“Mumford and Sons” provided a nice little live prelude to the inevitable carnage of the T in the Park weekend. Playing in the intimate setting of the 100 or so capacity basement venue in The Captains Rest pub in the West end of Glasgow, their performance embodied everything that’s exciting about the new folk movement.
London seems to be a hotbed for surprising alternative folk at the moment with other bands such as “Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit”, “Slow Club” and of course “Laura Marling” all beating the drum for intelligent folk tinged rock. As much as I hate to use the word there’s a definite “scene” developing. I first discovered “Mumford and Sons” when they supported Laura Marling at the Oran Mor on her songbox tour and was instantly hit by the beauty and honesty that ran through lead singer Marcus’ songwriting. Marcus himself is actually the drummer in Laura’s band, but took being the centre of attention in his stride.
Double bass, fiddle, guitars and drums reverberated around the dark low ceilings of the venue with an intensity and purity that fleeted between uplifting and heartbreaking from one moment to the next. The band played a set which showcased a number of songs from their forthcoming EP along with recently penned compositions and older staples such as “Awake My Soul”.
Tracks like “Little Lion Man”, “The Shorter Sister”, “Roll Away Your Stone” and “Dustbowl Dance” showed their new found depth and highlighted the wealth of creative talent that’s running through the band. As Marcus thanked so many people for coming to watch them live he seemed genuinely shocked and appreciative when a shout came from the door to say the gig was sold out. If they continue in this vein with a winning combination of charm and sheer musical ability then I’m sure many more sold out shows in much larger venues are sure to follow. Songs like “little Lion Man” with its shout along chorus of “But it was not your fault but mine, And it was your heart on the line, I really fucked it up this time, Didn’t I, my dear” are crying out to be sung back at the band by much larger crowds than tonight.
If you like music that means something, music with a conscience and a soul then “Mumford and Sons” will be the perfect soundtrack to your evening.
(4 Years on who’d have thought that I was actually right about something for once in my life)
Ross Cunningham
'I’ve Never Felt More Scared And More Alive At The Same Time.’ Civil War (2024) 
They are quite brilliant, aren’t they? These boys are my favorite now, and at this rate, will be for a very, very long time. Their music is just so real, so passionate. That seems so hard to find nowadays, especially over here in the US, considering all the local radio stations are playing what sounds like people who got stuck in a blender. One of these days, I’ll be able to go to one of their amazing gigs and it will make my year. Until then, I guess I have YouTube. 🙂
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Hey Alexis
They are indeed a great band 🙂 I’ve seen them quite a few times and you won’t be disappointed when you finally see them live. Where abouts in the US are you from? If you like Mumford & Sons you’ll probably like The Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show who are both American bands I love
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I have heard Old Crow Medicine Show and they are incredible as well. 🙂 I’ll need to look into The Avett Brothers because I have heard OF them and lots of great things about them, just none of their work. I’m in Florida and M&S are having a US tour this August, but unfortunately all of the shows are too far away for me to take off of work for a road trip even though it would be completely worth it! I’m trying to be patient because good things come to those who wait, right? 🙂
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You need to tell your country to stop being so big I think, it takes too long to get anywhere in it 😛 I hope your thought of good things coming to those who wait comes true. I’ve been like that waiting to see Cat Power and it still hasn’t happened, maybe this year tho with her new album coming out.
You really should listen to The Avett Brothers, they are an amazing band, got quite a big back catalogue now but every song is good and you can’t say that about many artists. I’ve added a couple of my favourite songs of theirs in Youtube format underneath for your viewing/listening pleasure 🙂
The Avett Brothers – Murder In The City
The Avett Brothers – My Last Song To Jenny
The Avett Brothers – The Ballad Of Love And Hate
The Avett Brothers – If it’s The Beaches
Timothy Seth Avett as Darling – About Love
Hope you enjoy the videos, keep checking back to the site for more updates of music you might like 🙂
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Thank you for posting those videos! They are incredible as well! 🙂 And I’m hoping, like you, that after this next album comes out in September, Mumford & Sons will have time to do more gigs, which from what I’ve gathered, they would prefer to do anyway! With any stroke of luck, you’ll get to see Cat Power and I’ll get to see Mumford & Sons! Good luck to you! 🙂 And thank you, again!
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I loved reading your review of the show that they did! I first heard Mumford & Sons in 2011 and have not stopped listening. There music has touched me in a way that no other band has since Bruce Springsteen! And then I saw them perform live on Austin City limits and that sealed it. They sing from the depth of their souls and the energy it projects is amazing. I can’t wait to see them for the first time in Dixon this summer! It has also led me to other music such as the Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Ratleif, Dawes and others. Thanks for posting these videos!
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Do you also like the Decemberists?
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Hey
I’m glad you enjoyed the review and the videos 🙂
I do indeed like The Decemberists, “Eli, the Barrow Boy” from “Picaresque” is probably my favourite song, although also love “June Hymn”, “January Hymn”, “Don’t Carry It All” and “This Is Why We Fight” from “The King Is Dead”. Which I’d say is probably their strongest overall album.
Also I love Nathaniel Ratleif’s voice. I’d love to see him live one day
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