by Alexandra Pollard, Will Butler | Photos by Richard Gray
Mumford & Sons close the first day of Reading Festival
The band got the festival off to a massive start last night
28 August 2015: Mumford & Sons got Reading Festival off to a massive start last night. This was their first headline slot at Reading, despite having frequented the festival since the band started all those years ago. Opening with ‘Snake Eyes’ from the latest record, Wilder Mind, Mumford proved that just because they’ve gone electric, it doesn’t mean they’re just another Indie band.
As lasers sliced the air, Mumford put everything they have into their performance - as if they are trying to prove their worthiness to be standing on that stage.
With such a strong set-list and a dedicated fanbase, most of which were in the audience it would seem, Mumford eased up the intensity throughout, finding their rhythm early as they played fan-favourites ‘I Will Wait’ and ‘Little Lion Man’.
A risky move playing their saving graces so early, but you’ve got to respect their trust in the quality of their new material. “When we finished our third record, there was one place in the world we wanted to play more than any other, and that was here for you fine people”, said keyboardist Ben Lovett.
See our photos of the set here, and the setlist below.
Snake Eyes
I Will Wait
Little Lion Man
Below My Feet
Wilder Mind
Awake My Soul
Believe
Tompkins Square Park
Lover of the Light
Thistle & Weeds
Ghosts That We Knew
The Cave
Roll Away Your Stone
Broad-Shouldered Beasts
Ditmas
Dust Bowl Dance
Encore:
Hot Gates
The Wolf