Frank Turner at The Monarch, Camden: Typically raucous evening to raise money for War Child

Frank Turner (Getty Images)

Frank Turner’s incessant touring is a treat for fans, but it appears to have taken an unfortunate toll on his immune system.

He’s putting on a brave face at The Monarch in Camden because that's the kind of guy he is (plus it’s for charity), and is so stoic that for the most part the audience don’t realise quite how ill he is until he tells them towards the end of the gig.

Turner has a rare talent of taking the everyday and turning it into something that really hits home. His new single "Mittens", for instance, takes an old cliché and repurposes it for one of those relationships that just didn’t work out - it's difficult to think of another artist who could pull off the rather clumsy metaphor.

Above all though, he's a superb story-teller – drawing inspiration from traditional ballads (as opposed to the crooning kind).

As if to prove this, he performs something new that’s been born out of his fascination with English folklore, about a woman whose husbands keep dying in mysterious circumstances. It’s fun and silly, and the audience are delighted with the history lesson.

It’s pretty much impossible to come out of a Frank Turner gig in a bad mood; the raucous cheer, friendly (if slightly hoarse) banter and his down-to-earth charm are what make him such a unique performer. Always a pleasure.

Find out more about War Child and donate here