Frank Turner - Live Music Review in Bristol

Posted on: 2015-11-23

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Starting off as an English folk artist - a man and his guitar - he has grown into an artist than can sell out shows across the world and now even has a full-time backing band ? The Sleeping Souls.


 

On Saturday 21 November 2015 Frank Turner hopped, skipped and jumped his way across the Colston Hall’s stage in Bristol. Now 10 years into his solo career, this was a triumphant performance.

Frank Turner Live in Bristol

I was lucky enough to see the very last of Million Dead’s shows 10 years ago. They were an early 2000s hardcore/post-hardcore band that were eminently listenable, which is no mean feat considering what was kicking about back then. Their frontman was a tall, skinny lad by the name of Frank Turner. He was great at what he did, but no better than the rest of the pack…and that’s coming from a genuine fan of the band. To see him play his 1,790th solo show, and to see what he has become, is quite something…

Frank Turner has been on tour for ten years straight. Essentially he’s a troubadour touring the lands and playing his songs to all that will listen. Those listeners have grown quite considerably in numbers over the years and so has his songwriting. Starting off as an English folk artist - a man and his guitar - he has grown into an artist than can sell out shows across the world and now even has a full-time backing band – The Sleeping Souls.

This show was the first of two sold out shows at the iconic Colston Hall in Bristol. Mr Turner bounded onto the stage with seemingly reckless abandon and that only ceased during the middle of the set when his band left the stage and he played his more somber offerings. A man stood alone on a stage with a guitar and his words. Back to what made him great and what made him who he is today.

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls in Bristol

Outside of those excellent new numbers – which included a quite awe-inspiring rendition of The Ballad of Me and My Friends, perhaps the show’s highlight –Frank and his genial band whipped the crowd into a frenzy of movement and sing-alongs. This included splitting the crowd down the middle into Team Tarun and Team Ben (members of his band). This is perhaps the most awful of all things you could experience at a gig: ‘let’s split the crowd in half and see who’s better!’. No thanks mate. BUT - and this is a huge but (don’t laugh) - it worked so very well. I’ve been to more gigs and festivals than I would care or am even able to remember, but I can honestly say that this is the first time this tactic hasn’t been awful. It’s a real testament to Frank’s control of his audience.

The set is split between all his offerings, though perhaps leaning on the newer songs rather than the old. It is a set that still delivers everything you want and introduces you to a new way of experiencing some of the tracks you know and love, thanks to The Sleeping Souls. Perhaps the very loudest sing-along comes during Long Live The Queen, earlier in the set, and by the end I actually saw many or even most of the audience hugging in a moment that was just so wonderful to be a part of.

‘I Still Believe’ was not only the penultimate song but it’s a roadmap/blueprint for how to live your life…and it came across as such thanks to Frank Turner’s delivery. Make of it what you will.

As a fan from his Million Dead days, and having seen him solo more times than I can remember, I would have preferred just Frank on a stage with a guitar if I’m completely honest. That’s not to cast aspersions on the band themselves – they were superb in everything they did from cranking out the tunes to the banter between songs. That’s Frank Turner these days. I can’t call myself a fan if I don’t accept his newer direction. What is quite incredible is that he was very aware of this and so stuck the solo part in the middle for all us old-timers. The man is pure class.

If you ever get a chance to catch a Frank Turner show then buy the tickets and think about it later. There is absolutely no way you will be disappointed.

4.5/5

Reviewed by James Anderson for 365Bristol.com – The leading events and entertainment website for Bristol 

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls in Bristol Review



Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.