Life has been non-stop for Frank Benbini aka Uncle Frank and member of Fun Lovin’ Criminals.
Writing, new releases, big outdoor shows, touring, and more – between it all we managed to catch up with him about how life has been and what’s coming next.
Tell us what you’ve been up to since we last spoke?
Too much, I’ve not stopped
I’ve written three new albums that are all finished, been all over the world playing in some of my favourite places – Hawaii is always beautiful to play the islands – and today see’s me hit 100 flights as I land in Malta to play a festival tonight. Alongside that I’ve been working on something huge for last 10 years that I can tell u about later in the year.
You’re playing with UB40 at this month’s outdoor Abbey Park shows, what are you most looking forward to about that?
It’s going to be so cool it’s such a beautiful park and I walk my Jack Russell on the park every day and been going to that park all my life. Plus the history of Abbey Park Festival (which should be brought back) it’s going to feel like old times.
How important is it for Leicester to host these bigger outdoor shows?
Very important it’s a city that loves the arts and music and having the big events to bring in such legendary acts like UB40 Ali Campbell and many others is what the city deserves.
With Uncle Frank you’ve got some summer shows coming up, where will people be able to catch you on tour?
Yes Uncle Frank will be playing a summer show at the great independent music venue, The Soundhouse. it’s a show to introduce our long lost concept album made over 20 years ago but somehow was lost in hard drives but we found it and sent it to Grammy award winning mix and master engineer, Tim Latham. We will be releasing this album called THE SOUNDTRACK TO A MUSICAL in July and we will be playing live on 1 August – make sure you come down and check it out.
We hear you’ve also been back in the studio, when can fans expect to hear some new material?
I’ve been barricaded in the studio for such a long time completing three albums so yeah look out for the July release of Uncle Frank’s Soundtrack To A Musical album. Then on 29 August the Brand New Fun Lovin’ Criminals album which is called A Matter Of Time. Also our Reggie band, Radio Riddler, also have a new album coming out at the end of the summer Called Strong Roots, so plenty of new releases.
How can people keep up to date with what you’re doing?
The best way is Instagram or Facebook so look for @funlovincrims
@unclefrankmusic
@ub40ftAliCampbell
@radioriddler
Or Google any of the above.