At this point, I can’t even imagine starting the Summer season without going to BST Festival in Hyde Park. Each year, the organizers deliver the most varied line-ups, celebrating all genres, including country, pop, folk-rock, K-pop, and, this year, the British icons Duran Duran.
With so many festivals and great events taking place each weekend, Londoners are really spoiled for choice. My personal elimination process focuses on experiencing something new, something from my bucket list, and something that will elevate the general festival experience. With the first few line-up announcements, it didn’t take long for me to put Mumford & Sons on my calendar.
Since being a fan of the band since their ‘Little Lion Man’ days, way before I even lived in London, I knew that when the perfect opportunity arises, I’ll be there singing my little heart out. To witness their biggest hits and their latest record, Prizefighter, I was confident BST festival was the one.
Hyde Park turns into a multi-day-long celebration of music and London. When the first big chorus of the headlining act comes, there is nothing like 65,000 people singing along like a big happy family. Very early into Mumford & Sons’ set, they perform ‘I Will Wait’ after the opener, ‘Begin Again.’ Even standing far back, close to the large screens, you can feel the joyous energy as everyone looks around, smiles, and listens to their favorite song.
For me, the special moment comes when the band plays ‘White Blank Page,’ which I hoped would bring more energy, but it still healed a piece of my heart. Marcus Mumford, alongside the rest of the band, shows their gratitude for being back home in London after spending some time in the US. And it shows. For the entirety of their performance, they smirk and frolic around the stage, their energy transferring to the audience, and everyone follows, dancing, arms locked, barely putting their phones out.
The first guest is Stella Lefty, who performed earlier on the day and is known for her viral hit ‘Boston.’ Appearing slightly intimidated by the Great Oak Stage and Mumford himself, they join forces on ‘Badlands,’ originally featuring Gracie Abrams. Right after, the band invites their friend and collaborator Hozier onto the stage to showcase their chemistry and vocal symbiosis on ‘Rubber Band Man’ and ‘Awake My Soul.’
For ‘Ditmas,’ Marcus Mumford jumps into the audience, running around the crowd, giving everyone a chance to see him up close and personal. One thing that’s certain about a Mumford & Sons concert is how damn good they sound live. There is no point in comparing it to the recorded versions; they’re incredible entertainers, charming, witty, and down for a good laugh.
After everything erupts for ‘Little Lion Man,’ and we slowly approach the end of the show, the encore comes in, and lo and behold, Marcus Mumford introduces the one and only Shania Twain, who just wrapped the last London night of supporting Harry Styles‘ historic 12-night residency at Wembley Stadium. They duet on ‘Here,’ and the highlight of the evening arrives, as Twain announces, “LET’S GO GIRLS.” The whole park goes absolutely bonkers for ‘Man, I Feel Like A Woman!,’ including Mumford, who looks like he is having the best time of his life, calling Twain her long-time idol and inspiration.
Closing the show in a grandioso way, Mumford & Sons pick ‘The Cave’ to leave their fans with, including fireworks and overall post-concert euphoria. As Dusty Springfield‘s ‘Son Of A Preacher Man’ plays, everyone leaves satisfied, with no commentary, no notes, only positive feedback.
It feels like Mumford & Sons are living through a new era, like a second wind, with their new record Prizefighter and the resurfacing of old hits; the band keeps on rolling. Marcus Mumford says during their sets, “we will keep coming back, if you’ll have us.” It was a thoroughly enjoyable performance, and BST hit the nail with this one for a splendid July evening.
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Words: Karolina Kramplova
Photographer: Bethan Miller Carey