Frank Turner breaks world record for most shows played in 24 hours: “Proud. Tired. Grateful. Long live independent music”

Frank Turner has broken the world record for the most shows played in 24 hours, with 15 gigs in 15 different towns.

READ MORE: The case has been made for a £1 ticket levy on all arena gigs – for the survival of grassroots venues and artists

The artist was taking on the challenge in honour of the Music Venue Trust (MVT), playing every show at an independent venue, with all tickets sold by independent record shops.

The feat kicked off in Liverpool’s Jacaranda Baltic at 12:30pm on Saturday (May 4), with Turner working his way down the country, before finally completing the mission at Southampton’s The Brook at midday today (May 5).

The rules for the world record attempt were set out by the MVT, who clarified that each set had to last for at least 15 minutes, with no repeated venues and a minimum of 25 audience members at each show.

At the start of the journey, Turner posted an image of himself holding a sign saying “BEFORE”, writing: “Here we go friends. 15 shows, 15 town, 24 hours. This is a terrible idea. Thanks to the venues, my crew, the record shops and @musicvenuetrust – let’s do this.”

That was later followed up by a post from the final leg of the attempt, holding an equivalent “AFTER” sign. “Proud. Tired. Grateful. Long live independent music,” he wrote.

Turner also reflected on a time when he played even more shows in a short period, albeit in an unofficial capacity. “In 2009, for the music video for ‘The Road’, I played 24 shows in 24 hours – all in Greater London. House parties, venues, record shops and more. It was fun but kind of unofficial, and hard work. I didn’t think I wanted to do it again,” he explained.

“In the last 24 hours, accompanied by my crew (Doug and Tre and Mark), we played 15 shows in 15 different towns around the UK. According to the @musicvenuetrust rules, that’s the world record by 5 shows. Every show was at an independent venue, ticketed by an independent record shop. We did it.”

See the full list of shows that Turner played, and the full list of rules and criteria for the record attempt, below:

Wishing our patron @FrankTurner safe travels across his Music Venue Trust world record setting mission this weekend: The most gigs in 24 hours. To keep everything above board we’ve set out some stipulations to ensure every gig counts.#GrassrootsMusicVenues #FrankTurner pic.twitter.com/ZFhcwOxqKm

— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) May 3, 2024

See some footage from Turner’s epic achievement below:

That was everything

Thank you to @frankturner for having me. For the staff at Rough Trade and @SaltboxBar and everyone who showed up and sang LOUD!

I am going to cherish that gig for the rest of my life.

Sarah pic.twitter.com/Y65XeRMKtc

— George Gadd (@georgegadd_) May 5, 2024

Went to see @frankturner at 7.30 on a Sunday morning and I REGRET NOTHING! #FTHC pic.twitter.com/S3FZm7uVqt

— Lauran (@TheAlbionGirl) May 5, 2024

Yesterday got an awesome new tattoo and today got to see an intimate 30 min @frankturner show as part of his world record attempt, brilliant stuff. pic.twitter.com/arjowS72z4

— DeGinnerTheWinner (@DeGinnerWinner) May 4, 2024

Lovely thing to be a part of; the awesome @frankturner’s world record attempt – 15 shows, 15 towns, 24 hours! We caught him at the funky little venue that is @saltbox_bar in #Nottingham. Tomorrow morning’s 6am show in Kingston is going to be hard work for Frank and his crew! pic.twitter.com/7aBKjrbpXR

— jessnotthecat (@jessnotthecat) May 4, 2024

Southampton, 12.30pm, world record secured pic.twitter.com/028AbA8o4c

— Mark Beaumont (@Markbeaumontuk) May 5, 2024

Turner has been a prominent advocate for the need for extra support for grassroots music venues, at a time when the MVT is calling for a £1 ticket levy on large scale concerts to help save smaller live music spaces.

READ MORE: Frank Turner talks new single ‘Girl From The Record Shop’ and the importance of spaces to share music

Earlier this year, he told NME about the need for the industry to pull together to help the grassroots and independent sector. “We’re trying to remind people that going to independent gigs is fun, and teaching the kids who came of age in 2020 or 2021 that this is a cool thing to do,” he said. “My role in this is twofold – to shout about it whenever I can and be positive and say it’s a really fucking cool thing to go to indie gigs. Don’t fucking go to an arena gig where you get charged nine quid for a beer!”

Turner’s latest album ‘Undefeated’ was released on Friday (May 3) via Xtra Mile, his first record as an independent artist.

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