FRANK TURNER hit the road hard this weekend, venturing out on the first everMusic Venue Trust world record attempt to play the most gigs in different cities in 24 hours by playing fifteen shows across the country from Liverpool to Southampton. And the musician succeeded by playing all 15 sets between May 4 and 5, though his feat has not yet been officially verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The challenge supports grassroots venues and independent record stores across the country. Frank’seffort was supported by London’s No. 1 Taxi app FREENOW, who provided e-taxis for him to complete the almost 500 mile journey.
He beat the previous world record held by Hunter Hayes, who performed 10 concerts in different cities in 24 hours back in 2014. Prior to Hayes, Flaming Lips were the record-holders with eight shows in 2012.
Turner’s world record honoured Music Venue Trust, a charity which looks to bolster grassroots music venues. Turner performed 15 solo shows that ran for a minimum of 20 minutes, with every performance taking place in an independent venue in towns around the U.K. Aligning with the charity’s mission, tickets came by way of independent record shops.
“I’m extremely proud — and yet more exhausted — after completing the challenge to get the world record,” he said in a statement. “The main drive for me was to highlight the work of independent venues and record shops and the Music Venue Trust, as well as bringing over 3000 people together in 24 hours for a good time. I did 24 shows in 24 hours in London in 2009, but this was arguably a bigger challenge, and a more official one. Time for some sleep!”
Music Venue Trust CEO and Founder Mark Davyd said in a statement that the organisation will submit “all the details of these shows, the evidence required to verify each event, over to Guinness World Records and we believe they will recognise that Frank is the new world record holder.”
Last Friday Frank Turner released his tenth album ‘Undefeated’ via Xtra Mile Recordings. 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. Listen to the full LP HERE.
Next, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls will head out on a more traditional headline UK tour for July 2024 in celebration of his upcoming tenth album ‘Undefeated’. They will be performing at these dates as follows:
FRANK TURNER – UK TOUR DATES:
28 June – Glastonbury, Avalon Stage
13 July – Cheltenham, 2000 Trees Festival
14 July – Manchester, Academy 2
15 July – Leeds. Brudenell Social Club
16 July – Glasgow, Garage
18 July – Southampton, 1865
19 July – Birmingham, Academy 2
20 July – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
22 July – Cardiff, Tramshed
23 July – Oxford, 02 Academy 2
24 July – Norwich, Epic Studios
26 July – Suffolk, Latitude Festival
(with support from The Meffs)
