I am Steve Siddle AKA Club Velocity
Published 5 May 2012 15:30
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When I saw that Frank Turner was coming to Reading, as part of his next UK tour in November, I was very happy as I can walk to The Hexagon. I purchased a ticket straight away for the show on Thursday November 15.
I was a bit slow to wake up to Frank Turner. With hindsight, I think I tried to ignore him, as I loathed his previous band Million Dead. I thought they sucked. Friends kept telling me to check out his solo work. I started to listen to his songs on the internet. He finally got me.
What I really, really like about Frank is his work ethic. Mr Turner knows that the word 'work' is not a dirty word. This chap tours and tours and tours some more.He has obviously read the bible 'Get in The Van' by Henry Rollins. Him and his band eat nearly every other UK guitar band out there, for breakfast. After six years of touring and releasing indie/DIY records, it is starting to pay off. He recently sold out Wembley Arena - that's 12,000 punters, readers. He has just signed a publishing deal with BMG. Rumours are flying around that Universal are after him and will offer him a record deal. He is coming after your kid sister who thinks Ed Sheeran is good and your father who still digs Bob Dylan.
He could single-handedly make UK guitar music, really exciting again. I think his best work is yet to come. Frank is also looked up to as a kind of father figure to a wealth of new and fledging singer songwriters. One of those, that Frank has taken under his wing, is our very own Ben Marwood. Mr Turner has taken him out on tour, bigged him up on national radio and always been there for moral support. I am hoping that Ben will be on at the bill at the Hexagon. It would be so cool to see and hear Ben on that big stage in front of 2,000 people.It would be a huge victory for Reading music scene.
Obviously, November is a long way off. But you can and should check Ben Marwood out - if you haven't already - at a show that I am co-promoting. It is taking place on Friday, May 18, at PLAY, 35 Milford Road, Reading. Ben will be main support to Jim Bob (Carter USM) playing his hits on just an acoustic guitar, and Damien A Passmore is opening. It will, trust me, be the gig of the year.
Well, until Thursday, November 15.
Tickets £10 on the door, and £9 in advance, visit www.wegottickets.com
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 May 12
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