Mumford & Sons

On May 4th, Mumford & Sons will be releasing their latest album, Wilder Mind, via Glassnote Records. It is produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, HAIM, Florence & The Machine). It features 12 new tracks, written collaboratively by the band in London, Brooklyn, and Texas. A number of the new songs were written and demoed at Aaron Dessner's (The National) garage studios in Brooklyn. The band also returned to Eastcote Studios in London, where they recorded Sigh No More, for further writing and demo sessions. The album was recorded at AIR studios in London.

This new album marks a significant departure for the young British band from their previous records, 2009's Sigh No More, and 2012's Babel. The early sessions in New York and London witnessed a change in the band's approach not just to writing and recording, but to texture and dynamics, too. There is a minimalist yet panoramic feel to the new album, whose sound Marcus Mumford describes as "a development, not a departure." It came about by both accident, and by conscious decision.

"Towards the end of the Babel tour, we'd always play new songs during sound checks, and none of them featured the banjo, or a kick-drum," said Marcus Mumford. "And demoing with Aaron meant that, when we took a break, we knew it wasn't going to involve acoustic instruments. We didn't say: 'No acoustic instruments.' But I think all of us had this desire to shake it up. The songwriting hasn't changed drastically; it was led more by a desire to not do the same thing again. Plus, we fell back in love with drums! It's as simple as that."

"It felt completely natural, though," says Ben Lovett, "like it did when we started out. It was very much a case of, if someone was playing an electric guitar, drums were going to complement that best; and, sonically, it then made sense to add a synth or an organ. We chose instruments that played well off each other, rather than consciously trying to overhaul it."

Wilder Mind follows the 2012 release of Mumford & Sons' sophomore album, 2012's Grammy-winning Babel, the follow-up to their 2009 debut album, Sigh No More. In support of Wilder Mind, Mumford & Sons are very pleased to announce the first details and line-ups for their 2015 Gentlemen Of The Road Stopovers. Each Stopover is a two-day event that combines the intimacy of a community celebration with the excitement of a world-class music festival. Mumford & Sons will headline the Saturday shows, alongside an eclectic and energetic roster of artists curated by the band themselves. A series of smaller events involving local businesses, venues, and, most importantly, local people will happen in and around the town.

About this year's upcoming Stopover tour, Mumford & Sons said: "The Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers are all about live music. We get to put them on in towns not normally frequented by touring bands in busses or splitter vans. We deliberately look for towns that have something unique, or some vibe of which they are proud, explore them and enjoy what they have to offer."

Like 2012 and 2013, these outdoor events will take place in carefully selected and unique locations internationally, and will feature a host of acclaimed acts including Foo Fighters, Alabama Shakes, My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips, and many others, including more to be announced. This year's host towns include Seaside Heights, NJ; Waverly, IA; Walla Walla, WA; and Salida, CO.

Mumford & Sons recently announced headline performances at this year's Bonnaroo, Squamish, Reading & Leeds Festivals, Open'er Festival, Bilbao BBK Live, and Nos Alive Festival.

The first single, "Believe" arrives at radio on Monday, March 9th.

« back to Alternative Artist Info