Mumford And Sons Gentlemen Of The Road Festival Review, Huddersfield 05/06/2012
And yet here today, we are not in Madison Square Garden or The 02 Arena. We're in a rain drenched park in Huddersfield, gearing up for the opening night of Mumford 'Stopovers', a series of curated mini concerts designed to launch their new record and introduce some of their favourite acts to those not in the know. A great idea, is it not? By playing a town notorious for it's friendly locals and rolling hills (but yet always in the shadows of nearby Sheffield and Leeds), Mumford get to unleash the fruits of their new records labour (release date September 24th) to a patient and ardent crowd. The question is, after almost three years of radio silence, can they still pull the same crowd pleasing trick?
Our day at The Gentlemen of The Road Festival gets off to a good start. In terms of aesthetics, the boys have done themselves proud. The quaint posters and drapes that hang at each of the two stages are befitting of the jubilee weekend, boasting mustachioed cameo graphics and typically British slogans. Pleasingly, food, drink and merchandising prices all seem reasonable, and there is a good 'something for everyone' vibe as families stroll between bars, blasting out bands as varied as Radiohead and Example. So far so mainstream.
Slow Club gives us reason to head back to the second stage, the first band of the day who seem refreshingly different enough from Mumford and Sons to be truly interesting. They gel increasingly as a unit throughout their set, the endearingly sarcastic Rebecca taking on keys, drums and guitar whilst proving she is a much better live singer than some might suggest. A highlight comes in the form of a beautifully heartfelt rendition of Everything Is New, the most authentic sounding 4 minutes of the day.
The sky has darkened, the heavens have finally stopped pouring and the days curators emerge on the mainstage. As the opening bars of new song Lover's Eyes fill the night, curious crowd members look to one another in puzzlement. It's a risky move opening a comeback gig with a new song, but by the time their trademark banjo kicks in, you realise that Mumford and Sons have fans who will clap to literally anything.
By the looks of the crowd by the time they strike a rousing rendition of Awake My Soul, I can only assume that the owner of the bar supplier today is rubbing his hands together with glee. Arms are aloft, beers are thrust fourth and boozy cheers get louder and louder, creating the camaraderie that Mumford and Sons have based their career on. As we rush towards closer The Cave, smiles are plastered firmly on faces, keyboardist Ben Lovett clearly having the time of his life as he leaps about, beaming at the front rows. There is no denying that they are a charming live band, and as a new witness to their live performance, I was left satisfied, both by them and by the structure of the day. However, it is painfully obvious that they are going to need to pull out something quite special come September to live up to the legacy they have created for themselves.
Mumford And Sons - Roll Away Your Stone (apologies for the slightly dodgy quality)
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