Frank Turner @ O2 Academy Sheffield

Folk punk freight train, Frank Turner returns to a sold out Academy with a set bursting with fresh material, old classics and everything in between.

Hitting the ground running with tongue in cheek sing-a-long ‘Eulogy’ followed by new lead single, ‘The Next Storm’, Turner showcases perfect crowd interaction; being extra attentive when introducing new material such as latest single ‘Josephine.’ Each song flows naturally as the crowd scream every lyric back to the band.

Turner brings a delicate balance of light and shade throughout, as there was everything from an obvious mention of the recent attacks in Paris to mass starfish dancing, friendly crowd rivalry and an ode to suicide prevention in new album closer ‘song for Josh.’ Turner and the Sleeping Souls move so seamlessly through these tough topics to light hearted moments in a way no other acts really do. It’s a true testament to their live show.Turner briefly strips things back to a solo performance of some old material, a nice homage to his beginnings. Ten years into his career it’s nice for his cult fan base to still get some of the more mature material from just Frank and his guitar.

The night is rounded off with vaudeville punk anthem ‘Four Simple Words’ where Turner hauls himself into the crowd where the mosh pit features everyone from teen girls to mohawked punks.

Frank Turner followers are not just fans, it’s a genuine community that feed off of the songs and connect through the live experience, which is why his fan base keeps growing. A decade in and more popular than ever, the key to his longevity is nights like tonight. With a live show this powerful and songs this strong, the Frank Turner train shows no sign of derailing anytime soon.