When is an underdog no longer an underdog? Is it when he’s the act who begins the Olympics Opening Ceremony? Maybe it’s when he has headlined both Wembley Arena and O2 Arena, two of the UK capital’s biggest venues? Or perhaps it’s when each of his records is bigger and more successful than the last? Or maybe it’s simpler than that: maybe an underdog is no longer an underdog when he connects in the way that Frank Turner connects, writing songs that inspire their crowd to reflect, to singalong, to holler along, to hold their arms aloft, all at once.

It is almost a decade since Frank Turner went solo following the demise of Million Dead, the hardcore quartet he fronted. In that time, he has been on a constant upward curve, its momentum propelled forward by a mixture of Turner’s force of will and his effortless craft of song. Each record now brings with it new landmarks for the 32-year-old from Hampshire.

His fourth album, 2011’s England Keep My Bones, sold more than 100,000 copies and entered the UK Charts at number 12. Its follow-up, last year’s Tape Deck Heart has sold 200,000 copies. It entered the UK Charts at Number 2 and the iTunes Charts at Number 1. “Since the release of Tape Deck Heart everything has been pretty frantic,” he says. “The band and I have been around the world more times than I can count.” Not even an injury to his back could derail Turner and his band’s tireless work ethic: he played 73 shows with two slipped discs. “It’s been exhausting, but everything has notched up a gear,” he says. “I’m excited to get to work on the next record.”

Tickets £22.50

https://www.exeterguild.org/ents/event/4418/