Mumford & Sons at the Forum

It’s been seven long years since the release of Mumford & Sons’ last album, Delta. Seven years in which the world has changed repeatedly, and the band itself underwent significant shifts, notably the departure of banjoist Winston Marshall, who, at the height of cancel culture, dared to tweet about a book from a right-wing journalist. The South West London group stunned audiences the world over with their brand of alternative folk-rock in 2009, debuting with Sigh No More and their most recognisable song, Little Lion Man.

The frontman, Marcus Mumford, possesses the charisma to captivate a packed stadium just as effortlessly as he can command an intimate venue, with nothing more than his voice and acoustic guitar. Tonight’s performance begins in precisely that fashion: Mumford steps forward alongside bandmates Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane, delivering a stripped-back rendition of Timshel, their bare voices and gentle hum of strings filling the Forum.

And so it continues with Ditmas, rockier in nature yet equally compelling in its unplugged form. It feels like a statement: we are back, and this is us. The show races by faster than you’d hope, and it’s not just the thrill of seeing them perform again – when all’s said and done, 15 songs and 75 minutes of music simply doesn’t feel enough. But this brevity is perhaps tonight’s only flaw, or close to it; the other issue being the banjo player positioned into the shadows of the stage, a presence too essential to be sidelined.

The new songs from the upcoming album Rushmere are convincing. The title track is an instant classic, gently folky and intense when it matters, sure to inspire feel-good singalongs as the tour grows larger. Malibu also reflects the defining qualities that made this band so revered, with an intimate backbone that erupts into a symphonic interplay of folk sounds and brass elements. Then there’s Caroline, introduced by Mumford with a heartfelt “I’m sick of keeping secrets, honestly”, referring to the long-held silence around their new work. It’s a powerful song, performed with the conviction and intensity of a frontman relishing the freedom to finally unveil fresh material to his audience.

While curiosity for Rushmere remains strong, the hunger for the band’s classics is undeniable. Little Lion Man gets an epic reception, as does The Cave. I’m still unconvinced that Lover of the Light should be sung while playing drums – voice and percussion just naturally pull in different directions here, leaving Mumford’s singing inevitably restrained. And, lord, please, bring the banjoist front and centre for the instrumental. 

The set ends with the song that proved Mumford & Sons can be full-on rock – and great at it – The Wolf, which hypes the Forum up, only for us to see them wave goodbye. Before you even realise they’re gone, they’re back with Delta, a mesmerising six-minute slow burn, constantly driven by an XX-esque hook and gradually building into a delicate eruption. Few tracks appear tonight from Delta, their most sophisticated album. Anyone misunderstanding the three-piece as merely a banjo-driven folk act should put headphones on and listen to Woman – then they will get it. 

It’s still early in North London, but we know it’s time to go as the band launch into their career-defining masterpiece, I Will Wait, a track that feels deeply personal, almost religious in its intimacy, yet can suddenly ignite a crowd, perfectly capturing Mumford’s essence as a frontman.

Filippo L’Astorina
Photos: Cristiana Ferrauti

For further information and future events visit Mumford & Sons’s website here.

Watch the video for the single here: