With Blink-182 set to sell out Bournemouth’s BIC on Monday, one would think that Hampshire’s Frank Turner would be excited to perform alongside the Pop Punk greats. However singer Mark Hoppus was deemed not to perform that evening and the show got cancelled however Turner wanted to put on a show for the Bournemouth crowd regardless. The singer and his crew managed to pull off a last minute set at the Old Fire Station as he instantly sold out a 550 capacity crowd. The 35 year is no stranger to the live scene having toured numerous of times with his live band The Sleeping Souls and has brought out six studio albums since his first album ten years ago titled Sleep is for the Week. With his band Million Dead splitting up in 2005, Turner decided to go solo. After a split EP with rock band Reuben, Turner’s first solo EP, Campfire Punkrock, was released in May 2006 on Xtra Mile Recordings. Now Turner’s latest album Positive Songs for Negative People, that was released nearly two years ago, has achieved number two in the UK charts and Turner is not done yet as he revealed he recently went to Texas to ‘track new songs’. You catch the singer’s latest music video Love Forty Down.
We managed to catch up with Turner after his last minute Bournemouth set as the singer talks about the gig, touring with Blink-182, new music and more!
So how was your intimate show at Bournemouth’s Old Fire Station with The Front Bottoms after the Blink-182 gig got cancelled?
It was wonderful, all told. We had a pretty intensely stressful day getting everything together, and the situation was such that it was impossible to please everyone, but my crew (and the venue) really pulled something together, and the show had a lovely vibe.
Arranging this so short notice, were you surprised that the place was sold out?
Not especially; we had 8000 or so Blink ticket holders in town, plus a bunch of people who wanted to see me who didn’t have tickets, so packing out a 550 cap venue seemed doable!
Do you find different playing at smaller venues than arenas?
It’s different, sure, but only in superficial ways. The basics of what I’m trying to achieve remain the same.
What’s it been like so far touring with Blink-182?
It’s been great. They’re really welcoming people, the shows are bloody massive, and we’ve been making some inroads with their fanbase. All you can really ask from a support slot.
So it’s coming up two years since Positive Songs for Negative People, will there be new music soon?
Yep, I recently spent a month in Texas tracking new songs, I’m going back later in the year to add a couple more to the pile. I’m taking my time to make sure the next record is just right, not least because I’m trying to break some new ground (for myself) this time around.
So you’re from Hampshire which is also the home of originalrock.net, what do you make of the live music scene in this county?
Alas I am one of those bastards who moved to London, so I don’t feel like I’m the most qualified person to answer the question. That said, I always love coming back. The Joiners in Southampton remains a home-from-home for me, and I’m glad the Railway is still there, I went to (and played) a lot of shows there in the early years. It seems, to my inexpert eye, that Hampshire music is alive and well. Sean MacGowan deserves a shout-out here as someone I’m excited about right now.
Do you prefer playing acoustically on your own or with your backing band?
I like being able to switch between the two, really. It’s a very different experience playing alone or with the Sleeping Souls.
If you could work with any band or artist on a new song, who would it be and why?
Good question. I’ve actually been vaguely chatting about doing something with Ginger Wildheart at some point. He’s a friend, and I’m a huge fan of his music.
Would you ever consider a reunion with Million Dead?
Nope.
What song do you like to play live the most?
I like songs that get the crowd onside, to be honest. That, and it’s often fun to play newer material.
What do you get up to in your spare time while not performing or writing music?
I’m a history nerd, I read and walk old routes around London, for the most part.