I'm incredibly proud of my nephew, Marcus Mumford. He started off going to Edinburgh uni to read Classics (he's rather a clever laddie) but gave it up after a year to give his music a try. Now, it seems, he and his mates who have called themselves "Mumford & Sons" are doing really rather well. Here's an extract from The Independent Music Magazine Festival supplement:
Hard Rock Calling has managed to create a very real festival vibe in the middle of London, which is no mean feat. The atmosphere last night, egged on by a brilliant summers evening, was electric and the festival as a whole is looking to be a really steady contender to Glastonbury. Think of it as a Glastonbury for the mums and dads, or those with mud or hippie phobias. Let’s not forget that the next two nights hold Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen in store, two of Worthy Farm’s very own headliners.
What Hard Rock Calling can’t quite match though is the new band talent of Glastonbury. That is until we’re stood five feet away from Marcus Mumford and his exceptionally endowed gathering Mumford and Sons. Previously the backing band for an equally as startling Laura Marling, Mumford is every bit the future star of folk he’s set out to be. Vocally haunting, every well placed vowel moves you, dragging you into songs like ‘Awake My Soul’ and ‘The Cave’ unremittingly, challenging any pretensions about new London folk you may holster. The intelligent articulation and general, as Simon Cowell would demand, likeability of Marcus allows his music to draw every bit of your attention, building it up and exploding it into a battering wall of serene noise with an epic sense of emergency and drama.
Now if you were his auntie, wouldn't you swell with pride? He's at the Edinburgh Fringe this week (or was it just last week - hard to keep up). When a neighbour and I went to see him in Glasgow a couple of years ago we were the only two in the audience over 20 but what the heck. And I really like his music. They played at his brother's wedding in February and were amazing.
End of brag. But you must admit it's the only time I've done it - or probably even mentioned family - in all these years of blogging so indulge me!
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