There really aren’t many artists like Frank Turner. From his humble beginnings with Punk project Million Dead, to playing the London Olympics, his world record for the most shows played in 24 hours to even hosting his 3000th show at Alexandra Palace last year, his career is truly a marvel to see. Added onto that list now is the incredibly intimate (for an artist of this size) UK tour in celebration of 20 years of Campfire Punkrock, his first solo release that set the foundations for everything to come. This was his 3141st show too, an utterly ridiculous number that most artists can’t even imagine reaching.
Along for the ride this time were Katacombs and Dave Hause. Arriving at the venue, all I felt was excitement. Those who know me know just how much I love Frank Turner’s music, and this would be my 8th time seeing him live.
As I entered the venue and collected my photo pass, the excitement continued to build. Not just because I get to see my favourite artist, but also because Frank has a knack for picking incredible opening acts, and this is where Katacombs comes into the picture. Her blend of atmospheric Dark Folk with blends of pop, blues and country is genuinely breathtaking to hear live, and something I’m so glad to of experienced. I’ve said in previous reviews that I love going into shows blind, rarely checking out the artists I don’t know on a lineup beforehand for the authentic first-time listening experience, and this is why. Half of her set was more pop-focused, with catchy choruses and hooks, but what really stood out to me were the hauntingly beautiful folk tracks, filled with melancholic nostalgia; the best example of this, in my opinion, is You Will Not Be My God. A simply phenomenal opening for the night.
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
After an incredibly short changeover, we had Dave Hause. Sometimes, simplicity is best, and this set was a great example of such. Armed with nothing but his voice and an acoustic guitar, Dave Hause hit the stage and captivated the room effortlessly with his catchy chord progressions and blends of country, folk and a sprinkling of punk for good measure. Sandy Sheets was one of my personal highlights, a powerful vocal performance paired with a tight, clean instrumental that I couldn’t take my eyes or ears off. Cellmates and Autism Vaccine Blues are my top highlights, and I would encourage them as entry points to his catalogue. My final highlight, though, had to be Dirty Fucker, a track that’s pure punk to the core. Another artist I’m glad to have seen live, and one I look forward to seeing again as soon as I can!
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
After the final changeover, we had Frank Turner hit the stage. Armed with nothing but a microphone and an acoustic guitar, the crowd were in an uproar of cheers, and the set began. Starting with The Ballad of Me and My Friends was incredibly fitting for the night, as that’s exactly what the show was: a room of strangers all becoming friends for a small collective moment. There’s something special about seeing Frank Turner play live: the way he champions the messages in his songs, how down-to-earth he is at every moment of a performance, and the way he respects the audience are things I truly haven’t seen anywhere else. As a massive fan, the setlist was incredible, pulling out deep cuts such as Our Lady of the Campfires, a track he hasn’t played live since 2020 and was performed as a request by an attendee on his 200th time seeing Frank live. Throughout the set, there were moments that felt more like a convention panel, with Frank talking to the crowd about trivia about the songs and his life. There were a couple of emotional moments throughout the performance, too, both for me and others in attendance. One was during Somewhere Inbetween, a song about never quite fitting in and feeling like you’re just in this in-between space, something that resonated with me when I first heard it on Undefeated and made me reflect on what it was like coming out as Non-Binary in 2018, and how that was the first time I was able to truly be myself. Another was during Get Better, off of Positive Songs For Negative People, and within the roaring crowd, I had this quiet moment of contemplation and reflection on my life, and the changes I’ve made over the past few years, from leaving a job that was killing me, to my growth within photography and even in my general outlook on life. It was a moment that I’ve never had at a show before, and one I believe shows the true strength of Frank Turner’s music, especially live.
Some of my other highlights from the setlist were The Resurrectionists, Polaroid Picture, Thatcher Fucked the Kids, Smiling at Strangers on Trains, Journey of the Magi, and I Still Believe.
This show was truly special for me. Frank’s music has been the soundtrack to my life for the last 12 years, since I started college and was introduced to his work by an incredibly old friend, whom I reconnected with on my photography course. This performance was, as said before, a moment of reflection. Not just for myself, but for everyone there. Everyone was singing, dancing and embracing the moment to its fullest.
There really is no show like a Frank Turner show, and no artist has a fanbase so dedicated to spreading not only their music, but the ideals and message within it.
Alongside Frank, Katacombs is a truly incredible artist, and one I’ve had on repeat since the show (who is playing at the sunflower lounge in Birmingham on 26/04) and I can see a great career ahead of her, and Dave Hause was simply brilliant to watch live with his charisma on stage and Dylan-esc attitude and I know for sure I will be at the barrier the next time he plays near me.
I want to end this review with a simple message: the world is falling apart all around us, but there are moments like this that bring a room of strangers together, that give you hope and a feeling that things can get better. I want to end this review with a simple message, in Frank’s own words. “In a world that has decided that it’s going to lose its mind, be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind.”
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
