This morning, U.K.-based roots-rockers Mumford & Sons announced the details of their Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers, which comes to the U.S. in August.
According to a press release, “The Stopovers combine the intimacy of a community celebration with the excitement of a world-class music festival. Featuring local vendors and activities, each Stopover will begin with a concert at a unique site and end with a series of smaller events involving local businesses, venues, and, most importantly, local people. Mumford & Sons will headline the main event, alongside an eclectic and energetic roster of artists curated by the band themselves.”
Concerts take place in Portland, Maine; Dixon, Ill.; Monterey, Calif. and Bristol Tenn./Virginia. That last show, the closest to Western N.C., will be held on Saturday, Aug. 11.
Xpress spoke to singer-songwriter Marcus Mumford who says that the Stopovers are inspired by the idea of a Victorian traveling circus and also by American wild west shows. “We looked at pictures of those and drew inspirations from that,” he says. He also points out that his band, who has been touring behind 2009’s Sigh No More, learned from touring that “in America, more so than in the U.K., people are willing to travel to be at a show. In England people aren’t willing to drive two hours to be at a show,” he says. But he’s seen fans come from Canada to attend a Nashville concert, so he hopes that fans in surrounding areas will make the trek to one of the U.S. Stopover shows.
Each of the shows includes a number of other acts, as well as cultural programs specific to the region of the concert. “We want to embrace local culture,” says Mumford. In Bristol, the lineup will be Dawes, JEFF The Brotherhood, The Very Best, Apache Relay, Simone Felice and Haim.
The press release reports that “Tickets to the Stopovers will be one price, with no additional service fees or hidden charges. Each ticket will include a beautifully designed commemorative passport ticket, and an exclusive compilation album featuring performances taken from across the four shows.” Tickets go on sale on Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. at GentlemenOfTheRoad.com. Tickets cost $69, with no additional service fees. “Each ticket will include a beautifully designed commemorative Gentlemen of the Road Stopover Passport, and an exclusive digital download compilation album featuring performances taken from various acts across the four shows,” says the press release.
The full schedule is:
• Portland, Maine on Saturday, Aug. 4 (with St. Vincent, Dawes, The Maccabees, Apache Relay, Simone Felice and Haim)
• Bristol, Tenn. on Saturday, Aug. 11 (with Dawes, JEFF The Brotherhood, The Very Best, Justin Townes Earle, Apache Relay, Simone Felice and Haim)
• Dixon, Ill. on Saturday, Aug. 18 (with Gogol Bordello, Dawes, Abigail Washburn, The Very Best, Apache Relay and Haim)
• Monterey, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 25 (with Gogol Bordello, The Very Best, Grouplove, Two Gallants, Apache Relay and Haim)
Xpress will publish a full interview with Mumford & Sons in the near future. Photo by Kyle Dean Reinford.
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