13,136 Gigs In — And Frank Turner Still Owns the Room - Academy 2 Manchester

Toni Slater
Apr 12
2 min read

The Academy 2, Manchester - 9th April 2026

WORDS AND IMAGES TONI SLATER

13,136 Gigs In — And Frank Turner Still Owns the Room - Academy 2 Manchester — Photo Credit Toni Slater

This one was sold out. Signs plastered around the venue and touts circling for spare tickets set the tone early. Long queues snaked around one of the city centre’s most beloved venues well before doors opened — a clear sign that The Academy was the perfect setting for the night ahead.

The opening date of Frank Turner’s 2026 solo tour, "Camprock Punkrock Twenty", strikes a compelling balance between intimate crowd connection and bursts of raw, punk energy

First up were Katacombs, a US-based solo singer-songwriter. It was a short but mesmerising set built on guitar loops and a spellbinding vocal. There were flickers of nerves, but the crowd met them with warmth, and the performance landed well.

Next came Pennsylvanian folk-rock mainstay Dave Hause — a longtime friend of Turner and a perfect tonal match for the evening. His set was confident and familiar, with plenty of crowd participation and easy-going chatter. A standout moment came when he dedicated “Fireflies” to a couple who had asked him to play their wedding — a small but heartfelt gesture that captured the spirit of the set: charismatic, laid-back, and sincere.

“Welcome to gig number 3136!”

Frank Turner’s return to Manchester was nothing short of triumphant. From the opening moments of “The Ballad”, the room was already in full voice — a mass singalong that barely let up. Drawing deep from his back catalogue, Turner delivered a set packed with fan favourites while showcasing highlights from his now 20-year-old album Campfire Punkrock.

“Thatcher Fucked the Kids” was a standout — a full-throttle moment of unity, with a sea of raised hands and every word shouted back in unison.

Turner thrives on moments like this. A natural storyteller, he holds the room effortlessly — weaving anecdotes, humour and sincerity between songs.

This wasn’t just a show. Turner matched the crowd’s energy at every turn, delivering something emotional, intimate and undeniably electrifying. Old fans, new fans — it didn’t matter. Everyone was in it together.

If you ever get the chance to see Frank Turner live, take it. You won’t leave disappointed.