Frank Turner

Fresh of touring around the world and trying to break the hardened American folk rock scene Frank Turner returns to English soil for a string of live shows to promote his new album Tape Deck Heart released on 22nd April. With the modestly sized Manchester Academy (FT could have filled it 10 times over) filling up the crowd anticipate big things for the night ahead. Being around for some years now Frank and his Sleeping Souls has amassed a range of fans punks from early days in hardcore band Million Dead, couples coming for a listen of Franks array of acoustic love songs or just rockers like me looking for a good night out. This is was my third time seeing Frank Turner live and its clear that you'll never find a nobhead at a FT gig, the sense of musical community is stuff of legend.

Opening with the lively anthem Four Simple Words "I want to dance" gets shouted to heavens and the crowd erupt. Moving through the set list the crowd get treated singalongs from Peggy Sang The Blues and Substitute, the couples get given some honest love tracks from his new material The Way I Tend To Be and the rest of us have an all around great night with the rest. With song to song it gets more and more hectic with it peaking at Long Live The Queen, his new track Recovery and the penultimate modern life wrangler Try This At Home. You just can't keep your eyes off him.

Being around for over 10 years now Frank has gathered a range of stories from the world from his fans. Tonights 'fan story' was one of a transgender fan in Perth who wished to change the signature on her signed album to her new name, Frank obviously did because he's nice like that proclaiming "man, thats the punkest thing I've heard all day". To her he dedicated the song Love Ire & Song. He then continued to moan about journalists in interviews thinking he's on his debut and he's like "fuck you man, i'm on my 5th". Capping the night off nicely with his hit I Still Believe leaving the crowd pining for more but worn out.

Tonight was described by the man himself on twitter later as being "a special gig" and as far as I see it the only way is up for Frank Turner with a string of festivals for the summer including being on the mainstage for Leeds and Reading. No one works harder in music today and no one deserves success more.

Setlist:

Four Simple Words
The Road
Peggy Sang the Blues
Reasons Not to Be an Idiot
Glory Hallelujah
I Am Disappeared
The Way I Tend to Be
Wessex Boy
Substitute
The Real Damage
Good & Gone
Worse Things Happen at Sea
Love Ire & Song
One Foot Before the Other
Long Live the Queen
Recovery
If Ever I Stray
Photosynthesis
Encore:
Sailor's Boots
I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
Try This at Home
I Still Believe