Mumford & Sons are a true Marmite band — as loved as they are hated. They’re either posh boys cosplaying as farmers, or purveyors of immensely popular, rousing, countrified folk-pop. On their sixth album, they are keen to escape the foot-stomping sound that propelled them towards international stardom thanks to the single Little Lion Man and their 2009 debut ‘Sigh No More’. And, in truth, they are all the better for it.
There’s welcome maturity here: an intricate indie-folk record that’s less rabble-rousing, more vulnerable, and decidedly elegant in its production, handled by Aaron Dressner. ‘Prizefighter’ was recorded at the National guitarist’s Long Pond studio in Upstate New York, imparting a winning sense of warmth and atmospheric layering to proceedings.
Adding to this mix is an ensemble cast who keep things fresh throughout. A third of these tracks have feature appearances, beginning right out of the gate with Chris Stapleton bringing country gravitas to the opener Here, somewhat undercutting the narrative about Mumfords lacking authenticity in the process.
Rubber Band Man finds Marcus Mumford and Irish singer-songwriter Hozier’s gorgeous vocals bouncing off one another — it's sublime and chest-pumping, the harmonies rich and the chorus soaring. Elsewhere, vocal appearances by Gigi Perez on Icarus and Gracie Abrams on Badlands offer more diverse perspectives while luring in a Gen Z audience.
The songs without guests aren’t half bad either. The title track is a gorgeous, plaintive acoustic highlight, while The Banjo Song is bittersweet and earnest, its titular instrument less triumphant than you’d expect while soundtracking Mumford’s confessional lyrics: “And, hey/ I’m a mess myself but I think I could be someone/ If you need someone.”
Altogether, ‘Prizefighter’ sounds uplifting, intricate, subdued. So, despite the band being defined by their early anthems, this record reveals the trio’s songwriting progression in the years since. Maybe it’s time music snobs began taking them more seriously.
Mumford and Sons Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri April 24 2026 - MELBOURNE Rod Laver Arena
Sat April 25 2026 - MELBOURNE Rod Laver Arena
Tue April 28 2026 - BRISBANE Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Wed April 29 2026 - SYDNEY Qudos Bank Arena
Sat May 02 2026 - AUCKLAND Spark Arena
Tue June 02 2026 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Rogers Arena (Canada)
Thu June 04 2026 - BOZEMAN Montana - Bobcat Stadium (USA)
Sat June 06 2026 - BOULDER Colorado - Folsom Field (USA)
Mon June 08 2026 - FORT WORTH Texas - Dickies Arena (USA)
Tue June 09 2026 - ROGERS Arkansas - Walmart AMP (USA)
Thu June 11 2026 - CHICAGO Illinois - Wrigley Field (USA)
Sat June 13 2026 - TORONTO Ontario - Rogers Stadium (Canada)
Sun June 14 2026 - PITTSBURGH Pennsylvania - Pavilion at Star Lake (USA)
Tue June 16 2026 - BANGOR Maine - Maine Savings Amphitheater (USA)
Thu June 18 2026 - SYRACUSE New York - Empower FCU Amphitheater (USA)
Fri June 19 2026 - BRISTOW Virginia - Jiffy Lube Live (USA)
Sat June 20 2026 - HERSHEY Pennsylvania - Hersheypark Stadium (USA)
Mon June 22 2026 - BOSTON Massachusetts - Fenway Park (USA)
Wed July 01 2026 - GRONINGEN Stadspark (Netherlands)
Thu July 02 2026 - WERCHTER Festivalpark (Belgium)
Sat July 04 2026 - LONDON Hyde Park
Sun July 05 2026 - DUBLIN Marlay Park
Tue July 07 2026 - ROME Ippodromo delle Capannelle (Italy)
Thu July 09 2026 - BERLIN Waldbuhne (Germany)
Fri July 31 2026 - MINNEAPOLIS Minnesota - Mystic Lake Amphitheater (USA)
Sat August 01 2026 - ST CHARLES Iowa - Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater (USA)
Sun August 02 2026 - KANSAS CITY Missouri - Starlight Theatre (USA)
Tue August 04 2026 - ATLANTA Georgia - State Farm Arena (USA)
Thu August 06 2026 - HOLLYWOOD Florida - Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (USA)
Fri August 07 2026 - TAMPA Florida - Amalie Arena (USA)
Sun August 09 2026 - CHARLOTTE North Carolina - Spectrum Center (USA)
Tue August 11 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Sat August 15 2026 - GILFORD New Hampshire - BankNH Pavilion (USA)
Sun August 16 2026 - MONTREAL Quebec - Parc Jean Drapeau (Canada)
Sun September 20 2026 - CHARLOTTESVILLE Virginia - John Paul Jones Arena (USA)
Tue September 22 2026 - GRAND RAPIDS Michigan - Acrisure Amphitheater (USA)
Wed September 23 2026 - MADISON Wisconsin - Kohl Center (USA)
Fri September 25 2026 - LOUISVILLE Kentucky - Kentucky Expo Center (USA)
Tue September 29 2026 - BIRMINGHAM AL Alabama - Coca Cola Amphitheater (USA)
Thu October 01 2026 - THE WOODLANDS Texas - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (USA)
Sat October 03 2026 - ALBUQUERQUE New Mexico - Isleta Amphitheater (USA)
Tue October 06 2026 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
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