Review: Frank Turner returns to the Joiners

In 20 or so years time, the 28th of December 2012 will probably be seen as one of the defining days of the Southampton music scene. With the Joiners on the […]


five stars

In 20 or so years time, the 28th of December 2012 will probably be seen as one of the defining days of the Southampton music scene.

“There’s only one Frankie Boyle”

With the Joiners on the ropes, battered by falling attendances and the general economic climate, one of Hampshire’s very own golden boys stepped forward to selflessly aid a troubled old acquaintance.

This man is Frank Turner, born and bred just up the road in Winchester. He played two sets in one evening, even though he’d just returned from Zurich.

Hungover from the previous evening, Frank had taken a leaf out the student handbook and gone for the hair of the dog treatment…well, it was his birthday – it would have been rude not to!

He rallied the fans with a rousing speech, as he exclaimed:

The Joiners Arms is a venue that is really special to me. I saw my first ever show there. The venue is having a tough time of late financially – a common occurrence for small venues, as they operate on a thin margin.

When I heard about it, I naturally wanted to help. Let’s all gang together and make sure the Joiners survives and continues to provide a platform for the music we all love. See you there.

Anyone for cake? (Image: Twitter: @fthc)

With Frank taking requests from the audience, the Joiners was buzzing, with the sort of banter flying around that you can only find in such small local venues.

A spontaneous chant of “There’s only one Frankie Boyle” was more reminiscent of the nearby St Mary’s, whilst Frank, clearly feeling at home, joined in, taking the piss out of sections of the crowd by saying “Sorry, I don’t mean to play too loud for your conversations!”.

The Tom Jones classic ‘Delilah’ was beautifully played, with renditions of ‘I Still Believe’ and ‘Wessex Boy’ also enthralling the crowd. A recording of Wessex Boy can be found below.

The intimacy of this tiny venue was summed up in a nutshell when Frank showed off his birthday cake given to him by the Joiners, before offering it to whoever wanted to come up at the end to have a slice!

Owner Pat Muldowney exclusively told The Tab that the gig was:

One of the best nights in Joiners history. Frank didn’t ask for a single penny and in fact made a donation from his own pocket. Frank sees the Joiners as his home and hopefully be will returning again soon.

Frank and Pat: “Joiners saved” …we hope so! (Image: Twitter @fthc)

With the sales from the evening expected to cover around £8,000 of the £30,000 of debt, the Joiners still has some way to becoming safe from the bailiffs. The awareness raised, however, is priceless, and will hopefully allow the Joiners to carry on as one of the best, and most important, small music venues, to continue for the foreseeable future.

We thoroughly recommend that, if you get a chance before you leave this glorious city, you head down to a gig at the Joiners, with a capacity of just 150, there is nothing quite like it.