Always on Tour" is a slogan Frank Turner has printed on a his merchandise and this is a fact. The man is a touring machine.
Frank started counting his shows when he began performing under his own name, whilst still a member of hardcore band Million Dead. That band split up in 2005 (a reunion is planned for later this year), when Frank started his solo career proper, soon to be joined by an existing band who later became the Sleeping Souls.
During one of the shows in the run-up to Show 3000, Frank mentioned that when he came to his 1000th show he got special tickets printed, but nobody really cared. Once Show 2000 came around, people became aware that show numbers were a thing. Show 2000 was at Rock City in Nottingham in 2016, was released on CD/DVD and can be found on Spotify .
When Show 3000 was announced for Alexandra Palace, 10,000 tickets sold out within days. Frank has an incredibly dedicated fanbase, who travelled from all over the world for this special occasion.
SHOW #2999
The big night was preceded by a gig at 93 Feet East in Brick Lane. This had been the venue of Show #1 in 2004. The 93 Feet East show was part of Brits Week, a series of shows in legendary venues, raising money for War Child UK. The venue has a capacity of 350 and there had been a frantic ticket scramble.
Support came from singer/songwriter Ben Brown, who has a beautiful voice and is really funny to boot. Frank produced Ben's debut EP 'Kathmandu' (see @benbrownstagram_ on Instagram).
Show 2999 was a solo show. Obviously aware that virtually everybody in the audience would also be going to Show 3000, Frank opted to play an entirely different set, with no songs that he was going to play the following night. This was a wonderful surprise. Frank is first and foremost a great songwriter, and it was impressive how strong a set he could construct whilst leaving out all his most popular songs.
Included were 'A Wave Across The Bay', which Frank wrote for Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit; 'Balthazar Impresario', one of my personal favourites; 'Journey Of The Magi', a rarely played fan favourite; and from the latest album 'Undefeated' the songs 'Ceasefire' and 'Letters'.
Prior to the concert I had watched Show 1 on YouTube and wondered if Frank would refer to it. About two thirds through the show Frank said that he was actually going to play the entire Show 1 setlist! This seven song section included covers by Propagandi, the Lemonheads (who didn't write 'The Outdoor Type', but recorded it) and ABBA's 'Dancing Queen'. It really was the cherry on the cake in an already extra special show.
SHOW #3000
There were several fan-organized initiatives on the day. I took part in the "Soho to Alexandra Park Walk", a seven mile walk from Holborn to Alexandra Palace, inspired by the song 'Farewell To My City', past points of interest that come up in Frank's lyrics. We were an international group of about thirty fans. It was interesting to hear how everyone had found their way to Frank's music. Anyone interested can do this walk independently with the Gojauntly app:
In Camden we crossed paths with the "Rally to Ally Pally", a fan get-together in the Underworld pub, which features in the song 'Jinny Bingham's Ghost'. There is a neon sign with a quote from the lyrics inside the Underworld. The pub was packed to the rafters with folks in Frank Turner T-shirts. The walk then continued via Crouch End, and we climbed the hill up towards Alexandra Palace at around 17:30. I had not been to this venue before. It is a beautiful old, big hall.
Support acts were touring buddies The Meffs and the Lottery Winners. The Meffs are a hardcore duo from Essex. I particularly like their Prodigy cover, 'Breathe'. The Lottery Winners were new to me and were great fun.
Frank started the gig solo, singing 'The Ballad Of Me And My Friends' from his debut album, followed by 'I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous', during which the Sleeping Souls came on. They are Tarrant Anderson on bass, Callum Green on drums, Ben Lloyd on guitar and Matt Nasir on keyboards. 'I Still Believe' followed and we were off.
There were some nice production elements: A "count-up" on the screens at the start, photos from the early days during 'Prufrock', a full gig archive list flashing by, and screens were made use of throughout the show.
With the setlist Frank had managed to make it career-spanning, whilst retaining a good chunk from his latest album 'Undefeated'. Highlight of the show for me were the songs 'Somewhere In Between' and 'Undefeated', which were delivered with utmost conviction and the latter feeling very apt in the encore of this celebratory concert.
'Long Live The Queen' was one of the songs that first grabbed me when I discovered Frank's music. He played this solo and dedicated it to a fan who had lost her battle with cancer. 'Be More Kind' was another highlight, with the audience putting their phone lights on - something that always looks so pretty, "And a hell of a lot cheaper than the way Coldplay do it", Frank joked.
Photo: Noah Belman
The home stretch included 'If Ever I Stray', 'Recovery' and 'Photosynthesis'. The atmosphere really was a sustained high that never dropped. During the final song 'Four Simple Words' Frank crowd-surfed and the entire audience pirouetted (not at the same time). Some thank-yous, a ticker tape finale and then it was all over.
Many hung around to say hello to friends from gigs past. Merch queues were still enormous a good 45 minutes after the show finished. There were some nice Show 3000-specific items on sale, including a T-shirt with "My first show was..." on the back, where fans could fill in their own first show number. Mine was #872 (Glastonbury, Leftfield). Big thanks to Frank, the Sleeping Souls and crew for all the positivity and good vibes they continue to bring.
The 'Undefeated' tour heads to Eastern Europe next with a solo run through the Balkan area in March.
Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls are back in the UK from 1 April.
Helen.
Photo: Noah Belman