had Frank not been headlining, there’s no way we’d have stayed til the end!!

But Frank eventually came on for 3 songs, and made all the others look like complete embarrassments!!

If you’ve never seen Frank Turner live, treat yourself ASAP!! He is so passionate about his performance, and his band (the Sleeping Souls), are awesome and gel with him perfectly.

The only good thing about the night I suppose, was that the ticket money went to charity, and wasn’t paying the dreadful “artists” we had to endure!!

Never, ever again!!

Frank Turner is one of the most humorous performers I have ever experienced live. Appearing on the Reading Festival main stage in a wheelchair, mimicking the famous Kurt Cobain stunt from 1992 due to his recent suffering of back problems. He began with 'Four Simple Words' which the crowds gathered below proudly chant back beneath the glorious sunshine.

Turner then introduces his band The Sleeping Souls and explains his current ailments which are restricting him from playing guitar yet the crowd cheer him on as his vocal is completely on point for 'If I Ever Stray'. A true voice of the people, Frank's music seems to really resonates with the thousands of revellers gathered at the main stage who become a thousand strong choir in an anthemic manner.

Turner seems more than happy to become the spokesperson of the people as he makes a speech about the importance of music festivals and the unity in gathering to appreciate music and freedom. By the finale of 'I Still Believe' everybody has enjoyed an incredibly unified experience.

As always Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls put on an incredible performance. The high energy electrified the Cannery, which was a perfect venue for FT’s amazing ability to relate to his fans.

On the downside, there was a musically dark tone to some of the more political songs from the new album. I’ve slways appreciated FT’s ability to make his point without insulting people who have different opinions than his. It’s one of the reasons I’m a big fan. I respect his opinions and appreciate his contribution to the conversation.

I can’t say that about some of his opening acts on this tour. Bad Cop Bad Cop, didn’t seem to care much about letting anyone else’s opinions get between their version of truth and any other possible version of reality. And his opener for the UK leg of the tour, Derek Zanetti - Homless Gospel Choir, was positivity insulting. I get that others need to express themselves, but on a tour advocating “Be More Kind”, I didn’t feel much of that from them.

Fifth time I've seen Frank Turner and probably the best. How can he continue to improve his live shows amongst almost constant touring whilst maintaining break-neck energy levels that make mortal people wince makes him a force of nature?

The O2 Academy was packed with 3000 baying FT fanatics last night and he delivered a two hour set with a perfect mix of new tracks and FT standards.

Anthems that the crowd joined in with, some soft and tender acoustic moments, plenty of bouncing, star jumps, crowd surfing and general indie-punk shenanigans made this a night to remember.

Huge honourable mention to two amazing support acts...Will Varley and Skinny Lister making this one of the best value shows anyone will see ever.

Let's be 'Frank' for a minute - this night rates at roughly 9.7 out of 10!

I only realised when I got to the gig that I'd only ever seen Frank Turner at festivals plugging his new records. This gig was unlike any other.

Will Varley and Skinny Lister opened the show brilliantly, and got everyone in the mood for dancing and good times. Then Frank and the Souls came on and lit up the room.

They played some old songs, some new songs, and even some mid-period songs! It's really quite something being in a room of people who all know ALL THE WORDS to EVERY SINGLE SONG and who want you to sing along with them. But that's the effect Frank has on people, and it's beyond amazing.

From Iron Maiden covers to Frank making everyone do star jumps, to an inflatable flamingo being duct-taped to the drum kit, it was a freaking fantastic night.

See you at the next show.

7th time aseeing FT live so this won't be a balanced review obviously.

I'm slowly converting everyone around me one by one and as soon as they sample Frank live, that's it, you're the fish on the hook.

This night in Leicester was new album release day so there was an extra buzz in the air. These smaller venues Frank plays (>2000) are made for him. The crowd dance and party and sing along with every song, even the brand new stuff. Sweat dripping off you, ears ringing.

You can spend £30 on drink or illegal substances and wouldn't get the high you get from a Frank Turner gig. That's the truth.

If you happen to be reading this review considering buying a ticket to a Frank Turner show...BE CAREFUL. THERE'S NO GOING BACK!!

Lived frank for years. Sen many shows from the Bowery upwards and onwards but this one felt too forced. Too much stadium/arena stuff for me. The music speaks for itself.
Now onto the venue. Unless you live in Brooklyn I would strongly suggest never going to the ford amphitheater for a show. The venue is horrible. The staff were nice enough but the entry points, the GA wristband system the location, the long walk from the subway (which took me over an hour from midtown) is an absolute disaster. I left grand central at 6:30 and still missed then10 mins of Franks set. It took nearly three hours to get back to Long Island afterwards. In short i will never be schlepping down to Coney Island for a show ever again.

He's a fucking rock god - end of.

If you are a Frank Turner virgin & like good live music performed with passion then for God's sake what are you waiting for. Get your gladrags and dancing shoes and go see the man & his brilliant band - you will think after why did I wait so long & when can I see him again.

He will be on at a venue near you for sure now or in the next 6 months. He is the hardest working rock artist I know - 1978 gigs FFS.

Last night was great as always. Fathers Day from his 1st album a particular highlight as was the targeted crowd surfing of his mate.

When's the next one??
TC