What do Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall, and Ted Dwane have in common? They’re all members of the ultra-successful folk-soul band Mumford & Sons. And yes – the and symbol, not the word, is the proper way to spell the band name. However, the band isn’t actually made up of Mumford and his sons. It’s a name chosen to give them an old-time appeal, in a modern world.

When they started the band in 2007, they weren’t alone in the London Folk scene. There were plenty of others playing similar music around that time – though Mumford would say that’s not exactly right. In his words, the band is “not folk really” but is instead “a community” that “isn’t exclusive.”

A Community of Music

The band started gathering fans by playing around London and used their unique harmonies and instrument choices to give people something to remember. Just a year after they got together, the band started working with a manager named Adam Tudhope. He was representing other successful up-and-coming British music artists too, at that time. He was the one that booked their first big stage slot at a music festival in Scotland.

Love Your Ground

After building up anticipation for their album at that festival, they put out the Love Your Ground EP. It did well, and their first studio album, Sigh No More, came out in 2009. Sigh No More was their breakthrough piece, and it charted on charts in both the UK and the US.

Their second two albums, Babel and Wilder Mind, both debuted in the top 10 when they came out. Babel temporarily held the title of the “fastest-selling rock album of the decade,” though it has since been surpassed. The band hast two live-recorded albums as well, if you can’t get enough of their music. Want to (potentially) be the crowd sound for their next live album? You’ll need tickets!