Live Review: Mumford & Sons at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena

Having previously seen the band headline the main stage of Leicester’s Summer Sundae way back in 2010 - it’s fair to say while my attention has evidently been elsewhere for the past decade and a half – they’ve been busy releasing chart topping, platinum selling albums and picking up an army of fans along the way.

Mumford & Sons released their fifth album Rushmere earlier this year – and its successor has already been readied for release in February.

On Sunday night, the band, led by singer and guitarist Marcus Mumford, played a sold-out headline gig at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena.

And, over the course of the band’s 22-song set, we got a bit of everything.

Their bluegrass folk rock classics, a smattering of their foray into a more refined, alternative rock outfit (M&S ‘sans-banjos’), a few stripped back songs on the (‘now-a-days somewhat obligatory B-Stage’) and a whole lot of talking.

Following the departure of a member in 2021, Mumford & Sons have remained a trio, with Marcus joined by keyboard player Ben Lovett and bassist Ted Dwane.

However, for this tour, their ranks have been bolstered to double figures, with an army of backing musicians loitering in the darkness at the back of the stage which has been carved up into to three layers.

Opening for Mumford & Sons was Sierra Ferrell from West Virginia – who judging by those pouring into the Utilita Arena wearing her merch - were as egar to see the multiple Grammy Award winner as the headliners.

Joined by a backing band all decked out in the same uniform of red shits with white tassels and hats, she took fans on a journey taking in all aspects of her alt-country and bluegrass infused material.

When Mumford & Sons appeared, they opened with new track Run Together, however, fans were soon singing along to Babel and – arguably one of their biggest hits - Little Lion Man.

It’s a measure of the confidence of any band when they throw a track like that so early into their set.

By now, a huge ornamental stage prop - somewhat resembling a chandelier - depicting birds, hearts and stars had been lowered above the band.

Frontman Mumford is mostly equipped with an acoustic guitar for the band’s set, but throughout the night it’s evident he also relishes playing the true ‘frontman’ role.

Early on, he acknowledges the size of gigs the band is playing, adding “we’re a bit far from the Glee Club”, and before long he’s jumped off the stage and is among fans on the front row.

Ferrell returns to join the band to perform Here, before Mumford & Sons - joined by banjo player Matt Menefee - decamp to the ‘B-Stage’ for a few stripped back numbers.

Another highlight of the night comes when Mumford again leaves the stage to run around the Utilita’s inner walkway (pursued by security trying to keep up) – at one point climbing steps to reach its top before heading to the floor to return to the stage and somehow getting covered in either red wine or snakebite in the process.

An incident which is amusingly later discussed.

Chat about Jack Grealish attending a Mumford & Sons gig in Manchester is met with cheers - which quickly subside to boos – before Mumford gushes over the footballer’s hair and calf muscles.

By now back on the main stage, exactly how Mumford & Sons shine is somewhat twofold.

The Cave is the band at their banjo-infused best. Upbeat acoustic driven anthems with people out of their seats dancing away.

However, songs like set closer The Wolf – where they’re joined by a drummer rather than relying on Marcus to double up on bass-drum duty - show there’s much more to the band as an alt rock force.

It also goes some way to explain why they’ve teamed up with The War On Drugs for a huge BST gig at Hyde Park next summer.

Mumford & Son’s encore sees the band convene around a single mic for Timshel, before finishing up with a rousing version of I Will Wait and new track Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels).

Mumford & Sons played:

Main Stage:

Run Together

Babel

Rubber Band Man

Little Lion Man

Hopeless Wanderer

Lover of the Light

Believe

Truth

Here (with Sierra Ferrell)

B-Stage:

Ghosts That We Knew

Where Are You Now

Guiding Light (acoustic)

Main Stage:

White Blank Page

Ditmas

The Cave

Roll Away Your Stone

Rushmere

The Wolf

Encore:

Timshel

Awake My Soul

I Will Wait

Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels)