Frank Turner @ Oran Mor, 23 Oct

Article by Chris Buckle | 02 Oct 2008

Formerly of hardcore upstarts Million Dead, Frank Turner has spent the last three years touring and refining his punk-folk sound across the UK. And while songs with titles like Thatcher Fucked the Kids suggest a potty-mouthed Woody Guthrie, Turner himself is wary of those attempting to brand him a ‘political songwriter’, writing in his blog “I’m not their little pet protest singer, ready to parrot idiotic platitudes about leftism at a moment's notice. Fuck off.” Quite. While he may be unlikely to close with The Internationale, his live performances share the rousing fieriness of professional remonstrators like Billy Bragg, inbuing songs about hangovers (The Real Damage), lovelorn reminiscences (Romantic Fatigue) or, indeed, the negative social legacy of Thatcherite policies which fostered a generation of disillusionment (um, three guesses…) with equal passion. Go along and sing yourself sore. [Chris Buckle]

7.30pm, £8

http://www.frank-turner.com