Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls
Another Bluesfest first timer, “The people’s prince of punk poetry” (NME) Frank Turner is set to visit our shores for the fourth time. He may have started off as the voice of post-hardcore band Million Dead, but his primarily acoustic guitar-based brand of folk songwriting, catchy melodies and punk passion has taken off in a big way.
In just two years word of Frank’s honest and passionate folk/punk has started to steamroll. He has gone from supporting Green Day in 2010 at Wembley’s vast Arena venue to headlining at the same venue himself in 2012. In this short time – Frank has seen his life change beyond recognition. 2011 he received two NME award nominations, he stormed the UK album Charts with England Keep My Bones making the top 5, selling over 50,000 copies to date. And 2012 has been no different, with a performance at the Olympic Opening Ceremony in London 2012 and receiving two awards at the inaugural AIM Awards for Best Live Act and Hardest Working Artist.
Frank Turner, as a fledgling solo artist armed only with an acoustic guitar has a DIY work ethic, and a passion for plying his trade with integrity and honesty. Frank toured up and down the country playing backs of pubs, people’s front rooms and anywhere else that would have him. With a handful of catchy folk/country/punk songs and enough charm and charisma to win over any crowd, he amassed more and more fans and a fevered cult following soon formed.
His career started off a few years prior but with the same dizzying anticipation and responses. In the sweaty climes of the Lock Up Stage at Reading and Leeds in 2008 that his solo career first really started to take off. Inside the packed out tents, heaving with adoring fans and intrigued passers-by, Frank led the congregation in a mass sing-a-long; a stirring set that not only sparked the interest of the British mainstream but resonated unassumingly across the pond as a wealth of American punk bands watched approvingly from the sidelines. In 2007 when debut album ‘Sleep Is For The Week’ was just an underground success. Within the following year, Frank’s popularity grew with yet more touring and the release of second album ‘Love Ire & Song‘.
The profits of all his hard work were coming together, kick starting a new wave of interest with ‘Reasons Not To Be An Idiot‘ making iTunes Single Of The Week, helping to recruit a new army of Frank followers. It was also during this time that sections of the US punk fraternity began to take notice. Frank started to tour and work with the likes of Less Than Jake, Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Fake Problems, The Offspring, Flogging Molly and The Gaslight Anthem. It was evident that word was spreading throughout the punk scenes both sides of the Atlantic and by the time Frank flew in to Austin, Texas for the annual industry showcase SXSW, a whole new chapter in his story was about to begin. CEO of US independent label Epitaph Records Bad Religion’s legendary guitarist: Brett Gurewitzcouldn’t help but be excited by what he heard when Frank headlined LA’s notorious Viper Room and a worldwide deal was inked alongside his existing label Xtra Mile. This is the perfect home for Frank. With its fiercely independent spirit, rich in punk and hardcore history it is also home to the song-writing talents of Nick Cave and Tom Waits on sister label Anti.
“Frank Turner’s music is a revelation to me,” says Gurewitz.
“I can’t stop listening to it. It’s a real privilege to get out there and help Xtra Mile spread the Frank Turner gospel.”
With hand picked 15 sing collection of his catalogue, Last Minute and Lost Evenings, released in October 2012, plus his new record ‘Tape Deck’ due out in April 2013, things seem to be only going onwards and upwards for Frank and it only takes one listen to see why. Join us inside the packed out tent, heaving with his adoring Australian fans and intrigued passers-byes this Bluesfest.
Visit Frank Turner's Website
www.frank-turner.com/