- British alt rock band formed in 2007, from London. The band consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, guitars, drums), Ben Lovett (vocals, keyboards), Ted Dwane (vocals, bass guitar, upright bass) and Winston Marshall (vocals, electric guitar, banjo).
- Mumford and Lovett met in high school. He and his band mates were part of the touring band for British folk artist Laura Marling. As a touring back-up band, they gained experience playing together, and by 2007 they decided to form their own band. The name originates from Mumford’s leadership in the group, plus their interest in invoking an antiquated family business name.
- The management company for Marling took an interest in Mumford and Sons, and this led to a relationship with a record label. They toured in the UK, Australia and the U.S. in 2008 and 2009, gaining more fans with their folk rock sound. In 2009 they recorded their first album, Sigh No More, financing it themselves to maintain artistic freedom. When they showed up for their first recording session, the album producer sent them away when they showed up without any musical instruments. By August that year, they signed a licensing deal, and the record was released in October. The lead single was Little Lion Man. Alternative radio stations loved it, and they gained more exposure by performing the song on Late Show With David Letterman in February 2010. They also performed the single The Cave from the album on The Late Late Show.
- They gained momentum throughout 2010, and their performance at the Grammy Awards in February 2011 caused a spike in sales. Their album subsequently peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. They have sold over 3 million copies of the album. Little Lion Man reached #1 on the Alternative Songs chart, and The Cave peaked at #3.
- In 2012, they released their second album, Babel. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s lead single, I Will Wait, peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – their highest charting single on this chart. It quickly reached #1 on the Alternative Songs chart and the Rock Songs chart. The single sold over 3 million downloads. The album won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
- Mumford and Sons most recent full length album was released in 2015. Titled Wilder Mind, they moved away from folk rock and incorporated electric instruments and a session drummer. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, though sales have not approached the level of their first 2 albums. The single Believe reached #1 on the Alternative Songs chart. Their performance of the song on Saturday Night Live was the first time it was performed on television.
- Mumford and Sons has managed to make it into the mainstream even though they are eclectic with a unique alternative approach to music. It will be interesting to see if they continue to evolve away from the folk rock sound that made them so popular in their earlier days. Here is a live performance of I Will Wait. Enjoy the banjo and upright bass!
One of my favorites!