We really are living in a golden age of Mumford & Sons fandom.
Not only are the band set to release their sophomore follow-up to Australian-beloved debut Sigh No More at the end of the month, as well as a nationwide tour with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes and their Gentleman of the Road ‘camping stop-over’ in regional NSW – now, Sydney-siders will also get a Mumford & Sons pop-up shop.
The Mumford & Sons General Store is a special collaboration between the band and Darlinghurst-based thinkers Under New Management, a space to escape from the hustle and bustle of the CBD and get your nu-folk on with beverage in hand and, come sunset, experience some live music too.
During the day, the General Store will supply a cosy nook to take in a coffee while listening to the new brand new Mumford & Sons album Babel, ahead of its September 21st release date. Come night time, the pop-up store will take a leaf from the Grates’ newly announced Brisbane bar and transform into a late-night hotspot.
Going by the nocturnal name of the M&S Saloon, the new haunt will feature an evening’s entertainment of live music from a hand-picked selection of Mumford & Sons’ local favourites, as well as screenings of the band’s road-film-concert-movie, Big Easy Express – all while you sling back shots in true cowboy style, courtesy of ARDBEG Whiskey.
The whole venture is brilliantly timed (and themed) to coincide with the British group’s Gentlemen Of The Road concert series, a globe-trotting concept that traverses the boundaries of a typical concert and touring experience to provide something a little different for music-lovers and culture vultures.
It includes the recently-announced ‘camping stopover’ in Dugong, NSW, a Mumford & Sons-curated mini-festival that includes local arts and business in order to – in the band’s own words – “celebrate the local people, food and music;” likening the experience to a ‘Victorian travelling circus’ with the UK four-piece as the ringmasters.
Complete with a stellar lineup that includes Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Sarah Blasko, Matt Corby, Husky, Willy Mason and a late-night party soundtrack from Australia’s mash-up misfits, Yacht Club DJs.
The pop-up Mumford & Sons General Store/Saloon will be open to the public daily from 10am from Friday 14th September until Friday 28th September, which ties in nicely with Babel’s release on the 21st – and just ahead of Mumford & Sons ten-date national tour.
You can have a listen to the lead single from Babel, “I Will Wait”, below while you *ahem* await the full details of the store’s location and entertainment program will be revealed in the coming days.
