By Jack Walsh
Frank Turner is no stranger to the UK live music scene. With a career spanning over two decades, the former frontman of the punk band Million Dead has carved out a legacy as one of Britain’s most beloved and hardworking songwriters. Blending elements of folk, punk, and rock, Turner’s music thrives on raw honesty and infectious energy.
The streets were alive, and the Academy was packed to the rafters, as the room fell still and the lights dimmed. Then, like a force of nature, Frank Turner and his backing band, The Sleeping Souls, took the stage to booming applause.
‘I have only two rules,’ Frank bellowed to the crowd with a commanding presence.
‘Rule number one: don’t be a dickhead. Rule number two: be respectful and make sure everyone is okay.’
With those simple instructions hanging in the air, Frank and his band launched into the hit, Recovery, transforming the room in seconds. The crowd clapped in perfect unison, voices raised to eleven, and entertainment roared to life.
‘Some of you have been coming for years, and I appreciate that,’ Frank shouted with a smile. Though only a few songs through the set, the joy radiating from his face told the whole story: this man lived and breathed for these moments. The natural banter between the band only enhanced the connection with the audience. This is what you want to see when watching a band perform: musicians treating each other like family, sharing inside jokes and genuine connection that extends beyond the music itself.
As Letters began, Frank turned to the bassist with a grin. ‘It took 10 years, but he finally has a bass solo,’ he announced. Tarrant delivered his solo before taking an athletic leap onto his amp. The bassist savoured every second of his spotlight. Then something happened that I hadn’t witnessed at any concert before. The pit parted as a man named Dave climbed onto the railings at the front barrier. His mission? As the best man at his friend’s upcoming wedding, this stag do had taken an unexpected turn when Frank issued him a challenge: crowd surf across the audience, take a selfie with Frank’s target in the crowd, and make it back to the front barricade without being dropped, all whilst the audience cheered him on in support to If Ever I Stray. This gig was just full of surprises.
Then, the acoustic solos began, and the crowd fell silent. Emotion was in the air as Frank started singing Be More Kind, which had every phone light in the air, waving from side to side, a beautiful sight to witness.
‘Some of my favourite shows have been in this very room, thank you so much,’ Frank all smiles at this point.
Tonight never felt like your typical gig; it felt like a giant collective experience. Not a stranger in sight, just a family serving one purpose: enjoying live music together.
How did the night end, one might ask? How about if Frank asks you all to the tune of Four Simple Words to twirl like a ballerina all at once? Because that’s what happened, and I loved every second.
A big thank you to the support acts Steve Jackson, who opened up the night with his impressive acoustic skills, and the band Amigo The Devil, who effortlessly delivered a knockout performance, one I still can’t get out of my head as I write this review. I hope to see both supports again in the future. As the music faded into the night, one thing was clear the Undefeated tour will be remembered.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Jack Walsh/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Richard Hedley 
Charlie Wright