The night of Frank Turner begins with the man himself taking the stage first, much to the excitement and confusion of the crowd. Dressed down and not in his usual white shirt but instead a black hoodie and jeans, Frank introduces his supporters for the evening. I’ve been going to gigs for years, and this is something that I’ve never seen before. He mentions that the first act of the night is Mash P, who had only just managed to make his appearance in the UK, after having recent struggles getting into the country. But he was there tonight as well as fellow supporters, Truckstop Honeymoon and Pet Needs.

Mash P being the first one to take the stage, walks in front of the crowd with a huge smile on his face before embracing Frank and taking the mic. Frank is known to pick support acts that people might not expect, typically performers that don’t match his own genre. Mash P brings in a traditional Jamaican RnB vibe for the crowd, and everyone loved what they were watching. He looks out into the crowd of people with the biggest smile on his face, seeing someone perform something that most in the crowd might not be used to, and also seeing the appreciation on his face was just absolutely incredible. After a few songs, he brought out the second support of the evening to join him, Truckstop Honeymoon mixing some classical country tunes with Jamaican RnB. Definitely something different but a delight nonetheless.

Next on the line-up is Truckstop Honeymoon a classical country duo that just consists of the couple and their guitar and cello. Now take every single stereotype about country music out of the way for these two, a wholesome couple that brings in some gorgeous music that just puts a smile on your face. Mike and Katie melt perfectly together with their music, Katie with her cello and Mike with his guitar which he may trade in for a Banjo. When the Banjo makes its first appearance of the night, Mike says to the fast-growing crowd:

“Now Manchester, I have a banjo right here and I’m going to respect you and your wishes and you decide if we use it. I will need evidence of Manchester residency though, maybe a ID, Council Tax or Utility Bill” to which a girl in the front row, holds up her ID and shouts “YOU CAN PLAY IT! YOU CAN PLAY THE BANJO” and thus a banjo is thrown into the mix of country music.

Now Mike’s sense of humor doesn’t go unnoticed, he tells the crowd that Katie has been touring for 20 years and has raised four kids on the road. To then go into a song about narcissistic mothers.

It doesn’t stop there, because he then tells the audience that in 1985 he performed at Manchester Academy. And that he used to live in the Gorton area, which gets a mixed reaction from the crowd when he calls the area beautiful; but don’t worry because the song begins with the lyrics “This is a shit town”

Humorous and just straight up wholesome the entire way through, and a tad relatable.

And last but not least before the main band takes to the stage, Pet Needs. More on the edgier, punky level compared to our previous acts. And a hell of a lot of energy, you could not keep your eyes on that vocalist for even a second before he was running faster than Sonic to the other side of the stage. Manchester Academy is now filled up and the crowd is jumping and going nuts with just as much energy as them.

This is a band that hasn’t played venues like Manchester Academy before, and they’re doing this performance like they’ve been doing venues like this their entire lives. Frontman Johnnyruns off the stage and climbs onto the barrier bringing himself into the crowd even more. The band from Derbyshire really knows how to bring a crowd to life. Before the end of their set they mentioned how they had now quit their full time jobs, to pursue music full time.

Their set is filled with sharp and snappy riffs, and a cheeky on stage presence that every member carried themselves with. They were a band you could say matched various others in that sense they had the music, the energy and the vibe but you just know that the more they go the better they will get, and they will be incredible and possibly take over before you know it.

Now It’s time for what we’re all here for, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls take the stage, all members sporting a white button up shirt along with black skinny jeans and trainers. Giving you the folk and indie look, along with the alternative emo vibe that works so well with their music and target audience.

The set kicks off with Four Simple Words, I’ve seen Frank Turner live once before back in May 2022 and normally this is the song they close the set on so naturally this blew the crowd away and they all went into a frenzy. But if you’re wanting to shock a crowd and get the blood pumping, this was a hell of a way to do it. With its high tempo and euphoric chorus, it’s the song to get every single person in the room going nuts. His second song of the set, which has been different to his latest tour dates was Haven’t been doing so well another fan favourite from his latest album, where the lyrics can be belted out, and even easy to pick up on if you haven’t listened to the latest album in full.

Song 3, Photosynthesis, was another song from the two hour setlist that just fitted perfectly into the mix, sometimes setlists get so mixed up and not in the right way, where the third song can make the vibe stop at the drop of a hat. But they honestly had straight up bangers for an entire hour, you had 20 minutes of Frank with an acoustic guitar, then another 40 with the Sleeping Souls. Making a perfect section of the set, calm down before making them come back up again as you headed towards the end of the two hours.

From his latest album, FTHC came A wave across a Bay a song that brought tears to the eyes of the crowd that night in Manchester as it was dedicated to Frank’s friend, Scott Hutchison from the band Frightened Rabbit. A song not only about losing a close friend to suicide, but also about understanding and realising that they’re no longer with us, and keeping their memory in your life. As someone who wasn’t aware of Scott, nor had even listened to Frightened Rabbit, I felt a lump in my throat watching the pure emotion come out during this song.

Frank really channels life experiences with all of his songs, from his latest album Miranda. Introducing the song, Frank goes into detail about how himself and his father had an estranged relationship for many years, filled from abandonment and issues spanning far back into his childhood. But now going by Miranda, franks father is living a happy life as a transgender woman, and he makes a note on saying how happy she now really is. And how Miranda is a happy and a great woman, but his dad when he was a child just wasn’t. After ten years of no contact, they reconciled in 2018 and he wrote the song Miranda for his father. Another heartfelt moment in such an incredible set.

I’m not an avid Frank Turner listener, but it was pretty much impossible to not smile when you’re in a crowd of young and old, punk and non-punk fans but they’re all together loving the same music and all of them have a smile on their face. With their arms around each other’s shoulders, and swaying from side to side. There wasn’t a fault in anything from this performance, It made you laugh, especially when Frank said he took his wife’s song which was nice and folk and calm with all the chilled vibes you expect and he just made it an insane punk track, it made you cry and it also made you jump for joy. This was such a community split, but I’ve not seen anyone do it like Frank Turner, I’ve seen this man open for My Chemical Romance and get the exact same reaction this crowd gave him at Manchester Academy.

Frank has performed over 2700 gigs in his career, and it’s all because he is incredible at what he does and knows how to make everyone in that room, no matter the capacity, have a smile on their faces.

Words & images: Lauren Allard

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