Frank Turner solidified his status as a touring powerhouse earlier this year, celebrating his 3000th show. Now already setting his sights on the next milestone, the singer-songwriter has embarked on a 14-date UK tour in support of his latest album, Undefeated. Kicking off in Newcastle last week, the tour will conclude in Folkestone later this month. We had the chance to catch his electrifying performance at the O2 Academy in Liverpool.
Frank is a passionate advocate for emerging talent, and for this tour he dedicated the opening slot each night to a different local musician. Despite receiving hundreds of applications, Frank personally listened to every single one, and for Liverpool he selected Grace Chloe. With nothing but her voice and a keyboard, Grace charmed the crowd with her beautifully crafted original songs and a surprisingly rocking cover of Jet’s ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’, which showcased the power and versatility of her vocals. It’s clear that Frank made an excellent choice – Grace is undeniably an artist to watch.
Frank has an exceptional knack for choosing the perfect support acts, and for this tour, he brought in Amigo the Devil with whom he toured across the States last year. Accompanied by a stellar group of musicians, his performance was nothing short of captivating from beginning to end. Amigo the Devil defies categorisation, blending elements of folk, country, and dark Americana into a sound that’s entirely his own. A masterful storyteller, his lyrics are infused with a dark sense of humour and a standout moment in his set was his solo rendition of the hauntingly bold track, ‘I Hope Your Husband Dies’. With a minimalist approach to instrumentation, the focus of Amigo the Devil’s tracks remains squarely on the storytelling. From the folk-tinged banjo in ‘Murder at the Bingo Hall’ to the gritty electric guitar that gives ‘Dive Bar’ its sharp edge, every musical choice enhances the atmosphere and deepens the impact of the lyrics. With his evocative sound and sharp wit, Amigo the Devil is a truly original force in modern music.
Show number 3014 and his 23rd in Liverpool, Frank proved once again he knows exactly how to ignite a crowd. He dived straight into the energetic ‘No Thank You For The Music’, followed by the equally electric ‘Girl From The Record Shop’. The politically charged ‘1933’ came next, before the tempo eased – if only slightly – with ‘Recovery’, a song that remains one of Frank’s anthems even over a decade after its release. With the crowd fully hyped, Frank seized the moment to unleash the fast-paced, fun ‘Nevermind the Back Problems’ – a standout track from Undefeated that perfectly highlights his versatility. It was a refreshing shift in energy, especially following the acoustic-infused vibe of ‘Recovery’, showcasing just how effortlessly he can switch between styles.
A fan favourite, ‘Photosynthesis’ is always a highlight, with the crowd dropping to the floor before jumping up in unison. Acknowledging that his fans have grown alongside him, Frank humorously explained he’d orchestrate it as smoothly as possible to save everyone’s knees. As always it became an epic moment of crowd participation that everyone will remember. But there was no time to rest once the crowd was back on their feet – Frank immediately dived into ‘Letters’, a powerful track about the breakdown of communication that masterfully blends punk and folk elements. ‘Letters’ also gave bassist Tarrant Anderson a well-deserved moment in the spotlight. To elevate his presence he stood on a box, delivering what could be considered his closest thing to a bass solo since joining the Sleeping Souls.
The set continued with the short, sweet, and fiery ‘Haven’t Been Doing So Well’, before Frank took us on a journey back in time with one of his darker tracks, ‘Plain Sailing Weather’. Despite its emotional depth, the song remains incredibly catchy and is always met with a positive reception from the crowd. ‘If Ever I Stray’ followed, igniting one of the night’s most powerful singalongs. With everyone shouting its exuberant chorus, the song’s infectious joy was a perfect reflection of the lively atmosphere that permeates every Frank Turner gig. The momentum kept building with ‘The Next Storm’, a feel-good anthem from Positive Songs for Negative People, before Frank lightened the mood with ‘The Leaders’. Despite its catchy, playful energy, though, the song also carries a sharp political message, encouraging the crowd to stand up for themselves and their values.
The emotional tone of the night took a turn with ‘Redemption’ from England Keep My Bones. The song’s slow, haunting build-up exploded into a poignant climax, serving as a testament to Frank’s dedication and the raw emotion he invests in both his music and his performances. While Frank’s band, the Sleeping Souls, are undeniably fantastic, one of the best parts of his shows is when he takes the stage alone for a few solo tracks, often fan requests. ‘Redemption’ was the perfect lead-in to this intimate part of the set, setting the stage for a more personal connection with the crowd. When Frank outlines his few rules at shows, one of the most important is that if you know the words, you have to sing along. And the crowd definitely complied when he launched into the tongue-in-cheek first solo track, ‘Thatcher Fucked the Kids’, with everyone singing along in full force. Next came the gentle acoustic ‘Be More Kind’, with its poignant lyrics resonating even more deeply in light of the current events unfolding in the world. Last but certainly not least of the triple whammy solo tracks was ‘The Ballad of Me and My Friends’.
The Sleeping Souls rejoined Frank onstage one by one as he took us on a journey through his friendships and life with ‘I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous’. He then surprised the crowd by reintroducing ‘Mittens’ to the setlist, a soft ballad from Positive Songs for Negative People that hadn’t been performed since 2023.‘Do One’ – an infectiously catchy anthem about standing strong against negativity – quickly raised the tempo, before the raucous duo of ‘Try This at Home’ and ‘I Still Believe’. The latter, with its powerful guitar riffs and sharp lyrics, perfectly encapsulated Frank’s belief in the redemptive power of rock’n’roll, serving as a triumphant conclusion to the main set.
Frank’s music is always deeply personal, and he’s been refreshingly open about his mental health struggles and his feelings of being an outsider – topics he channels in ‘Somewhere In Between’. Driven by an intense drumbeat from Callum Green, the track was one of the most emotionally charged of the night, with Frank’s impassioned vocals and body language reflecting the weight of imposter syndrome. The emotion carried into ‘Polaroid Picture’, where the heart-wrenching lyrics about change were juxtaposed with an uplifting moment, as Frank led the crowd in jumping, blending the bittersweet with a sense of collective energy.
Going out on a high – it was a Friday night in Liverpool, after all – the penultimate track of the night was the joyous and defiantly anthemic ‘Get Better’, which the crowd embraced fully, singing along with Frank as the song’s defiant spirit set the perfect tone before the grand finale. Many of Frank’s songs could easily serve as the perfect closing track, but one stands above the rest, and that’s ‘Four Simple Words‘. A lively track about dancing, ‘Four Simple Words’ kept the crowd buzzing from start to finish. Though not all of it was high-energy, Frank slowed things down, encouraging everyone to raise their hands and twirl – an inclusive moment that highlighted the welcoming atmosphere of his shows – before the beat kicked back in for one final burst of excitement.
It’s clear why Frank Turner is widely regarded as one of the best live performers today. A genuine artist who gives his all with every performance, his connection with his audience is unparalleled, creating an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels part of the journey. Of course, Frank’s tour is far from over when he gets to Folkestone – he’s getting ready for an exciting North American solo tour next month.
