Taking to the stage without his Sons, Marcus Mumford still put on a memorable show in this intimate setting...
Intimate gigs are always a weird one. You can hear the - sometimes unfavourable - reaction of individual audience members to certain developments (like the one woman who took particular offence to headliner Marcus Mumford’s use of the word “holibobs”). You’re treated to an unpredictable setlist of songs, as the act decides to try out tunes that are calling to them in that moment (a Taylor Swift number and Not in Nottingham from 1973’s Robin Hood were particular highlights). You’re saddled with crowd members who try to make it all about themselves (one guy kept interrupting Mumford so often that others around him politely told him where he should go). And you witness moments that you likely never would in a packed arena (like when a rendition of Fare Thee Well was brought to a halt to bring attention to an issue in the audience).
These gigs also mean, though, that you get to experience the raw talent of those on stage like never before - as everything is stripped back, leaving just the performer and his acoustic guitar, with no bells or whistles to hide behind. And it was in this setting that the artistry of Marcus Mumford really shone through. I’d already experienced Mumford’s class when he and his band took over Motorpoint Arena back in 2018, and I was blown away by his vocals then. But this was a whole other level.
The bare-bones set-up meant there was little else to focus on besides the man, his guitar, and his voice - and that was all that was needed.
As he rattled off tunes both old and new, Mumford showcased his range with an almost unfair sense of ease, nailing difficult notes without breaking a sweat - a feat made all the more impressive considering he’d already performed in the same venue just a few hours prior. The bare-bones set-up meant there was little else to focus on besides the man, his guitar, and his voice - and that was all that was needed.
Of course, the downside to this type of event is that some of the usually faster-paced tunes lose their magic somewhat, with a couple of the Mumford & Sons originals not quite hitting in the same way without the backing of a band. Yet, all in all, Mumford held his own without his offspring, leading to an enjoyable - if certainly unique - night down Shakespeare Street.
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