Marcus Mumford’s old stomping grounds get a 25-song thank-you, fireworks and all

Marcus Mumford of English folk-rock band Mumford & Sons lived in Colorado before he started the Grammy and BRIT award-winning outfit in 2007. He worked as a soccer coach in Denver, later going on to perform at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Red Rocks and now, Folsom Field.

“I had to call it ‘soccer’ for a whole year of my life. It was a disaster,” he joked at Saturday’s show about the sport the rest of the world calls football.

Mumford declared that England will win the World Cup this year, even though they haven’t won since their first victory in 1966.

“All of our songs are about soccer,” he quipped before launching into “Ghosts That We Knew,” an aching track about relationship trauma.

Mumford (lead vocals and guitar), along with Ben Lovett (keys), and Ted Dwane (bass), make up Mumford & Sons. Winston Marshall (banjo) was also an original member, but he left the band in 2021. In the past year, the band dropped two No. 1 albums in the UK: Prizefighter and Rushmere.

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Mumford told Billboard that the band was actively mixing Rushmere when Aaron Dessner — a writer, musician, producer and founding member of The National — came in to hear the record and shared a demo he developed with Jon Bellion. Gracie Abrams texted Mumford about the same demo, saying the band had to play around with it.

So they embarked on a new project while wrapping up their fifth studio album.

Prizefighter dropped February 20 with an impressive list of collaborators, including Abrams, Hozier, Chris Stapleton, Gigi Perez, Brandi Carlile, FINNEAS and Justin Vernon.

With Mumford’s ties to Colorado, it’s no surprise the band returned for the Prizefighter Tour with a 25-song set — complete with fireworks — at Folsom Field on June 6.

Their introspective hit-making

Mumford & Sons kicked off the show with “Begin Again” from Prizefighter. A warm glow of orange and white lights encapsulated the band as Mumford sang a hopeful message about shattering generational cycles and healing from the past. As his voice soared, small fireworks bounced in arcs on stage left and right.

The band has mastered the art of skillful crescendos and decrescendos. They ruminate in quiet moments before exploding into stomping, high-energy soundscapes of guitar, banjo and bass.

A perfect example of this style is their hit “Little Lion Man.” Mumford & Sons launch into their trademark rapid strumming as the audience cheered and sang along to the chorus. Intimate self-reflection then grew into raucous self-loathing.

Mumford & Sons also know how to craft an undeniably catchy single that’s laced with deeply personal songwriting. With “The Cave,” the band references Plato’s “Allegory of The Cave,” where prisoners are chained in a dark cave and perceive shadows as reality. The band uses this philosophical thought experiment to represent breaking free from what’s comfortable and embracing new perspectives. Somehow, this complex narrative serves as a catalyst for a danceable song.

Photo: Stacy Ebright

A bit of stagecraft

When you’re playing a homecoming show of sorts for over 40,000 audience members, you have to give them something a little extra. Mumford & Sons’ set consists of industrial shapes and emblems set on fire, glowing on the wall behind them. Sometimes sparks fall down the backdrop like a dangerous waterfall. A wave of string lights cascades across the sky over the field and huge fireworks burst in red and white as they finish their final song “Conversation with My Son (Gangsters & Angels).”

The band doesn’t engage in any choreography or much movement, but they don’t really need to. They passionately played their songs, and the audience was happy to dance and sing along.

Mumford pulls off an impressive feat, running through the crowd into the 200s section while singing. It doesn’t even sound like he’s winded as he greets fans while performing “Ditmas.”

Collaborating with their opener

There’s something beautiful about artists collaborating with their openers. When you have talented artists on tour with you, why wouldn’t you want to create unique moments with them?

Mumford & Sons bring out their second opener, Sierra Ferrell for “Here” and “If I Needed You” — a Townes Van Zandt cover. For “If I Needed You,” they’re on a small stage in the audience. The band shares one mic, embracing a quiet moment. Of course, the audience can’t match their energy and shrieks, overpowering Ferrell’s verse. Still, it’s a lovely moment of togetherness and artistry.

Love for Colorado

“I’ll tell you what — we fucking love Colorado, we do,” Mumford said near the top of the show.

He later adds that Colorado feels like a second home and their popular song “I Will Wait” wouldn’t exist without this state. While living in a basement in Westminster, Mumford fell in love with bluegrass, which is a heavy influence in the song.

Mumford & Sons know their audience. They play the hits, share their gratitude and rock out to a set long enough to justify the ticket prices.