Last night Rod Laver Arena was treated to a show that showcased some of the world’s most exciting new talents along with a band that for the last fourteen years has captivated the music world. What became evident is how defiantly Mumford & Son have been adopted by Australia. This is the first of two Melbourne shows and the start of the bands “Prizefighter” world tour.
This is the band fourth tour of Australia, and fifth visit here with a special one-off show last year at the Sydney Opera House.
Speaking of new talent tonight’s show introduces me to two artists I was not aware of. I absolutely love when established artists are committed to showcasing the next generation of talent whether it be local or from across the globe. Mumford and Sons did that tonight.
This is the debut Show in Australia by American native Lo-fi folk rising star Hudson Freeman who kicked off tonight’s show with a short sharp set of five songs for his twenty-minute slot.
Dressed in track pants and a t-shirt Freeman’s style and personality were understated. However, his music says everything his appearance didn’t. His storytelling and stripped back approach to his music made Freeman someone you couldn’t take your attention from.
The five-song set included a great cover of The Rolling Stone ‘Wild Horses’.
Being Freeman’s first time in Australian and I think this is just the beginning of his relationship with our country. Freeman’s set is worthy of making sure you turn up early, he is raw, organic and completely engaging. Freeman is a man of few words onstage and lets his music do the talking even to the point where he ended his set without a word and simply exited upon his last chord ringing out.
Folk Bitch Trio have possibly one of the most interesting names in music at the moment. It suggests one thing and potentially builds a preconceived idea of what they sound like. I had visions of a Pogue-esque trio full of attitude and angst, what we got was something completely different. Folk Bitch Trio are perhaps more in line with an act like Dixie Chicks. A little country, a little folk but one hundred percent captivating and engaging. Their ability to tell their musical tales and deliver it with such depth and beauty is outstanding.
Each member has depth as a musician and singer. Together their voices are this incredible wall of lush harmonies. Musically they understand space, structure and set this beautiful landscape of their lyrics and storytelling.
The Melbourne trio of Gracie Sinclair, Jeanie Pilkington and Heide Peverelle while only six years into their career show so much potential and had me visiting their 2025 debut ‘Now Would Be A Good Time’ today and the set leaned on that album.
The last twelve months have been huge for the trio as they have toured America, Canada and Europe since the album’s release. Tonight marked their first Arena show and the performance they delivered worked incredibly well receiving a huge round of applause proving that they have something very special and undoubtedly a massive career lays ahead of them. Folk Bitch Trio deliver a set that not only won me as a fan, but I’m sure won them a swarm of new fans here in their hometown.
Folk Bitch Trio Gallery
It’s been eight years since I first saw Mumford and Sons at Falls Festival in Tasmania. Even then they were a surprise and a treat to see. I went in not really knowing what to expect and was take back by how good they were and it opened my world to them. The record at the time was ‘Delta’ and since then they have released two records, last years ‘Rushmere’ and this years ‘Prizefighter’ both amazing records. Tonight’s set was a celebration of the band and a chance to play some of the new material from ‘Prizefighter’
When a band comes out and leads with two of it’s biggest songs in ‘Run Together’ & ‘I Will Wait’ there is an intention that can’t be argued. Marcus Mumford addressing the crowd Whats up Melbourne we are Mumford & Sons, we didn’t come to f*ck around between the songs. In an instant Rod Laver Arena came to life as a bouncing choir that lifted the roof and set the tone of tonight. It’s rare that a band will lead with their strongest suit and deliver a show that continues to build and build throughout the set. ‘White Blank Page’ continues the chorial singing and engagement, the energy and atmosphere has so much energy and Rod Laver is most definitely alive.
Mumford addresses the crowd again by saying We had to come to Melbourne, we pissed some of you off last year by only going to Sydney like real the c*nts that we are, so we wanted to start here with not one but two nights in this magnificent building. We thought we should call up some of our Aussie friends and the good thing is our oldest mate in this place just happens to have the number one record in Australia, would you please welcome Mr. Matt Corby. The screams and cheers through Rod Laver were deafening and ‘Here’ takes everything to the next level.
The audience’s reaction at just four songs in feels hold the energy of the end of the set or an encore. What Mumford and Son are doing here tonight is nothing short of a master class in confidence, depth and pure talent.
‘Rubber Band Man’, ‘Alleycat’ and ‘Lover Of The Light’ are all performed with that beauty and grace that Mumford and Sons exude. Regardless of the tempo these songs are all big burners and the fire that drives them is perfectly controlled. Pulled back to reveal glowing embers and let rage in full flight of flame. It’s a wonderful; thing to experience.
Mumford continues to handle the crowd with a bit of banter as he says My instinct when we come to Australia is to offend you because it feels like we are cousins and we can do that. But we don’t get to come here that often, so I want to warp the line between affection and sycophancy. We love you very much. If you are in one of these seats and you are worried about the people behind you and you wanna get up and dance, do whatever you want to, just don’t be a dickhead about it. You guys are far too polite for Australians of all things, we go the f*cking bogans down here. At times it’s hard to tell if it is a love hate relationship happening with our country or perhaps just some good old jealousy. Whatever it is there does seem to be this friendly rivalry.
The three key core members of Mumford and Son, Marcus Mumford vocals, guitar, drums, banjo, mandolin, Ben Lovett, piano, keyboards, backing vocals and Ted Dwane double bass, bass guitar, guitar, drums, backing vocals are simply on a level that I haven’t really witnessed. The diversity, ability and strength of these three is inspiring. They are in every way masters of what they do. This also becomes evident in the way they deliver their catalogue of songs. It is without a doubt that Mumford and Son have earned their place at the top of the music world through hard work, dedication and talent, as a live show they are incredible and the use of additional players whether it be the horn section of fiddle players to drummers everyone involved knows what is required. I have seen some incredible bands over the years, and this band is among the best I have seen.
The new material from ‘Prizefighter’ sits so very neatly among the hits and established catalogue and there never seem to be a dull moment in the set. Everything has its place, moment and purpose.
Whether it be Mumford running his way through the crowd or the core of the band including banjo player Matt Menefee playing a short sweet three song set on the second stage at the back of Rod Laver turning the back row into the front row. Mumford and Sons just never cease to have tricks up their live set sleeves.
What impressed me too is the way the band used the stage too. The lighting was complimentary to the music, but the use of the drop-down panels that had an assortment of filament lit icons that ambiently seemed to burn and sparkle, fading in and out; this in my opinion was the perfect aesthetic for this set and something I haven’t seen done before.
The final encore so to speak came with little fuss or circumstance but those last three songs simply lifted Rod Laver to a new level of bounce, sing-a-long and energy. ‘Little Lion Man’ being the biggest response of the night with the crowd roaring over the top of the band.
The hundred and ten-minute journey Mumford and Sons took us on tonight was nothing short of magical. While eight years between shows is a long time, they did exactly what I imagine was intentional, left me wanting to see the show again and relive these moments in stories, songs and musical magic. It certainly won’t be another eight years between shows.
I haven’t given too much away about the show specifics because it is a show you need to experience and feel and these remaining Australian and New Zealand dates will are guaranteed to be incredible.
Setlist : Run Together,I Will Wait, White Blank Page, Here, Rubber Band Man, Alleycat, Lover Of The Light, Rushmere, Timshel, Badlands, Prizefighter, Believe, Truth, The Wolf, Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels), Stay, Ditmas, The Cave
Stage B : I’ll Tell You Everything, Ghosts That We Knew, Awake My Soul
Encore : Icarus, The Banjo Song, Little Lion Man
With many thanks to Nicole at Revolutions Per Minute & Live Nation for the media access
Photos by Shot By Slaidins Photography
