Is Mumford and Sons Folk Music or Something Else?
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Mumford and Sons have been described as a folk band, but is that the whole story? Let’s take a look at what makes them unique and see if we can come to a better understanding of their music.
Introducing Mumford and Sons
Mumford & Sons is a band that formed in 2007 in London, England. The group consists of Marcus Mumford, Winston Marshall, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane. The band’s debut album, Sigh No More, was released in 2009 and became a commercial success in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In the United States, the album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The band’s second studio album, Babel, was released in 2012 and topped charts in several countries.
Mumford & Sons have been described as a folk rock or alternative rock band. Their music is heavily influenced by folk music, but they have also incorporated elements of other genres such as rock, alternative rock, and bluegrass.
What do you think? Is Mumford & Sons folk music or something else?
Their Beginnings in the London Folk Scene
Mumford and Sons is a British band that initially found success in the United Kingdom with their debut album, Sigh No More. The group consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, guitar, drums), Ben Lovett (vocals, keyboard, piano), Winston Marshall (vocals, banjo, Dobro), and Ted Dwane (vocals, string bass, drums). The band’s musical style has been variously categorized as bluegrass, folk rock, and neofolk.
The band began in 2007 with multi-instrumentalists Mumford and Lovett. They held their first practice session in Lovett’s father’s barn in Hampshire getting together to play Mumford’s songs “Little Lion Man” and “The Cave.” The two then recruited Marshall and Dwane through mutual friends.
In 2008, the band played at a number of small festivals in the UK and were signed by Island Records after playing one show at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. In 2009 they released their first EP called Love Your ground. The EP featured three songs: “Love Your Ground,” “Winter Winds,” and “Roll Away Your Stone.” In 2010 they released their debut album Sigh No More which reached number two on the UK album charts and has been certified 4× platinum by the BPI.
Their First Album, Sigh No More
Mumford and Sons’ first album, Sigh No More, was released in 2009. The album was very successful in the UK, reaching number two on the UK Albums Chart and selling over one million copies. The album was also successful in the US, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and selling over two million copies.
The album’s title comes from a line in Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing. The play is about two young lovers, Beatrice and Benedick, who are tricked into thinking that each other does not love them. At the end of the play, they finally confess their love for each other and get married. In the final scene, Beatrice says to Benedick: “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,/ Men were deceivers ever;/ One foot in sea and one on shore,/ To one thing constant never.” This line is about how men are always dishonest and how women should not waste their time sighing over them.
The album’s lead single is “Little Lion Man”. The song was a huge success in both the UK and the US, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about a man who regrets his past mistakes.
The Success of Babel
Mumford and Sons’ second album, Babel, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 600,000 copies in its first week of release. The album was nominated for Album of the Year and Best British Album at the 2013 Brit Awards, winning the latter. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards it won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Americana Album. The group began their Babel Tour in February 2013 to support Babel. The tour concluded in August 2013 after visiting Europe, North America and Oceania.
“I Will Wait” and “The Wolf”
“I Will Wait” and “The Wolf” are two of Mumford & Sons’ most popular songs. But are they really folk music?
The answer is complicated. Folk music is hard to define, but most people would agree that it has certain characteristics: it’s usually acoustic, often uses traditional instruments, and tells stories about the human experience.
Mumford & Sons definitely have acoustic songs, and they often use traditional folk instruments like the banjo and fiddle. But their songs also deal with more modern themes like love, loss, and heartbreak. So while Mumford & Sons might have some folk influences, they’re not strictly a folk band.
Mumford and Sons’ Place in the Music World
Mumford and Sons’ place in the music world has been the subject of much debate. The band formed in 2007 and rose to prominence in the early 2010s with their debut album, “Sign No More.” Their sound is a unique blend of folk, rock, and pop that has led some to argue that they are not technically folk music.
The band has been nominated for several Grammy Awards and won the award for Best Album of the Year in 2012 for their album “Babel.” Their success has led to a resurgence in interest in folk music, and they have been credited with helping to revive the genre.
Whether or not Mumford and Sons is considered folk music is ultimately up to the listener. However, there is no denying that they have had a significant impact on the music world and have helped to bring attention to a genre that was once on the decline.
