English Singer Breaks World Record for Most Live Shows Played in One Day

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls perform during the 2014 Governors Ball Music Festival
Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls perform during the 2014 Governors Ball Music Festival. Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images

English singer Frank Turner has an impressive new accolade under his belt: the world record for the most live shows played in 24 hours. He performed 15 shows at 15 separate venues in 15 different towns within a day's time.

On Saturday, May 4, Turner began his venture with a concert in Liverpool at Jacaranda Baltic at 12:30 p.m. The journey then took him down the English countryside to Southampton, where he finished out the day with a show at the Brook in the early afternoon of May 5.

Before heading out on his trek, Turner posted on Instagram holding a piece of paper that read "Before."

He captioned the post, "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."

Prior to Turner's day-long tour, Music Venue Trust shared a series of "stipulations to ensure every gig counts" towards breaking the record. Shows must be held at different venues, played in front of at least 25 paying audience members and last for at least 15 minutes of continuous play. Each concert must also take place in a different town or city.

Turner successfully toured down the country, heading South throughout his musical journey. He celebrated his successful conquest of fifteen stops with an Instagram post. Turner is pictured holding a sign that says "After" while posing on stage with his audience behind him. He also attached a sweet photo of himself and his team.

In the post's caption, Turner detailed his previous, less-intense attempt of trying to break the world record for most gigs in a 24-hour period.

"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," wrote Turner on Instagram.

He then went on to commend himself, his team and the venues and record shops that helped to make his recent shows possible.

"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."

The previous record for most shows played in a 24-hour period was held by Hunter Hayes, who performed 10 shows within the allotted time. The Flaming Lips claimed the title before with 8 shows in 24 hours.

Turner is also celebrating the recent release of his 10th album, Undefeated. The record dropped on Friday, less than 24 hours before the singer's southbound trek across England. He will be heading out on a U.S. Tour at the end of the month.

"Proud. Tired. Grateful. Long live independent music," Turner concluded.

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