This post is from Out the Other's 2010 Bonnaroo Artist Previews, where I will be posting previews of all the musical acts playing the 2010 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Please check out and subscribe to the full site to learn more about all of this year's performers.
Mumford & Sons are a quartet (delightfully posed in a barbershop above - get it?) that hails from West London, though their sound couldn't be planted more firmly in the heart of America. Rustic and rootsy with an old-timey feel, it's Americana a la the Avett Brothers and The Tallest Man On Earth, for fans of the Dr. Dog, Felice Brothers and even Fleet Foxes variety of indie folk rock. Be-vested and bango-strumming, they appeared on David Letterman back in February to perform "Little Lion Man," a pretty stellar single from their full length debut, Sigh No More. And while the performance is great, my favorite moment comes in the moment after they complete their song and Letterman asks "what is this, exactly?" of the instrument the electric banjo player is holding - leaving two members of the band grinning incredulously at each other as the host moves on. I just love the "holy shit" moments that sneak through when bands are doing something they have to think is pretty insane, like appearing on Letterman.
Hopefully this summer's Bonnaroo might be another of those "holy shit" moments for Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Ted Dwane and Country Winston (Oh my god I'm obsessed with the fact that their banjo player is named Country Winston. SO perfect.). While the band is no stranger to festivals - in fact, they played Glastonbury in 2008, only a year after they began playing together the previous summer - I imagine there's a certain level of excitement that comes with playing in the heart of Tennessee, particularly when you're a band that initially bonded over a common love of country, bluegrass and folk.
And I'm fairly certain Mumford & Sons (who I hope by now you've realized are not related at all) are exactly the kind of band that will kick ass at Bonnaroo. Their take on folk-rock is bright and energetic, enthusiastic and engaging - exactly the type of music that translates to the stage well. Reviews I've read of Sigh No More (at least from sources I respect) have been slightly lukewarm, but they all seem to praise the band's sheer force of will - and above all other aspects, effort helps the cream rise to the top of the festival lineup. Looking forward to checking these guys out.
Sigh No More came out stateside last month, so it's available now on Glass Note Records.
