Having released album Tape Deck Heart earlier this year, Frank Turner heads to this weekend’s (23-25 August) Reading And Leeds Festivals in fine fettle. A true veteran of the outdoor gig, Turner has played many, many festivals… often when he wasn’t on the bill. Ahead of a warm-up show at the Forum Hertfordshire tonight (22), here’s his selection of punk rock to play around the campfire whether you’re booked to play or just rocked up with an acoustic.
Counting Crows – Mr Jones
“I actually used to sit around campfires near the beach as a kid signing this song endlessly when I was growing up, and the rest of that album. As a result it will always slightly smell of smoke and seawater to me.”
The Levellers – Julie
“The Levs are a pretty archetypal campfire punk / folk rock band, and given the sort of scene I currently inhabit, they were years ahead of their time. This is a beautiful and simple song, three chords and a great lyric.”
NOFX – Scavenger Type
“I grew up with the whole 90s skate punk thing, all those bands like Green Day, Descendents, NUFAN and so on. NOFX were always the top of the pack for me though, and this is a great late night campfire song to sing with your friends.”
The Weakerthans – One Great City!
“If I had to pick a favourite band of all time, it’d probably be the Weakerthans. This song is such a great celebration and condemnation of the place you’re from, all in one. I once sung it in Winnipeg with John K (the singer from the band) sitting on the side of the stage, which was pretty special.”
Rancid – Radio
“A great song is a great song, and often the test of that for me is whether it can stand being played solo, just a voice and a guitar, stripping the rest away. This is a good example – this song is a stone cold classic however you choose to play it.”
Wil Wagner – Laika
“Wil sings in The Smith Street Band, a punk band from Melbounre Australia that I’m deeply in love with right now. This is one of his solo songs, I heard him play it when he opened for me in Darwin and it absolutely blew my mind. One of the best songs I’ve ever heard.”
Jenny Owen Youngs – Pirates
“Jenny came out on the road with me last year and won everyone in my band and crew over to her cause. Her voice is really something else. I love this song a lot, whether she’s playing it on her own or with the band, it’s awesome.”
Tim Barry – On & On
“Tim is an old road dog, and a friend and inspiration to me, we have shared many miles together. I’ve covered this song a fair bit, as I think it’s probably the best song about touring that I know (and there are a many).”
Two Gallants – Seems Like Home To Me
“Two Gs are a phenomenal band, so simple and stripped back, classic songwriting with a ton of attitude. I could have picked pretty much any song of theirs, but I particularly love this one, the way Adam’s vocals rip open the air at the start is spine-tingling.”
Weezer – My Name Is Jonas
“Another one that I sang as a kid, endlessly and everywhere, and still do when I get the chance. A joyous, raucous, simple, brilliant song.”
For more head to Frank-turner.com plus here’s Turner’s Losing Days, released on 1 September.
