Apple Music Festival, Mumford & Sons review: Mumfords go electric but banjos keep crowd happy

As well as ditching the waistcoats and grandad shirts, the folk-rockers from west London have expunged their signature twanging from their latest songs, but it was the reappearance of the banjo and double bass that roused this audience
Resonant sound: Marcus Mumford at The Roundhouse
PA
Andre Paine28 September 2015

It's more than two years since Mumford & Sons played a major show in the capital, and the first chance for a few thousand fans to experience the band’s sonic and sartorial departure.

As well as ditching the waistcoats and grandad shirts, the folk-rockers from west London have expunged their signature twanging from their latest songs.

And while Winston Marshall’s switch from banjo to squally guitar may not entirely appease those who actively loathe Mumford & Sons, the electric songs should sound spectacular when the band tour arenas later this year.

So far they have played only a few tiny shows here in support of third album Wilder Mind, which reached No 1 in the UK and US. “It’s nice to be back in our home town,” said Marcus Mumford.

Bolstered by a drummer, a violinist from Noah And The Whale and a duo on brass, Mumford & Sons were rich and resonant. Snake Eyes had shades of The National, while Mumford’s wailing amid the pounding drums on Believe should probably have Kings Of Leon worried. Tompkins Square Park was the loveliest of the new tunes, though each band member was attacking their instrument with gusto by the end. Any confusion about the lovelorn lyrics sung by Mumford – happily married to Carey Mulligan – is explained by the collaborative songwriting.

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Inevitably, it was the reappearance of the banjo and double bass that roused this audience into chanting along as Mumford stomped his way through I Will Wait.

He also jumped on the drums for a joyous Lover Of The Light, gathered the band for an unplugged Cold Arms (“it’s going to be f***ing quiet”) that silenced the room and recruited support act Jack Garratt for a faithful rendition of Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).

There were lasers to accompany the sublime guitar textures on Hot Gates during the encore, though it was the rollicking Little Lion Man that prompted a huge singalong.

As long as they don’t completely forsake the banjo, Mumford & Sons can confidently remain one of our biggest musical exports.

Playing December 9 and 10 (0844 856 0202, theo2.co.uk; applemusicfestival.com)

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