NEWS: FRANK TURNER to undertake a world record for the most gigs performed in 24 hours....
live photo credit: Lukas Rauch
As he approaches two huge landmarks - his 3000th show and the release of his upcoming tenth album ‘Undefeated’ on 3 May - FRANK TURNER - today announces details of a unique challenge.
On 4 May, he will embark upon the first ever Music Venue Trust world record attempt to play the most gigs in different cities in 24 hours by playing fifteen shows across the country.
The rules are simple. In a timeframe of 24 hours, Frank has to play 15 solo shows, with each set running for a minimum of 20 minutes. The previous (official) record is held by Hunter Hayes with ten shows and before that it was the Flaming Lips with eight. But there’s a serious point too. The challenge will support grassroots venues and independent record stores across the country. To attend one of the shows, purchase an album and ticket HERE.
Frank’s effort will be supported by London’s No. 1 Taxi app FREENOW, who will be providing e-taxis for him to complete the almost 500 mile journey, which runs from Liverpool to Southampton.
Frank says:
“With nearly 3000 shows under my belt, I’ve never been one to do things by halves or shirk a challenge - I once played all 50 American states in 50 days, for goodness sake. For the release of my tenth studio album, ‘Undefeated’, I will be making an attempt at a world record: the most number of shows in different cities in 24 hours.
It’s not just self-promotion either. We’re working with 13 independent record shops and 15 independent grassroots music venues for the shows, highlighting two bits of the infrastructure of the underground that I care about most. It’s going to be tough, but hopefully fun too. Come down for a show!”
Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd adds:
“We are delighted to support Frank Turner's attempt to set the official Music Venue Trust world record for the most gigs played in 24 hours. With the help of FREENOW black cabs, Frank will be criss-crossing the nation hitting some of the country's finest grassroots music venues for an action-packed day which promises to set the global standard for dedication to live music.”
The schedule will hit the following venues:
SATURDAY 4 MAY
12.30pm - Liverpool, Jacaranda - instore
2.30pm - Huddersfield, Parish - outstore for Vinyl Tap
4pm - Leeds, Boom - outstore for Crash
6pm - Sheffield, The Foundry - outstore for Bear Tree
7.30pm - Chesterfield, Gasoline - outstore for Tailbird
9pm - Nottingham, Saltbox - outstore for Rough Trade
10.30pm - Birmingham, RMBL - outstore for Eclipse Records
SUNDAY 5 MAY
12.00am - Leamington Spa, Temperance - outstore for Head
2am - Leighton Buzzard, Crooked Crow Bar - outstore for Black Circle Records
4am - London, Underworld - outstore for Rough Trade
6am - Kingston, Banquet Records
7.30am - Aldershot, West End Centre - outstore for 101 Collectors
9am - Portsmouth, Staggeringly Good Brewery - outstore for Pie & Vinyl
10.30am - Winchester - The Railway - outstore for Pie & Vinyl
12pm - Southampton, The Brook - outstore for Vinilio
The world record attempt is sponsored by FREENOW, the mobility super app with the largest vehicle choice for consumers across Europe available in 9 markets and in over 150 cities. Users can access all types of mobility services within a single app including public transport services, taxis, private hire vehicles, car sharing, e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds. FREENOW aggregates numerous mobility brands with the ambition to make urban mobility more efficient and sustainable without adding new vehicles on the street. The Germany-based company is backed by the BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz Mobility.
FREENOW’s continued support of MVT includes ‘Ride for Music’ which saw FREENOW donate £1 from every ride to MVT. London’s No.1 Taxi app is proud to support grassroots music venues, ensuring local nightlife continues to thrive throughout the UK.
‘Undefeated’ is available to pre-order HERE, with the pick of its physical formats being a limited edition picture disc with one-shot photography captured by a vintage tintype camera. The album is the follow-up to his first UK #1 album, 2022’s FTHC, and sees him again embracing the liberation of being an independent artist.
Thematically, ‘Undefeated’ finds the sweet spot between youthful outspokenness and surviving midlife’s challenges, it’s a record that explores both emotionally compelling topics and lighter reflections on those troubles that eventually come to us all. Sonically it’s full of echoes to influences that Frank has touched upon at various moments in his kaleidoscopic career, from Black Flag to Counting Crows, from Descendents to The Pogues, via Elvis Costello and Billy Bragg.
Once Frank has recovered, hopefully undefeated by the world record attempt, he will return to the road in more conventional style. He will play a run of European dates in May, including shows as special guests on NOFX’s final tour, before heading across North America in late May and throughout June. He will play a series of UK festivals in the summer (Docksfest, 2000trees, Latitude and Y NOT?) before taking the seventh instalment of his Lost Evenings extravaganza to Canada for the first time in September. Please see HERE for a full list of dates.