If there is one thing that is certain in this life is that, like death and taxes, its never too much gap between the last and the next Frank Turner gig! I last caught him at show 3000 at Alexandra Palace at the end of Feb and as we hit mid September this is gig 3070! In that time he has crossed the Atlantic a couple of times, played the US and Canada, completed festival season in the UK and Europe and a few warm up shows before his superb 4 day festival 'Lost Evenings' hits Edinburgh in a week, kicking off the next leg of the Undefeated tour. Phew!
But tonight was about fundraising for a local school in Cheltenham and the full house in the beautiful Gloucester Guildhall were treated to a duo set with Matt Nasir, a special guest and a set list spanning his long career.
First up we had the wonderful Grace Chloe. She had already supported Frank in Liverpool earlier in the tour, 'winning' the right to open the night and she was so good, he asked her back for this special evening. From the soundcheck it was obviously Grace is something special. Just sat on the big stage at a keyboard, her voice not only filled the hall it shook the place! The hall was full early and they were treated to an incredible set. Grace explained during a break in songs that she lost most of her sight at age 4 following a brain tumour and during the pandemic lockdown, another tumour took the remainder of it. Her keyboard playing was faultless and her voice was so strong as she played through her set of mainly original numbers. A special dedication to an audience member just turning 18 of a medley of 'Teenagers' by My Chemical Romance and 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus was fantastic. Lets hope we get to hear lots more from Grace.
And then it was time for Frank Turner. Matt took the stage first and the full house rose on Frank's arrival. 'Don't Worry' kicked things off and quickly into 'Recovery' and 'The Lioness'. Frank explained how him and Matt used to play a lot of these duo shows but it has been a while since the last one and soundcheck was more of a rehearsal / recap of how to play some of these songs. Frank also explained the reason for being here "To fundraise for the school but mainly because Matt has some photos of me that he said he would release if I didn't do it !" . The banter between them flows easy, like two old friends doing a casual set down the local pub, but the songs are slick and executed flawlessly. Noting a large number of teachers in attendance there were frequent apologies for the swear words ("Sorry sir") and a plea to buy the special one off t-shirt because it was Franks idea and Matt would kill him if he has a box of t-shirts left over.
'Do one', 'The Road', '1933' were followed by 'Substitute', '21st century survival blues', 'Good and gone' and the ode to his father 'Miranda' and 'Resurrectionists'. Then the special guest arrived, Mrs Anna Nasir, Matt's wife and violin player. She actually knew Frank before Matt, playing with him on records and live. She joined the duo on 'Jinny Bingham's Ghost', 'To Take you home' and 'Rivers' and the violin added an extra depth to the Guitar and mandolin.
Matt and Anna departed the stage and Frank performed solo for a number of tracks. Frank departed a little from the original set list at this point , playing the deeply emotional 'Somewhere Inbetween', before introducing a new track, tentatively titled 'Start Over', with a request not to record it and chuck it on youtube as its not ready yet. Next up was 'Letters', a track about an old pen pal from when he was 12 or 13. Amusing to think they lost touch for over 20 odd years and when hearing the track on the radio she got back in touch, with the opening line...."...is that about me?." 'Be more Kind', always a song of hope but stressed more so in these difficult times preceded 'The Ballad of me and my friends' with the crowd singing every word.
Matt rejoined and one of my favourites ' Love Ire and Song' welcomed the last part of the show as Frank refused to do the standard pretend walk off and walk back on for the encore (adult hide and seek as he described it). 'Photosynthesis' an towering anthem, accompanied by every voice in the room rung out before 'Get Better' and a rousing version of 'I Still Believe' closed the set.
Frank last played the Gloucester Guildhall in May 2011, and I can only imagine to a lot less people and definitely less staff from the education sector would have been at that show #1027! Interestingly 7 songs appeared on both setlists. This was a night to raise money and get match fit ready for Lost Evenings Festival in Scotland but it was so much more. Grace Chloe was the perfect support on the night, a real wow factor. 2025 Frank has a different edge, a seemingly more raw, emotional element that is maybe reflective of the difficult times him and we all have been through in the last few years. Even the old favourites resonate harder as he seems to put even more into their delivery than before, if that was at all possible. Always a pleasure spending the evening with Mr Turner and friends in a room full of like minded souls.
Words and Pictures by Glenn Morrison
