Frank Turner came to Edinburgh to play an incredibly sold out Edinburgh Liquid Rooms on 21 April.
We say ‘incredibly’ sold out, because one of the most notable things about the gig at first glance was the fact that there was barely enough room in the venue for all the ticket holders.
Whether it was the packed out audience, the Saturday night or the singalong anthems being played out by the bucket-load, it was a hell of a memorable performance by Turner.
You know those random acoustic guitarists that play in bars and turn out to be really good? And do a set, normally entirely made from covers, which results in the whole bar singing along, arm-in-arm to songs you’d forgotten you knew the words to?
That’s pretty much what it’s like being at a Frank Turner gig - except all the songs are by, err, Frank Turner, obviously. And the guy with the guitar has sold a shitload of records.
We say ‘incredibly’ sold out, because one of the most notable things about the gig at first glance was the fact that there was barely enough room in the venue for all the ticket holders.
Whether it was the packed out audience, the Saturday night or the singalong anthems being played out by the bucket-load, it was a hell of a memorable performance by Turner.
You know those random acoustic guitarists that play in bars and turn out to be really good? And do a set, normally entirely made from covers, which results in the whole bar singing along, arm-in-arm to songs you’d forgotten you knew the words to?
That’s pretty much what it’s like being at a Frank Turner gig - except all the songs are by, err, Frank Turner, obviously. And the guy with the guitar has sold a shitload of records.
That comparison isn’t taking anything away from Frank’s talent, either. It’s a rare skill to be able to write a full album of original acoustic albums that appeal to pretty much everyone. Frank Turner has written six.
His music brings rock ballads to the acoustic guitar. It’s music with simple but well thought out, well written lyrics and incredibly catchy melodies and hooks, and because of all this, it’s built to be played live. It’s built to replicate that bar experience - and then enhance it by the handful. Seeing Frank Turner is like the best bar gig you’ve ever been to.
His music brings rock ballads to the acoustic guitar. It’s music with simple but well thought out, well written lyrics and incredibly catchy melodies and hooks, and because of all this, it’s built to be played live. It’s built to replicate that bar experience - and then enhance it by the handful. Seeing Frank Turner is like the best bar gig you’ve ever been to.
And the man plays the part too. On stage in white shirt and black tie, with skinny jeans and accompanied by a smartly-dressed band as well, Frank talks to the crowd like old friends, and spends the latter half of the set in the middle of the crowd, whether that be crowd surfing or slow dancing with his fans in the centre of the floor.
The early kick off saw the gig get under way before 8pm and close around 10pm. Highlights included classic 'Recovery', ‘Be More Kind’ from the new record Frank’s on tour promoting, and the heaps of singalongs, from ‘The Road’ to ‘Nashville Tennessee’ and fan favourite ‘I Still Believe’.
The early kick off saw the gig get under way before 8pm and close around 10pm. Highlights included classic 'Recovery', ‘Be More Kind’ from the new record Frank’s on tour promoting, and the heaps of singalongs, from ‘The Road’ to ‘Nashville Tennessee’ and fan favourite ‘I Still Believe’.
Frank reached deep into the back catalogue and nearly every word he sung was echoed back at him, but such was the atmosphere that truth be told you could turn up not having heard any of the tunes before and still had a hell of a time.
A riot of a performance from the whole band, and especially from Frank Turner, who’s got to be one of the most affable, confident and downright entertaining frontmen in live music today.
5/5
Stuart Kenny
A riot of a performance from the whole band, and especially from Frank Turner, who’s got to be one of the most affable, confident and downright entertaining frontmen in live music today.
5/5
Stuart Kenny
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