Gig review: Frank Turner world record at Saltbox

Sat on the benches outside enjoying the sunshine before the music begins, it seems a few people haven’t got the memo yet about Saltbox not just being a pre-arena stop-off anymore. On more than one occasion, couples clearly heading to the Clubland show at the Motorpoint try to get into Saltbox, only to be told it’s a sold-out event and they need a ticket to enter. It’s a clear sign as to how Saltbox is evolving, giving Nottingham residents another medium-sized, 400-capacity venue in the city.

Eventually stepping inside, it’s the first glimpse of the venue’s growing potential, with the usual tables and chairs stacked away in a corner and the floor in front of the stage standing room only for tonight. Plenty of punters are also stood on the stairs and the balcony area, with every spot you feel giving a good view of the ample, raised platform stage. It’s an exciting time for Saltbox and as local support act / all-round legend George Gadd takes to the stage, it’s great to see the room already full
to the rafters.

“You pies!” yells a smirking George as he takes to the stage, immediately triggering the Forest section of the audience into a playful chorus of boos. Launching into Invisible, he quickly gets them back on side, with his singing style and the nature of his acoustic-punk set the perfect warm-up for Frank. “How’s everyone doing? I’m doing good by the way, I’ve been to B&Q” jokes George, questioning why the audience never asks the artist how they’re doing. “I’ve also been recording an album about a lot of dark shit” he reveals, with the next few tracks a glimpse of what’s to come from his forthcoming debut. There’s the conflicted Not Human, the alcohol-influenced Last Orders and the emo-inspired Reboot, which all sound promising in this stripped-back arrangement with just George and his guitar. He then pays tribute to the late-great Scott Hutchison, with a stirring cover of Frightened Rabbit’s Swim Until You Can’t See Land.

After an ode to Cincinnati in the form of recent single CVG and a touching, heartbreaking ballad titled Leo, he ends triumphantly on his 2018 single Shake A Ghost. That final track provides quite the moment, with the crowd heartily singing along with a clearly overwhelmed George – as a champion of the Notts music scene and a longtime Frank Turner fan, you could tell that one meant a lot to him.

It's then time for the main man himself, with Frank Turner taking to the stage wearing a t-shirt that reads “Whose stupid idea was this anyway?” Of course, due to the nature of the whole event, Frank was always going to be here for a good time rather than a long time, trying to pack as much as possible into his short 25-minute set. “Welcome to my mid-life crisis” he says smiling, greeting the adoring Notts crowd. “This is show 6/15 so I’m nicely warmed up – poor Hampshire are going to have a shit time tomorrow” he laughs, showing apathy for his home county where he would end his World Record stint, inevitably a bit burnt out.

As expected, the set draws heavily from his new album Undefeated, with Frank steaming through No Thank You For The Music, Girl From The Record Shop and Letters. Despite the album only being out a day or so, it’s impressive how many of the audience you can see mouthing along the words with him already.

“This next one I’ve never played live before” he says, before jumping into The Leaders, but not before shouting out his brother-in-law who was just elected as a councillor in Preston a couple of days prior.

After another live debut, this time for On My Way, Frank then treats the crowd to a couple of classics. “I’ve been doing this for 26 years in one form of another – thanks for coming out today, this is for you” he says graciously, before launching into The Ballad of Me and My Friends. In doing so Saltbox quickly erupts, the crowd coming together to loudly belt every word back at Frank. It’s a similar story for Get Better, with the energized crowd giving him the adrenaline he needs to continue for another nine shows overnight.

“This is all in support of Music Venue Trust – go support your local venues” pleads Frank, with this world record attempt not just about promoting his latest opus, but also aiming to spotlight independent venues as well. Indeed, as he ends on Do One, he and the crowd both yelling “I’m still standing up” in thunderous unison, it’s a euphoria that not even the Clubland show across the road can match.

Having successfully completed his World Record attempt at the time of writing, here’s one final big congrats to Frank Turner on achieving this incredible feat. More importantly though, thanks for garnering much needed support for the Music Venue Trust and venues like Saltbox along the way.

Frank Turner performed at Saltbox on 4th May 2024