As one of Britain’s most opinionated folk singers Frank Turner has had a harder ride than most.

Surrey Comet:

Frank Turner plays instore in Banquet Records 

He’s been described as everything from the “voice of rebellious dissent” to “having political opinions that would make music fans wince”.

On August 6 he will play Kingston’s New Slang with his backing band The Sleeping Souls before the official launch of his new album.

Turner is a veteran of the Banquet Records organised club night and a big fan of the Kingston music scene which he describes as “unique.”

He says: “I played the first New Slang back in 2006 and I have played Banquet in-stores more times than I have had hot dinners.

“Kingston has a very special place in the music scene and it is entirely down to [Banquet Records owner] Jon Tolley.

“There isn’t anything like it anywhere else in the country.

“There will be bands that come to the UK on big international tours and they will do Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, London and Kingston and that is pretty unique.”

Turner is playing New Slang the night before the release of his sixth studio album – Positive Songs for Negative People.

The album is a “record about defiance” according to Turner and comes after a difficult few years for the singer who has been lambasted for his political views.

In 2012 he hit the headlines for labelling the BNP as a “hard-left party” and writing that he did not believe the arts should be publicly funded.

He says: “The album is very much a follow up from Tape Deck Heart and is about picking yourself up froma fall. Making it through the bad times and continuing to strive.

“Politics is not something that I have any interest in anymore. I have sampled the waters of protest singing but it is just not for me.

“I have always found that the stupider that people are the louder they seem to shout. I’m more interested in music.

“I don’t want to be shouted at for not singing people’s opinions back to them in rhyming couplets.

“I have what I suppose are some slightly unfashionable political views in some sectors of the music industry, but I got misinterpreted by some media outlets and I’ve put that behind me now.”

Turner will be kicking off an international tour in August with a record ninth consecutive appearance at the Reading and Leeds festivals.

After almost 15 years touring as a solo artist and with post-hardcore band Million Dead, he is used to being on the road and says it is where he feels most at home.

“I don’t know how to do ‘adult’ when I’m not on tour,” he says.

“I have a tour manager who tells me when to eat, sleep and do everything when I’m on tour. I don’t have her when I’m at home.”

Surrey Comet:

Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls; New Slang The Hippodrome, St James Road, Kingston, August 6; from £9; banquetrecords.com.

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