Gig review: Mumford & Sons at First Direct Arena, Leeds

SAY what you like about Mumford & Sons, and many have down the years, but nights such as this say a whole lot more.
Mumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony LongstaffMumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony Longstaff
Mumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony Longstaff

An outstanding performance in front of a huge and adoring Leeds crowd spoke volumes for the London folk-rock band’s musical talent and the level of support they continue to attract.

Now on their fourth album, they still have enough dedicated fans to pack out arenas across the UK and sell millions of records on a global scale.

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This latest tour is to promote the new album, Delta, but was shrouded in controversy before it even began after Mumford & Sons rescheduled four dates in Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield and Manchester.

Mumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony LongstaffMumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony Longstaff
Mumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony Longstaff

‘Technical and logistical challenges’ were the reasons given as the band planned their biggest live shows yet.

And on Saturday night they brought that show to Leeds – so was it as impressive as fans were hoping?

Well, the set was certainly impressive and featured many of their best-known tracks which went down a storm.

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The excellent Maggie Rogers, a hugely talented American singer, provided the support act and then it is soon time for Marcus Mumford and his band of brothers to take centre stage.

Mumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony LongstaffMumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony Longstaff
Mumford & Sons playing First Direct Arena, Leeds, on their Delta tour. Picture: Anthony Longstaff

They started with new single Guiding Light and the crowd is soon whipped into a frenzy as Little Lion Man is just the second song on the set-list.

Mumford is a brilliant frontman and, while some of the newer, lesser-known material was not quite as rapturously received, all the old favourites such as this predictably went down a storm.

When tracks such as The Cave and I Will Wait are belted out, everyone is on their feet and the house has been brought down so many times it may need new foundations.

On the basis of this performance, Mumford & Sons should be around for some time yet – and how we should all raise a glass to that.