Folk stars Mumford & Sons come to Liverpool and Manchester 02 Academies on their UK tour in March

Feb 4 2010 by Paul Mannion, Flintshire Chronicle

Wistful folk rockers Mumford & Sons are bringing their energetic live shows to Liverpool and Manchester as part of their eagerly anticipated UK tour.

With fire in their bellies, romance in their hearts, and rapture in their masterful, melancholy voices, Mumford & Sons draw on country, bluegrass and folk music, warm stories and excellent musicianship.

Hotly tipped to be one of the biggest bands of 2010, the tour follows the release of their critically allcaimed debut album, Sign No More, as they take on some of their biggest shows to date.

Despite echoing the rhythm of an Irish bodhran and rasping harmonies from shanty singing sea men, the four-piece hail from London and boast contemporaries such as Noah And The Whale and Laura Marling.

Forming in late 2007, friends Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane were brought together through a common love of music.

They united to perform impromptu renditions of Marcus’ earliest songs in front of crowds of friends in sweaty underground folk nights in the capital.

“It was a very exciting time, and though we loved it and were in awe of the music going on around us, we didn’t consider ourselves contenders in the pretty daunting London music scene,” says Marcus.

“There was never any idea of competition, just pure enjoyment.”

Word soon began to spread and following the band’s exhaustive touring throughout 2008, the gigs got grander, from a barge-tour of the Thames to Glastonbury and then America.

“What we write about is real, and we sing and play our instruments more passionately because we feel like we need to,” says Winston. “We love honest music,”

Mumford & Sons play Manchester Academy on Thursday, March 4, for more information ring 0161 275 2930. The band plays Liverpool Academy on Tuesday, March 9. For more information ring 0844 477 2000. Tickets cost £12.