Mumford & Sons don't play by the rules. In 2015, after a 2 year hiatus, they released their third album, 'Wilder Mind', a much rockier collection than what we had come to expect from the mostly folk quartet.

Fast forward 14 months and they're performing to 60,000 people in London's Hyde Park. A homecoming of sorts, to mark the end of a tour which has taken them around the world and seen them headline massive festivals, including Bonnaroo and Reading and Leeds.

Earlier in the day indie darlings Wolf Alice take to the stage, bringing some much appreciated edge to the line up. Fresh off a slot on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, the four-piece exude confidence. Front-woman Ellie Rowsell demands attention. Soft spoken, her aggressive vocals are reminiscent of the great grunge bands of the 90's. If the audience's reaction is anything to go by, it's only a matter of time before the North London band are headlining their own Hyde Park show.

Next, Alabama Shakes command the crowd with their bluesy jazz sound. Vocal powerhouse Brittany Howard might just been the coolest person in Hyde Park. Her soulful voice is enough to stop you in your tracks, echoing through the delighted crowd.

As the sun begins to set, Mumford & Sons arrive onto a haze soaked stage. Opening with the slower 'Snake Eyes', the crowd booms with excitement. The foot-stomping banjo-heavy 'Little Lion Man' follows, turning Hyde Park into a giant mosh pit.

It is hard to put Mumford & Sons into a box. Are they folk, indie rock, something in between? Transitioning seamlessly between banjos and electric guitars, maybe it doesn't matter. The first part of their set sees them float between tracks from their three albums. Older songs 'White Blank Page' and 'Holland Road' ignite massive, heart-felt singalongs.

The name Mumford & Sons might not scream 'rock and roll' to most, but anybody who has caught them live could attest. At one point, a drum set is trashed, and another, a guitar thrown on the ground. 'Ditmas' sees Marcus Mumford stand on a small stage, in the middle of the crowd, red flare in hand. In a moment he is gone, joining the hysteria of the crowd. Many musicians wouldn't dare to throw themselves into the middle of their fans, but with Mumford & Sons, it seems that anything goes. It isn't long before he's above shoulders; crowd-surfing his way back to the stage, shirt ripped open in the process.

Later, he returns to that small stage, band-mates in tow, for an acoustic encore of 'Timshel' and 'Sister'. "We're going to try sing you a song with this one microphone. It's going to be really fucking quiet." Mumford announces, before asking the 60,000 strong crowd to be "really fucking quiet" as well. It is a true feat to be able to turn Hyde Park into an intimate setting. If there was ever a time for Mumford & Sons to prove their worth, this is it. Shaky vocals can be forgiven, as the audience are more than happy to help out.

Playing a 22 song set to a sold out festival-sized crowd, may just be Mumford & Sons' biggest achievement yet. Fitting for their 'last show in England for a long time'. With an ambitious and carefully-crafted stage show, Mumford & Sons are the epitome of a band doing exactly what they want. A masterclass in excellency, every detail is carefully and flawlessly executed. Up-and-coming bands, take note.

Mumford & Sons performed:

Snake Eyes
Little Lion Man
White Blank Page
Holland Road
Wilder Mind
Lover of the Light
Tompkins Square Park
Believe
Broken Crown
Ghosts That We Knew
Si Tu Veux (with Baaba Maal)
There Will Be Time
Lovers' Eyes
The Cave
Ditmas
Dust Bowl Dance

Encore:

Timshel (Acoustic on B-Stage)
Sister (Acoustic on B-Stage)

Encore 2:

Hot Gates
Wona
I Will Wait
The Wolf